Thursday, June 14, 2012

Trona, armpit of America

As you may recall the Eviliz tour did stop in Trona. We only stopped long enough to photograph what was left of TJ's house and that was long enough for me. This town is a DUMP. It smells bad and nearly everything is either abandoned or boarded-up. It was however a long-term home to more than one Family member...







16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I could never figure out why Charlie wanted to take over that town.

Marc said...

Interesting tid bit is Trona high school is the only school in the USA that plays there football home games on a dirt field as the soil is so infertile that no grass will grow. Its is literally a waste land

Patty is Dead said...

Liz made Mr. Patty stop in the trailer park to take a photo because it was the nicest looking thing there.

Anonymous said...

Trona High School, home of the "Trona Tornadoes"

sunset77 said...

ABC News video about Trona:

The Pit

They do it in the dirt.

Matt said...

Well, we drove right past that HS. I think I recall us remarking that it was a shithole too :)

Farflung said...

Oddly enough, I kinda think Trona was where Joe Dorgan (Suzan’s boyfriend who entered the La Bianca house) lived for a period of time, adding to the ‘one degree of separation’ mystique.


You’re a brave man Matt to have entered such a post apocalyptic abyss and live to talk about it. You may want to consider adding Bombay Beach and Salton City for an itinerary of total writhing hopeless despair. A vacation guaranteed to make you feel like Warren Buffet when you get home.

Patty is Dead said...

Farf, was Dorgan there at the same time as the Wallemans and Cappy's brood?

eviliz said...

It did stink.

Farflung said...

Patty,

I don’t know the time frame Dorgan resided in the bucolic hamlet of Trona. Just that there was an odd clustering of Manson associated people in such a tiny community. I know, big help.

Here is another ‘breadcrumb’ left by Cappy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oJk5eAvMqY

It’s nice to see some community pride (2:19-2:21) that’s a rare thing today.

orwhut said...

Here's another link to some photos and captions about Trona.
http://www.satanslaundromat.com/sl/archives/000181.html

orwhut said...

Farf,
Thanks for the link. That's about the most I ever heard Cappy say.

Patty is Dead said...

Yeah thanks Farf, Patty had not watched that footage in a while.

Matt, Liz an Grump: if you watch till the end, you'll notice that the Helter Skelter truck is in its former location, not the present one that we photographed last April.

Matt said...

Bill Nelson shot that after telling Cappy he wouldn't, hence the way she was acting.

Anonymous said...

Right after the Helter Skelter truck scene, you will see window frames and sheet metal from the bus too.

That is where it was dragged and blown up. Believe it or not!

Patty, Matt, Liz - on CafePress.com you can buy Trona shirts and stuff.

orwhut said...

Matt,
My apologies, I didn't see that you'd included the link in your story.