Driftwood Charley

Crossing Imperial County – Stop #10 



It would be best to drive by this one and stay on the road but for those with a sense of adventure and enjoy the likely interaction with folks camping in the tress and brush, you can head north off

Algodones Road

at the Sleepy Hollow RV park. The sculptures have been destroyed and only the rubble from them remains. If you find yourself mugged and your car hijacked, it’s an easy hop across the border to Algodones just a mile away on one of the many senior’s tour buses for medical and dental treatment and prescription drugs.  

A prudent alternative for those in need of a landmark fix right here is Hanlon Heading right on

Algodones Road

 

 

.  

From the Landmarks of Imperial County album:

In 1947 the doctors said that Charles Kasling had only a short time to live unless he moved to a hot, dry climate. First he moved to the Death Valley area, and in 1960 he left for Yuma, Arizona, where Driftwood Charley's World of Lost Art was created." 

Text and image are copyright "Fantastic Architecture: Personal and Eccentric Visions" by Michael Schuyt, Joost Elffers, and George R. Collins, 1980, Dumont Buchverlag, Cologne, ISBN 0-8109-0914-6; out of print.

Social Security records indicate Charles Kasling was born July 10, 1901 and passed away in March of 1985, a testament to desert living.



There is no marker or plaque, but if there was it would read: State Historical Landmark No. 939

Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic)-CHARLEY'S WORLD OF LOST ART

Charles Kasling began sculpturing near Andrade in 1967, and his creations now fill a site of approximately two and a half acres. His style, best described as eclectic, was inspired partly by his world travels with the U.S. Navy and partly by the desert terrain.

Location:  On dirt road, 0.5 miles NW of Andrade, 7 miles SW of Winterhaven.  As the second photo shows, the site has been decimated and travel there is not recommended.

Google maps: 32.730902,-114.726877

Charley’s Lost Art is 19 miles from Tumco Mine

Here’s a link to a video sample of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYr-DWedYW4

DRIFTWOOD CHARLEY

Back in 1947 the doctor told Charles Kasling

You've only got six months to live

Charley said, "I wasn't asking".

Navy life has made its toll down in the engine room

Your lungs they just don't work so well

I hate to break the news

You know there just might be a way

Dry heat it can prolong 'ya

If you will be inclined to move down by Arizona

So Charley grabbed his old sea bag

Shook hands and said, "here's to ya

I know what I'm a-gonna do, I'm headed down towards Yuma”

Chorus -

In the land of Driftwood Charley there's so much to be seen

Sculptures carved out from the stone of places he has been

There are figures from the bible, creatures old and gnarly

At this place we've come to know, the land of Driftwood Charley

"I'm gonna tell a story, tell it out of stone

Whatever comes into my mind

And go it all alone

From life here in the desert, from my years in the Navy

I'm a carving sculpting desert fool

Some folks think that I'm crazy".

Charley fooled that doc you see, lived another 40 years

Two acres of inspiration

You'll find it all right here