A Yucca Valley icon that you will want to include in your visit to the high desert is Desert Christ Park. (www.desertchristpark.org) The park transcends denominational boundaries and invites you to celebrate the visionary and the artist. Eddie Garver, known as the Desert Parson, had a vision of creating a Christian-themed park as a light for world peace. Through a series of events he met Frank Antone Martin Who had already created a 10 foot tall, 50 ton statue of Jesus that he was looking for a home for. He spoke to several organizations before accepting Eddie Garver’s offer to place it on a hill in Yucca Valley where all could see and enjoy it.

A week before Easter in 1951, the statue was loaded onto truck in Los Angeles and brought up to the high desert. This sparked so much national interest that Life Magazine covered the journey from beginning to end for their April 23rd 1951 issue. The park was dedicated on Easter Sunday in 1951.

In 1952, Martin decided to move to Yucca Valley permanently. During the next 10 years, he created several more biblical scenes including a 3 story, 125 ton facade of the Last Supper. These statues are larger than life and created from steel reinforced concrete. Today there are 10 exhibits to explore and contemplate.

May you find solace here, or just enjoy it for its beauty and contribution to California’s rich artistic history. Admission is free and open daily from dawn to dusk.