Should the National Park Service Erect an Official Memorial to Gram Parsons at Joshua Tree?

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Permalink Reply by James McKinney on January 16, 2010 at 8:11pm

I think without a doubt they should erect something more perminate for Gram. Place something on the outskirts of the park if not possible in the park. A small spot with a small parking area for fans to go to and pay their respects would go a long way towards stopping the damage to the natural areas.

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Permalink Reply by Todd Novak on January 17, 2010 at 10:16am

Yes, I've been there and it's kind of a mess. If they had an area and a small memorial designated for the Gram visitors it would be much better. A plaque or pic with the bio of his life, music etc..
It wouldn't take much to correct this problem. The site is being defaced and I compare it to the Jim Morrison site in france. His nose being broken off the face etc..
People wander off of the designated trails at Joshua Tree to get around cap rock and wander thinking they're really experiencing what it felt like for Gram to be there. I was happy to just stand there and look up at the sky. Beautiful place! Then we went to the Joshua Tree Inn, and stood by the pool. Amazing. Todd

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Permalink Reply by mojobone on January 17, 2010 at 5:48pm

I'm surprised you even asked. Yes, of course I want to see a memorial, especially if it helps keep the park cleaner or neater or whatever.

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Permalink Reply by Will James on January 17, 2010 at 5:59pm

Your "surprise" reminds me of the reaction I get from many who sign the petition (http://www.gramparsonspetition.com), esp many overseas. They can't believe he isn't already in. This park ranger and a higher-up did all they could and the NPS, for whom I have great respect, just didn't get it. How much longer will it take. How many more signatures (0ver 3,000 so far)?

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Permalink Reply by Chris Saunders on January 19, 2010 at 7:25am

What I fear is that the same thing will happen to that monument that happened to Jim Morrison's headstone and grave in Paris. If you have ever seen it, you know what I mean.

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Permalink Reply by Peggy Hanson on January 24, 2010 at 8:55am

When I am at Cap Rock and see the writing and art (contained in one small area, not scrawled all over), i have noticed Norwegian words praising Gram, for example, and other tasteful lyrics printed here and there. The flavor i get is of worldwide appreciation for him, much like the flavor of the GP/CMHOF petition. Sure, a monument to him would be fine out there. Sounds like a long shot though, and meanwhile i think the artwork fills the hearts of those who see it. (It does get sandblasted every so often, and must start over.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ms2171/2379334178/

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Permalink Reply by Will James on January 24, 2010 at 9:09am

Thanks Peggy, I must admit I'm torn on this issue as the personal statements there seem to mean so much to some people. But they *can* leave messages on the Petition - for the world to see, and it may be possible to incorporate into an NPS monument an "area" for such transitory offerings instead of continual sandblasting of a National Park... As for being a "long shot" - that's the only thing we deal in at the G3P!

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Permalink Reply by Peggy Hanson on January 25, 2010 at 3:54pm

but Cap Rock is so 3D! Nuthin like it, the bright blue sky, bright pink rocks, one of a kind Joshua trees.....heaven!

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Permalink Reply by Will James on January 25, 2010 at 7:26pm

Which is probably why the park ranger wants to keep it that way! Gotta admit, I'm with him on this one, possibly because I've been working on a local commission for over 20 years that ultimately is certified by the NPS and US Dept of the Interior.

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Permalink Reply by Kenny C on January 25, 2010 at 8:10pm

NO.. That should be a private fund raising effort..

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Permalink Reply by David Lewis on February 26, 2010 at 7:28pm

We were there today (Yes - Today!) and agree it would be better to have a small officially sanctioned memorial. The NPS keeps removing the markings at Cap Rock, and fans continue to replace them. I didn't know exactly where at Cap Rock the existing memorial was located, so I asked a ranger. Her immediate, canned response was: "There is no memorial to Gram Parsons in Joshua Tree National Park. There is no 'official' memorial to Gram Parsons. That's all I can say about that." Knowing it was near Cap Rock, it didn't take long to locate, but a small memorial adjacent to Cap Rock - just a few yards away, out in the desert - would be a fitting way to resolve this dilemma. The markings I photographed today don't match the markings others have shot as recently as last year - so new stuff goes up as soon as old stuff is removed.

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Permalink Reply by Will James on March 3, 2010 at 10:11am

Look, there's nothing particularly significant about Cap Rock, it's just where Phil Kaufman started hearing the sirens and decided good as any. Gram died at the Joshua Tree Inn. Joshua Tree is a nice place, and has become symbolic to some. So c'mon NPS, erect a monument and start enforcing keeping the dessert clean.

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