Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
In January 2016 a militia led by the Bundy family occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Oregon. The group was protesting criminal charges against two local ranchers accused of agricultural related burning on Bureau of Land Management property. The debate over public land usage is fascinating and contentions and this standoff ended after 40 days with federal agents killing an armed militia member on a public highway.
While the BLM remains fairly unpopular in these rural areas the refuge is back open and welcoming visitors. While very far off the beaten path, the birdwatching is amazing and so plentiful the area feels like an enclosed zoo exhibit. A small gift shop is open and attended by very nice old ladies. I wanted to ask how it all went down, but they were just too nice.
2. Wounded Knee
The west was supposedly a lot different back in 1890 when over 250 Lakota people were slaughtered by the US Army on the current day Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. One of the more well-know atrocities of its era, the location of this “battle” is located in a not so visited section of South Dakota.
Today the travesties against and genocide of Native peoples continues and only a small cement block commemorates these horrible events. The nearby bordertown of Whiteclay, Nebraska existed solely to serve alcohol to the dry reservation until 2010 and its Google StreetView is one of the saddest things I have seen in this country. Please do not take this as a slight against our diverse Native peoples but as an opportunity for America to realize we can do much better.
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3. Waco
The “Waco Siege”, it’s hilarious how they name these fuck ups, happened in 1993 when a religious cult began stockpiling weapons and the FBI and ATF (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms which should be a store not a government agency) took notice. After a 51 day standoff someone started a fire and 82 people were killed including 4 feds and multiple children. The governments heavy handedness was questioned and the siege was listed as a motivation for the Oklahoma City Bombing years later.
Waco HATES its reputation from this event, we think this one is better, and the actual ranch is located just out of town in Axtell, Texas. Much to our surprise the cult, the Branch Davidians, still occupies the land and have rebuilt and largely continue on, but presumable less armed and without their problematic former leader.
4. Ruby Ridge
The theme of mid 90’s federal aggression continues all way up in the Idaho panhandle. Randy Weaver was wanted on minor weapons charges and after refusing to snitch on his Aryan Nations butt buddies the ATF stormed his compound ultimately killing his wife, son, and dog. After 11 days Weaver surrendered and charges against him were eventually dropped. The threat of far-right violent racism is real and the federal governments haphazard approach here intensified tensions that exist to this day.
The Weaver’s lived up on a hill because they wanted to be left alone and that geography still keeps people away. Satellite views show no new construction on the ridge and nature has reclaimed most of the area. Despite being a gateway to Glacier National Park and an outdoor tourism destination the region continues to be a haven for white supremacists.
5. Antelope, Oregon
This one is insane, and you must watch the Netflix docuseries Wild Wild Country to fully take it all in. Throughout the 1980’s the Rajneeshpuram cult established their own incorporated community in rural central Oregon. This group believed in extremely free love and drugs and were generally a nuisance to the neighboring community. Growing in numbers, the groups political clout began to take hold in the sparsely populated region and locals began enacting ordinances to drive them out. The religious group responded by poisoning a series of dinner buffets in The Dalles, Oregon infecting over 750 with salmonella. This legal trouble was the end of the party and the group was forced to abandon their elaborate town.
While most other locations on this list should be left in peace, the Rajnee’s actually built and impressive town of parks, swimming pools, and unintendedly created a fun summer camp environment. And as one cult dissolves another thrives, as the Christian organization Young Life now occupies these grounds. It makes me very happy to think that this super conservative holier than thou organization plays marco polo in the same pool that hippies had an orgy in.
6. Granby, Colorado
Upset with numerous city health violations for dumping sewage into the streets a Granby, Colorado resident decided to build a “Killdozer” and terrorize his local community. The deranged welder added protective layers of steel and concrete to an old bulldozer and on June 4, 2004 drove the machine into over 13 buildings causing excessive damage throughout town. The Colorado State Police were unable to stop his vehicle and not until it became stuck in a basement did the chaos end.
The quiet town of Granby shows no real scars from this crazy event and as usual most residents prefer to move on. Today people drive through town on the way to ski Steamboat Springs or to spend a day in Rocky Mountain National Park.