The Joshua Tree Inn is said to have haunting music, and the spirit is said to be musician Gram Parsons, who tragically died in one of the inn’s rooms. Now musicians from all over the world come to the desert in search of inspiration, as well as his spirit.
In the extensive expanses of the Californian desert lies a haven for artists, musicians, and free spirits—Joshua Tree National Park. Created on the disturbingly appropriate date of October 31, 1994, this deserted landscape attracts thousands of people seeking inspiration in its mesmerizing rock formations.
But amidst the stark beauty of the desert, in a seemingly elementary roadside motel, a haunting legend resonates – the ghost of legendary musician Gram Parsons. He is said to haunt the Joshua Tree Inn, the place where he always stopped for inspiration, and the place where he died.
Country music legend Gram Parson
Gram Parsons, who left an indelible mark on the industry by working with iconic acts like the Rolling Stones and Emmylou Harris, found solace and creativity in the desert. The Joshua Tree Inn became a haven for Parsons and his musical companions, where drug-fueled nights were spent jamming, creating, and forging memories that would echo through time. While on acid, he also claimed to have seen a UFO there.
He was raised in Georgia and Florida, the heir to an orange empire with a lot of money, but he was drawn to a music career, where he had no money to his name. His brief career in bands like the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, as well as pioneering some kind of country with a touch of hippie, he wanted to create a kind of Cosmic Country genre. It may not have been commercially successful at the time, but it inspired people like Keith Richard of the Rolling Stones, and he is also credited with discovering Emmylou Harris.
His career was filled with alcohol, drugs, fights and at least one arrest. During some shows he couldn't stand, some shows were like magic, where everything was fine and the music flowed.
Sadly, the music came to an abrupt end on the fateful morning of September 19, 1973, when Gram Parsons died of a drug overdose at the age of just 26, just before his rise to fame.
He checked into Room 8 at the Joshua Tree Inn in San Bernardino’s Morongo Valley, a highway motel on the side of the road that had attracted musicians, poets, photographers and the like even before it made the place infamous. He had lost his home and belongings in a fire and was planning to go on another tour in October.
After six double tequilas at a bar with friends, he bought morphine from a woman staying at the hotel, who injected it into him. They tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail.
In a surreal turn of events, his friends, as he requested, “snatched” his body before his stepfather could intervene. Friend and tour manager Phil Kaufman recalled a promise they made to each other while drunk: Regardless of which of us passes away first, the other person's body will be cremated at Joshua Tree Park.
Chaos ensued when his stepfather tried to send his body east, which his friends thought was the last thing he wanted. They stole the coffin and took it to the desert at Cap Rock. There, they lit a huge fire, turning the landscape into a final canvas for the artist’s unconventional farewell at the funeral pyre.
The friends were found, accused of stealing the coffin, and what remained of Gram was sent east to his family.
Haunted Joshua Tree Inn
The guests, unwitting visitors to the musical sanctuary, spoke of ethereal encounters – the peaceful sounds of singing on the wind, the wafting scent of cigarette smoke, and even the company of the spectral figure of Gram Parsons himself.
People claim that it is in Room 8 that strange things happen, such as doors opening and closing, the mirror on the wall shaking, and the nightstand seeming to move.
Outside the room, a compact memorial of guitar-shaped rocks, beer bottles, candles and guitar picks, vinyl records and cowboy boots honors the slow musician. The note reads: “It's good to be back in Room 8. I almost died here five years ago. You kept me company in the early mornings while I recovered, watched the sunrise, and listened to the morning doves.”
Another note referring to the rumors of a haunted place: “Grandma, it was a bit weird when you locked me up here.”
The motel has banked on haunted stories and dim tourism, charging more than $100 a night for a haunted room. According to the man behind the desk at the motel, “This is definitely our most popular room”
Musicians in Search of Ghosts
The place has become a cult site, especially for musicians who want to pay homage to its spirit. Some park rangers and tourists call it GrampiresFor example, Kacey Musgrave she told about her meeting with his ghost during his stay at the inn, filming it Follow your arrow music video.
It is also said that his only daughter, Polly Parsons, sometimes makes this journey, checks into the room, and tries to make contact with his spirit.
Other haunted rooms
But is it possible that Gram is not the only spirit haunting the Inn and that there are more haunted rooms? According to people who work there, some believe this is the case. There was a woman's voice from room 6 when no one was there. It was also said that some energy and presence is present in other areas of the motel.
In the spirit realm, Gram Parsons emerges as a benevolent spirit, offering a hauntingly stunning connection to the artistic energies that flow through the desert landscape. For those who dare to venture into the mystical world of Joshua Tree National Park, the ethereal melodies and timeless presence of Gram Parsons await in the starry nights of the California desert.
References:
Joshua Tree Motel Room Haunted by Ghost of Country Legend – The New York Times
12 Haunted National Parks | Shaka Guide
How a Beloved Los Angeles Record Store Found a Long-Lost Gram Parsons Record
An Evening at Joshua Tree Inn and the Spirit of Gram Parsons
Enough about Gram Parsons' death. Time to celebrate his music.
Gram Parsons's legacy in Joshua Tree continues 50 years after his death – Los Angeles Times
https://eu.desertsun.com/story/desert-magazine/2015/12/09/haunting-allure/76982908
Image Source: Pixabay.com
