Roanoke VA Family Photographer | Salvation Mountain

Right now I am sitting looking out my window and the snow is coming down making everything beautiful.  As much as I love snow, and trust God that he gives us perfect weather, I’m pretty ready for some warmer temperatures.  Last week My family and I got to travel to the sunny state of California.  The weather was perfect!  75 degrees and zero humidity (if you live on the east coast you know humidity here is brutal, leaving every inch of your body sticky!)  I got to visit one of the places on my bucket list, Salvation Mountain.  Salvation Mountain is truly awesome!  One of the few man made wonders of the world.  The mountain is located literally in the middle of nowhere.  You drive in the desert forever then you see it… a colorful painted mountain in the mist of a really sad forgotten place. On the drive you pass what looks like a third world country.  Make shift liquor stores service gypsies living in shanties and vans.  Signs line the streets inviting you to escape reality and leave civilization.  It was a little scary and I do not recommend you visit alone.  Here is a little info on the mountain; Leonard Knight is the artist and visionary of the mountain.  It took him 25 years of hard labor but the final product is amazing!!  He is highly regarded in the folk art community and has had world wide recognition.  However, his faith often gets left out of the news.  The whole inspiration for Salvation Mountain is clearly the artist’s love for Jesus.  Jesus was his passion and Salvation Mountain was his mission.  Leonard Knight died in 2014 and there is no one to up keep the mountain.  It is showing major signs of wear and will not last forever.  Parts have been vandalized including Leonard’s Bible.  I am extremely thankful for the gift to see this place and take in its beauty.  Seeing an artist’s passion for Jesus and his ministry to the people that inhabit the surrounding area is truly and inspiration.

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Kristin of Whimsee Art Photography is a Roanoke VA family photographer located in Central Virginia. At Whimsee Art you will find newborn, maternity and family photography.

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