Exploring the Ruins of Cathedral Canyon in Nevada
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- Опубликовано: 14 май 2024
- Located just a few miles outside of Pahrump and about an hour from Las Vegas lies the ruins of what was once Cathedral Canyon, a once awe-inspiring site in the Nevada desert. What was once a dream inspired by a near-death experience however, now lies in ruins.
Cathedral Canyon was created by a man named Roland Wiley, who built the large religious monument on his Hidden Hills Ranch outside of Pahrump. Wiley had once been the District Attorney for Clark County, and even had unsuccessfully run for governor of Nevada. It was after being hospitalized with rabbit fever in the 1960s that he was inspired to build Cathedral Canyon, a cathedral in the desert. The cathedral walls were built by mother nature and the roof was the sky above.
Opening in 1972, at one point Cathedral Canyon had electric lights, plumbing, a sound system for music, and even a 30 foot waterfall. It also featured over a hundred different religious items, from neon painted Virgin Mary statues to quotes by Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein.
After Wiley died in 1994, unfortunately the canyon wasn't well looked after, and was repeatedly vandalized. Now some 30 years later, little is left of what was once said to bring in over 4,000 visitors a year.
Also located at Cathedral Canyon is the grave of Queho. An early 1900s outlaw that terrorized residents near the Colorado River.
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I had the honor of seeing Cathedral Canyon in all it's glory. Either day or night it was beautiful, soft music playing, gentle lights to help along the way and to light up all the statues/stained glass windows that he had in the out coves. He also had benches for people to sit and reflect from. The view from the bridge was pure amazement. I lived in Pahrump from the late 70's to the early 90's. The desert holds many such places. It's a real shame that people feel the need to destruct. I am glad that I got to enjoy it when it was in full glory.
Sounds like it was an incredible place.
@TnMyers2010-I am SO envious of you, being able to see this place in its well-maintained state and the owner of it tending it. I wish I could have seen it that way!
You are a very lucky person to have seen it years ago 🥰😘
I visited Cathedral Canyon for the first time in 1994. I went there many times in the 90s and it was an oasis of calm in the raging heat of the desert. Like a lot of other visitors, my friends and I would sometimes bring sculptures, paintings, and candles which were in keeping with the religious theme to add to the collection. One time we brought several empty picture frames to place around certain rocks and plants to highlight the artistry of God. It was a nice place to enjoy being quiet for a while.
Unfortunately, some people can't enjoy nice things. Unable to be creative, they become destructive. Over the last handful of times I went there the vandalism became more and more pronounced. Eventually I stopped going there because it was such a depressing sight to see it so wrecked.
Cathedral Canyon was a beautiful place, but they took it from you because it disturbed their demons. What a shame.
It never fails to amaze me how creative and destructive humans can be.
It’s been decades since I passed Pahrump, and I never knew of this place. Thank you for the tour. Despite the ruins I feel a sense of reverence for the creator and the experiences he had that lead to his construction of this devotional monument. It’s sad that so many people are so destructive and disrespectful.
I remember one night back in the 90's around midnight some friends and I decided we'd drive out to Cathedral Canyon, we drove down the road to place at night and it's desolate, nobody out there, we get out of the car and walk over to a power pole that was set up out there and had a breaker box you tripped and boom, the whole canyon lit up, and at night it was truly something awe inspiring and I was amazed. The suspension bridge lit up, all of the relics and spiritual statues which lined the bottom of the canyon were illuminated. It was so interesting. I'm glad I got to see it when it was pristine.
Wow, that's amazing! Just flip a breaker and it illuminates the area!
As an electrician, I would ask if you noticed how many amps the breaker was! 15 amp will serve a couple rooms, but beyond that, like for floodlights, it might need 30 or even 40amps!!
Must have been eerily cool to see!
The pitch black suddenly becomes daylight!!
That is SO awesome you saw it like that! I was not aware of it at that time, so never travelled there until in retirement. Imagine the work Roland put into electrifying that remote canyon! What a man, I hope to get to meet him in Heaven and listen to his stories about it.
Yes, it was a unique place.
It's shameful that no one ever thought about persevering this place for future generations to see a person's dream after he survived a near death experience that to him god exist.
That he dedicated his property and himself to the glory of the LORD.
Thank you for taking us along on this bit of history in the West.
Fully agree with you on preservation. But in this day and age, preserving the physical location may not be as viable financially and will at some point fall again into disrepair; a beautiful thought to preserve it though. But with all the technology we have at our disposal, maybe there is a more viable and longer lasting way to preserve this (as I do feel it is a history worth preserving), why not some form of VR (Virtual Reality)? Take scans and the use of pictures/records from its past, and create a full, VR model of the site? This way, Cathedral Canyon's history has the chance of reaching a much wider audience.
Just my thought, which is ironic, as I hate modern technology (well, some of it 🤣). But using VR technology, the user can immerse themselves fully, into Cathedral Canyon's history. And apologies, I've probably repeated my point a couple of times and taken too long to explain my point 🤣. But still... another amazing video from Sidetrack Adventures; a guy who is doing his best, and achieving it, by bringing us pieces of history, most would not bother with. Thanks 👍
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly I wish it could have been protected and preserved. But I know a bit of backstory to it (I've been there too), and I read that after his death the family and sons just did not feel it feasible to become caretakers and keepers of the ranch and canyon. I can understand that, as I know just how remote and far from things the canyon is. And it was Roland's wish that it could be visited by people w/out cost, as a spiritual & contemplative place. But it's sad how we lose things that can never really be replaced. Even using Virtual Reality, I as a senior wonder how many of the youth today would even find interest in a place like this? The world is different now, and not better IMO.
I think you meant preserve not persevere😂
I moved to Las Vegas in 1972, and we visited Cathedral Canyon several times in the '70's and '80's. It was a really neat place; you could go there at night, and turn the lights on yourself and spend as long as you wanted just enjoying the beauty and the quiet. We had a telescope and we would bring it out there because the dark sky was really nice - now there's a glow all around, so that's pretty much gone too. Thanks for this nice memory.
As a displaced native of the US deserts, I can still return to my homeland because of your travels that you share with us. Bless you and your family.
Excellent as always Steve. Thank you sir.
Thank you.
Another great story with so many sad elements. Terrific, natural narration.
Steve, if you ever run across a set of photographs of this place and its heyday, I'm sure I'm not the only one that would love to see them. Such a shame it's been destroyed
Beautifully narrated video of a tiny location in Pahrump developed at great cost as a tribute to the owners’s Creator.
I especially enjoyed the before pics demonstrating the terrible change for the worse. Thanks Steve
Sad to see our Lord being shot by vandals. It discussed me. So sorry to see that. What a beautiful place. Thank you for posting.
It's not really Him.
@@jeannerogers7085 But it is still as disrespectful as a burning in effigy.
It angers me that people have to destroy things. I know it was just a statue of Jesus, I would not dare shoot it with a gun. Thanks you for sharing these adventures .
Being it was a statue of Jesus makes it even worse that they could do such a thing
It only takes one idiot and we know there are plenty of them around
Yeah, it doesn't matter what your beliefs are, destroying religious items is pretty low.
It’s despicable! Not only from a religious standpoint, but from the point of view of destroying someone’s dream. Wiley put so much time, energy, and resources into his dream for some lowlife individuals to destroy it. So sad and utterly disgusting.
Satan's minions in action 😢
Thanks for another great video. I've lived in Pahrump for 24 years and Cathedral Canyon has always been an interesting place for me.
The canyon is beautiful!! Fascinating history here. Thanks for showing us around.
My pleasure.
I first visited Cathedral Canyon sometime in the early to mid 90s. It was a pretty magical place in those years. Even after his death someone kept the power on for a while and through most of the 90s you could still go out there and flip the switch at night and the place lit up beautifully. But as with everything abandoned nature and vandals take their toll. It's still a cool story and a neat place to visit but unless you saw it in person during its heyday it's hard to grasp just how special it was. Thanks for another great adventure to an old memory of mine.
I bet it looked amazing lit up with nothing else around but darkness.
So many gems to be found in the desert👍👍
Steve, just beyond the parking area at Cathedral Canyon heading west, going down the hill on the north side, you see the home site, with the stumps of an old orchard. There are photos at the Pahrump Historical Museum of Wiley along with some silent movie actors posing for the picture. Also the dirt road heading north toward Pahrump is shown as Nevada State Hwy. 16 , which now includes the Cathedral Canyon Rd, which Wiley built as his driveway.
Steve, I’m not sure if anyone’s mentioned it yet, but, the way that waterfall worked was a lot like a fish pond waterfall. There was a pump in the pool below, which pumped water up to the top and it would spill back into the pool from above.
Flip the breaker, as described by earlier commenter and voila! lights, camera, flowing water features!
I found cathedral canyon 15 years ago when I had a forced landing due to catastrophic engine failure, The airfield is just south of the canyon, we stumbled upon the canyon while waiting to get help. It was untouched, everything was beautiful. There was a natural spring in the canyon, The Christ of the Andies Statue looked great, Sad to see what people have done.
Mr. Wiley gave me & my husband a tour through the canyon in the early ‘80s. It was so interesting & Mr. Wiley was such a gentleman.
Such a shame…😢
One man builds a dream for the enjoyment of all. In time he is gone and eventually his dream must surrender to the same fate! Very Nicely Done! Thank You!!!
Why do some people have to destroy every single thing they come in contact with?
Because there are no more builders left in this world, only destroyers. They could not wait to move in and behead the statue of Jesus - a man who never harmed anyone, who only preached love and healed the sick. Evil exists and is on full display in Cathedral Canyon.
I wish I knew. I always try to leave no trace I was ever there.
@@SidetrackAdventures probably something to do with being raised with some respect. Keep the good stuff coming Steve.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HUMANS DO...!
@tarzanjungle2638 this is unfortunately too true
very enjoyable video. having moved from CA to FL four years ago, I miss the desert more than I thought possible
Great video! You always find the coolest stuff to visit!!!
Thank you.
The music always fits your videos like a glove. When I was a youngster growing up in the Inland Empire back in the 80's, my father would take my sister and I out for some adventures in the local San Berdo mountains in his 56' Chevy truck. Your videos give me a lot of nostalgia from that time in my life. Keep up the great work.
The Big Open desert holds many mysteries and secrets. Visitors must tread lightly as well as having some form of self-defense.
I moved into Las Vegas in August 1978 and am sorry I never heard about this place until seeing your very nice and interesting video today. As an adventuresome young man then I'm sure it would have been an impressive place to have checked out . Thanks Steve.
Thank you for this story! No matter the desecration to this site, Jesus still lives and shines through. God prevails.
You sure do your homework !! Your videos are always full of history and your technique of videography is always top notch.
Keep them coming.
This is one of your best, Steve. That name Pahrump is unusual. The stories from this location just keep on coming.
The name supposedly comes from a twist on a native American word, pahrimp, meaning water from the rock. This area used to have Artesian wells.
@@bobrocco4218 Maybe one of those wells was the source of the water for the waterfall
Yes, Pahrump is an interesting little desert town. I've camped quite a bit on its outskirts RVing. There are other stories to be told relating to Pahrump, I'd say. Like the late Ted Binion's silver trove that was buried beneath what is now the Pahrump Nugget Casino parking lot.
Used to camp out there in the 90s when it was nice and working , very special place in my mind . You would flip the switch and lights waterfalls and music would turn on .
Hey Steve. I just love followong your sidetrack adventures and look forward to them every week. It's a great way to explore and learn about out of the way places most of us have never heard of. I really apprecxiate all the time and effor you put into these very detailed narrations and videos of some of the most interesting and curious landmarks out west. Cheers!
Thank you. I really appreciate the kind words.
Thanks for another great video. Your peaceful narration is mighty soothing to listen to after a bad day.
Been there in my early 20 s with my mom later live pahrump from 1987 to 1997 some peacefull years
That story touches a lot of strings
Some of those 'strings' may be fuses!! Kablamo!
@@roberthevern6169 LOL
Great video and history lesson. Thanks again.
Another interesting and entertaining episode. 👍👍👍
Thank you.
Men lose their mind out there in that Desert .Steve stay safe and sane
Hunter S Thompson!!
Leaving Las Vegas!
Sin City has plenty of history! Like the human remains found in barrels when Lake Mead was low!! Run!! Don't look back, he may be gaining on you! Must go faster!
Beautiful place. Very sad story Steve. How nice it would have been to be preserved.
Yeah, it's too bad it wasn't. It seems like the property had been split up between various family members and there were competing ideas what would be done with the place, so in the end nothing was done.
Thank you Steve, another interesting video. I have been around that area off roading and camping and was not aware of Cathedral Canyon and its history. I was aware of the story of the Indian and his life along the Colorado River, it's a nice tribute by Wiley to respectively honor him by providing beautiful resting area. The desert has its own beauty; which is what attracted Wiley to this location. Your video provided another interesting place to visit, it is a shame and criminal that people have to destroy one Man's or Woman's home or dreams. All of the work that he put into his place of peace and comfort destroyed by vandals. Some how we have lost that respect for other people's property.... Thank you Steve, very enjoyable video!
When I came to Pahrump to visit my brother, he brought me here. Beautiful. Was not totally ruined, but did not have the water falls.
Great research on this man's devotion to our Lord. It reminds me of Salvation Mountain near the Salton Sea and the town of Niland. I met Leonard Knight the creator of Salvation Mountain in 1999 and was impressed by his determination as well as his devotion to our Lord. Recently I visited Salvation Mountain and it is being preserved and protected by a group of volunteers. Glad to see that Leonard's work is being saved for future visitors to enjoy.
Amen 👍🏼 i met him too and spent a afternoon helping out . what a interesting and devoted man . Rest in Peace Leonard , you did good 🙏🏼
Thank you for doing these. I look forward to seeing them every week
You are so welcome!
We live in Pahrump and have heard about this place but never have been there. Since we watched your video about it, it peeked our interest to go visit it. Thank you!!
I remember going there over 30 years ago everything was still there.
Thank you for the awesome reminder of this place, I spent a lot of time in this canyon when I was a younger man, the peace it brought everyone was worth it. Respect
I went there just a few months ago, but didn’t know the history of Cathedral canyon. Thank you so much for enlightening me and everyone else!. I’ve watched your videos and must say you’re doing a superb job. So relaxing to listen to, and so well edited !
Thanks for sharing this Adventure with us! Quite the history of Cathedral Canyon .. I'll bet it was it an experience with the music and all the Icons around. It's still a pleasant experience.....
Thanks 👍
Super interesting, thanks for letting us tag along.
I hate the heat even though I live in Southern California, but I really will never get used to how beautiful the High Desert is. Driving to Vegas is always a treat (as long as your car AC works!)
Such an absolutely beautiful place. I can only dare to imagine what it was like in its time. It is just an absolutely disgrace how some, entitled hoodlums, feel the need to destroy a memorial to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Whether you believe or not, doesn't give anyone the privilege of desecrating a cathedral representing the blessed Son of God who gave his life on Calvary for each and every one of us. Thank you Steve for the wonderful tour and the respect you have for such magnificent pieces of history. Will be waiting for next week's amazing adventure. Until then stay safe and God bless.
Steve in Oklahoma
It amazes me there is so much history in around Las Vegas.
The best parts of Las Vegas are outside of the city.
Thanks for taking me along! Great video!
Amen 👍🏼
Wow, Steve! Calling this place ruins is an understatement! There's some pretty destructive people out there! Considering what you had said about Wiley spending $12k for that road back in the day compared to what it & everything else would cost at today's prices seems such a terrible waste as to what it's become! Sad! Thanks for the tour! Safe travels!
Another great adventure Steve. Thank you
I got to see this place when I first moved to Las Vegas in 1996.
Great times! ❤️
And yes, 30 years ago, Cathedral Canyon was amazing.
It was well maintained. There was electricity out there.
There were stringed lights and there was a timer switch that you could turn on right at the start of the self guided “tour.”
Thanks Steve for another great video! Love your calm voice, and interesting locations which I otherwise would never have known about.
Really enjoy your videos, Steve.
They feel like a short road trip with a buddy.
A wonderful video Steve! You take so many of us on places we've never heard of and likely will never see. This is one of your best.
7:00 Probably just sank a pump as there is a huge water reservoir under Nye County for sure, I had a friend who lived there and he said everyone does it there. I've been to Pahrump twice and I must definitely go here next visit.
Thanks for another enjoyable local history adventure!
THANK YOU STEVE,YES SAD LOTS DAMAGE TO MANY PLACES IN OUR GREAT COUNTRY..SAFE TRAVELS.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos! I'm retiring this year and looking forward to visiting all the out-of-the-way places I would never have heard of without your videos. Thank you!
Steve, your videos are always good and honestly relaxing. I could watch them all day long.
I find the desecration of this place heartbreaking.
I love your videos. So relaxing.
I saw a video recently of Cathedral Canyon. I have to say, your video was the most informative. You did your research. Now I know who the man is who built that place, he was quite eccentric.
Excellent video! Thanks again. I love your work -Jim
Steve, you present such wonderful video histories!
Thanks for sharing…!
Thanks, Steve! 😊
Thanks for taking us along. A sad end of a man's work.
Good job , maybe your most interesting that I have watched
Thanks!
Great little video. Appreciate your research on your subjects and your relaxed delivery is really enjoyable to listen to.
Thank you.
I enjoy the treks you take me on. Thank You.
I know! Shoes, joints, don't wear out, never run out of water! No varmints!
Desecration indeed! Whoever draws a bead on Jesus is tempting fate, if you believe in that sort of thing.
BAD Karma to them.
Amen
Another very very interesting story as always! Thanks Steve.
Everything decays.
Everything dies.
Everything is forgotten.
This reminds me that every moment is precious in our finite lifetimes on earth!!
How very sad this man's life work disappeared so quickly!
Thank you for letting the world know of a story which, without your video, we would never know about. Desecration of the Cathedral is true. Very sad.
Keep it up Steve, watching every one. Thanks
THANKS AGAIN Professor…
Helldorado sounds like a bikers’ holiday. It’s a shame about the vandalism. I would never desecrate a religious image of any kind. Thanks for the video. 👍☮️🌞✝️🪨🪦
So sad that that nobody took over the place after his death to keep it original, must’ve been quite the site to see ! Thanks Steve !
I agree, please raise the funds to restore it to its former glory, we will thank you all.
Apparently they had a caretaker who was in his 80s himself, but it was too much for him to handle. Its a shame, especially when you see the pictures of what it once looked like.
another amazing one from you folks....I really appreciate your presentations! interesting stuff! thx
As always another great video, thanks Dude.
Thank you.
More great stories from the desert. Thanks Steve.
I regularly watch' your videos here in India. You show us that America which nobody else shows. Thanks so much।
Thanks Steve, for this great trip to Cathedral Canyon! Just an amazing place, I haven't been in a few years. The Indian Queho quite terrorized that whole desert area while he was roaming it. I've read residents far and wide feared him.
Wow! I vaguely remember hearing about this place in the 70's. My best friend in 8th and 9th grade was Catholic and her older sister and friends wanted to go see this and said they might take us. It never happened. That would have been cool to see.
Well, the ol' Catholic church sorta had some 'issues', so may be just as well!
As always...very interesting, informative, and entertaining.
Thank you!
Thanks for taking us along on this journey🤗😎🤗😎
My husband and I went out there with other married couples attending a marriage retreat in Pahrump and it was such a lovely place and that was back in the 90s
Thank you for all the research you did 😘 I live in Las Vegas and didn't know about this place 🤦 I wish I could have seen it before Idiots destroyed it 😥 It's beautiful and so peaceful out there 😘💗🥰
Awesome thanks for sharing your awesome adventures
That was a really neat bit of history! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks Steve!
Thank you, thank you. Thank you. This is a place. I have visited a few times in the last few years. Thank you for the back story on that. I wish I had visited that 25 years ago when I moved to the Vegas area.
Well presented, well said.
Mr. Meyers relates how this place offered solace to any people and
like all things Human and otherwise,
if someone remembers we all benefit from that.
Cheers,
Rik Spector