Imlay Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

The?Thunder Mountain Monument?is a series ofoutsider art?sculptures and architectural forms which were assembled by Frank Van Zant starting in 1969 upon his arrival in?Imlay, Nevada; it is located on a shoulder of?I-80. A WWII veteran from Oklahoma, Frank Van Zant had served with the?7th Armoured Division,[1]?fighting in several campaigns, and been badly burned in a tank battle outside ofLeipzig, Germany.[2]?A self-identified?Creek Indian,[3]he took the?Native American?name Rolling Mountain Thunder after experiencing an?epiphany, and took on the twin but related tasks of both building shelters from the presumed coming apocalypse, and making a?de facto?spiritual haven for spiritual seekers of the?hippie?era. (There is no Thunder Mountain in the vicinity.)The site contains three stone and cement buildings and over 200 cement sculptures variously depicting Native Americans and their protective spirits, massacres, and purported injustices. Thunder Mountain Monument (or Park) is replete with found objects (such as, but not limited to, car hoods, dolls' heads, typewriters, and gas pumps), many of which are incorporated into the buildings themselves; one framework forms a large handle so the Great Spirit could take the building away after Thunder's death.He was long subjected to harassment by the local townspeople, and his site was partially destroyed by arson in 1983, the same year he was named Nevada's Artist of the Year; a heavy cigarette smoker, Rolling Mountain Thunder committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in 1989. His uniquely wrought environment was neglected and subject to vandalism until it was declared a Nevada State Historic Site in the 1990s; it is now under the care of his grown children under the aegis of a State of Nevada Historic Site Restoration Project, and is partially open to the public for self-guided tours.[4]Frank Van Zant has been the subject of two short documentaries.[5] Wikipedia
The?Thunder Mountain Monument?is a series ofoutsider art?sculptures and architectural forms which were assembled by Frank Van Zant starting in 1969 upon his arrival in?Imlay, Nevada; it is located on a shoulder of?I-80. A WWII veteran from Oklahoma, Frank Van Zant had served with the?7th Armoured Division,[1]?fighting in several campaigns, and been badly burned in a tank battle outside ofLeipzig, Germany.[2]?A self-identified?Creek Indian,[3]he took the?Native American?name Rolling Mountain Thunder after experiencing an?epiphany, and took on the twin but related tasks of both building shelters from the presumed coming apocalypse, and making a?de facto?spiritual haven for spiritual seekers of the?hippie?era. (There is no Thunder Mountain in the vicinity.)The site contains three stone and cement buildings and over 200 cement sculptures variously depicting Native Americans and their protective spirits, massacres, and purported injustices. Thunder Mountain Monument (or Park) is replete with found objects (such as, but not limited to, car hoods, dolls' heads, typewriters, and gas pumps), many of which are incorporated into the buildings themselves; one framework forms a large handle so the Great Spirit could take the building away after Thunder's death.He was long subjected to harassment by the local townspeople, and his site was partially destroyed by arson in 1983, the same year he was named Nevada's Artist of the Year; a heavy cigarette smoker, Rolling Mountain Thunder committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in 1989. His uniquely wrought environment was neglected and subject to vandalism until it was declared a Nevada State Historic Site in the 1990s; it is now under the care of his grown children under the aegis of a State of Nevada Historic Site Restoration Project, and is partially open to the public for self-guided tours.[4]Frank Van Zant has been the subject of two short documentaries.[5] Wikipedia
The?Thunder Mountain Monument?is a series ofoutsider art?sculptures and architectural forms which were assembled by Frank Van Zant starting in 1969 upon his arrival in?Imlay, Nevada; it is located on a shoulder of?I-80. A WWII veteran from Oklahoma, Frank Van Zant had served with the?7th Armoured Division,[1]?fighting in several campaigns, and been badly burned in a tank battle outside ofLeipzig, Germany.[2]?A self-identified?Creek Indian,[3]he took the?Native American?name Rolling Mountain Thunder after experiencing an?epiphany, and took on the twin but related tasks of both building shelters from the presumed coming apocalypse, and making a?de facto?spiritual haven for spiritual seekers of the?hippie?era. (There is no Thunder Mountain in the vicinity.)The site contains three stone and cement buildings and over 200 cement sculptures variously depicting Native Americans and their protective spirits, massacres, and purported injustices. Thunder Mountain Monument (or Park) is replete with found objects (such as, but not limited to, car hoods, dolls' heads, typewriters, and gas pumps), many of which are incorporated into the buildings themselves; one framework forms a large handle so the Great Spirit could take the building away after Thunder's death.He was long subjected to harassment by the local townspeople, and his site was partially destroyed by arson in 1983, the same year he was named Nevada's Artist of the Year; a heavy cigarette smoker, Rolling Mountain Thunder committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in 1989. His uniquely wrought environment was neglected and subject to vandalism until it was declared a Nevada State Historic Site in the 1990s; it is now under the care of his grown children under the aegis of a State of Nevada Historic Site Restoration Project, and is partially open to the public for self-guided tours.[4]Frank Van Zant has been the subject of two short documentaries.[5]
Located about 35 miles west of Winnemucca and visible from I80, the Thunder Mountain Monument was built by Frank Van Zant aka 'Chief Rolling Mountain Thunder' (1921-1989). He moved here in 1968 with his wife and three small children. He started building his unique environment using only discarded items he found within a 50 mile radius of the property. In fact, the only thing he purchased was cement. In 1983 he was named Nevada’s Artist of the Year. Sadly, he committed suicide in 1989. His oldest son now owns the property. The grounds are open to the public. More info Is available here: http://www.thundermountainmonument.com/index.htm
Located about 35 miles west of Winnemucca and visible from I80, the Thunder Mountain Monument was built by Frank Van Zant aka 'Chief Rolling Mountain Thunder' (1921-1989). He moved here in 1968 with his wife and three small children. He started building his unique environment using only discarded items he found within a 50 mile radius of the property. In fact, the only thing he purchased was cement. In 1983 he was named Nevada’s Artist of the Year. Sadly, he committed suicide in 1989. His oldest son now owns the property. The grounds are open to the public. More info Is available here: http://www.thundermountainmonument.com/index.htm
Excalibur Hotel & Casino

Excalibur Hotel & Casino

3.5 out of 5
3850 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV
The price is ฿392 per night from 26 Feb to 27 Feb
฿392
฿2,030 total
26 Feb - 27 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly resort in Las Vegas. Enjoy an outdoor pool, 16 restaurants and a casino. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff ...
8/10 Very Good! (41,387 reviews)
Dated room, art peeling off it's frame over the bed, hair (not mine) on the bathroom floor, dust caked to the air conditioning vents, and to top it off, mall food at the highest prices. I can go on, but I'd rather just keep my distance.

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

Excalibur Hotel & Casino
Treasure Island - TI Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

Treasure Island - TI Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

4 out of 5
3300 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV
The price is ฿1,087 per night from 26 Feb to 27 Feb
฿1,087
฿2,993 total
26 Feb - 27 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa resort in Las Vegas. Enjoy free parking, an outdoor pool and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (32,599 reviews)
Staff are courteous.

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

Treasure Island - TI Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino

4 out of 5
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV
The price is ฿933 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
฿933
฿2,995 total
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa resort in Las Vegas. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the restaurant and the clean rooms in their ...
8/10 Very Good! (27,610 reviews)
The hotel is dazzling

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Grandview at Las Vegas

Grandview at Las Vegas

3 out of 5
9940 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV
Stay at this 3-star family-friendly aparthotel in Las Vegas. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 5 outdoor pools and 5 hot tubs. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (8,348 reviews)
Room large enough for my large family. Pull out couch was horrible for teens to sleep on! The different pools were great, the rides around the property, and the friendless was great.

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

Grandview at Las Vegas
Tahiti Village Resort & Spa

Tahiti Village Resort & Spa

3.5 out of 5
7200 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV
Stay at this spa aparthotel in Las Vegas. Enjoy free parking, a full-service spa and room service. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (8,662 reviews)
The room was amazing

Reviewed on 24 Feb 2026

Tahiti Village Resort & Spa
Palms Place

Palms Place

4.5 out of 5
4381 W Flamingo Rd Las Vegas NV
Stay at this luxury aparthotel in Las Vegas. Enjoy an outdoor pool, a full-service spa and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the restaurant and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (12,461 reviews)
Very clean and welcoming staff

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2026

Palms Place
See all 11,693 properties in Nevada
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Thunder Mountain Indian Monument

You can find out about the history of Imlay with a trip to Thunder Mountain Indian Monument. Discover the area's desert landscape and sunsets.

Thunder Mountain Indian Monument