Thunder Mountain Monument, Roadside sculpture site in Imlay, Nevada
Thunder Mountain Monument is a five-acre art site beside Interstate 80 featuring three stone buildings and over 200 concrete sculptures. The outdoor installations spread across the property and can be viewed throughout the grounds.
Frank Van Zant, a World War II veteran from Oklahoma, started building these sculptures and architectural forms in 1969 after relocating from California. He created the site during a period when the interstate was becoming an important travel route.
The place expresses Native American themes through concrete figures showing indigenous people, their protective spirits, and lived experiences. These sculptures communicate how this culture remains rooted in the landscape today.
The site sits right beside Interstate 80 and is open for self-guided exploration year-round. Visitors can walk through the remaining structures and outdoor art installations at their own pace.
The structures contain integrated found objects such as car hoods, doll heads, typewriters, and a wall of vintage bottles arranged like stained glass. This unusual mix of salvaged materials gives the place a striking handmade quality.
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