Joshua Tree National Park top choice for spreading ashes of dearly departed

A recent poll revealed Joshua Tree National Park as the top choice by Californians to spread the ashes of dearly departed loved ones.

A survey by Choice Mutual , an insurance agency specializing in final expense life insurance, found that Californians chose Joshua Tree National Park as a preferred alternative burial location.

The survey also revealed that Californians were drawn to spread ashes along the Central Coast, just south of Monterey.

No. 1 Joshua Tree National Park

Choice Mutual’s survey showed that people go to Joshua Tree National Park to spread ashes due to its unique and serene desert landscape, which offers a sense of peace and timeless beauty.

Joshua Tree National Park is located southeast of the Victor Valley, is part of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and straddles the Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert.

“The park's iconic Joshua trees, dramatic rock formations, and expansive views create a tranquil and majestic environment, ideal for a final resting place,” Choice Mutual officials said. “Additionally, the park's rich biodiversity and spiritual ambiance make it a meaningful and picturesque location to honor and remember loved ones.”

The National Park Service explained that the scattering of cremated human remains, or "cremains," in Joshua Tree National Park should be a small private affair.

A special use Permit is also required to hold the activity.

Visitors with ashes will be given a two-hour window. The park only permits one activity at a time so people should arrive during the permitted time frame. A map will be provided by the permit office of the approved location. For more information, call 760- 367-5551 or visit nps.gov .

The national park is no stranger to the afterlife.

In 1973, Cecil Connor III, better known as the late rocker-pioneer Gram Parsons, 26, was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Joshua Tree National Park, then National Monument.

After several failed attempts to save his life, Parsons was pronounced dead at Hi-Desert Memorial Hospital in Yucca Valley on Sept. 19, 1973, Discover Music reported.

The official cause of Parsons’ death was an overdose of morphine and alcohol, the Discover story stated.

With plans for burial in Louisiana, Parson’s coffin was stolen by his friend and tour manager, Phil Kaufman, and his accomplice, Michael Martin, and taken to Cap Rock in Joshua Tree National Park for a makeshift and partial cremation.

Two days after the cremation, an anonymous source told Rolling Stone that Gram, just before his death, told his friend, “ I want to be in Joshua Tree and I want my ashes scattered here.”

Parsons was later buried at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Metairie, Louisiana.

A makeshift memorial to Parsons remains at Cap Rock, which includes “guitar picks, handwritten letters, empty whiskey bottles and, at least one time, a life-size papier-mâché statue of the singer,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

No 2. Big Sur

Choice Mutual’s survey ranked Big Sur as the second most popular place to spread ashes, mainly due to the breathtaking coastal scenery and dramatic cliffs that overlook the vast Pacific Ocean.

The rugged coastline, with its stunning views and sense of wild, untamed beauty, offers a tranquil and awe-inspiring final resting place. The area's pristine natural environment and the soothing sound of crashing waves can provide a peaceful and eternal connection to nature.

No. 3 Carmel Beach

People chose Carmel Beach as the third most popular place to spread ashes.

The pristine white sands and the gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean create a peaceful and picturesque setting, ideal for a final resting place.

The beach's natural charm, combined with the iconic cypress trees and breathtaking sunsets, offers a tranquil and timeless environment to honor and remember loved ones.

Other locations

The Mutual Choice survey also mention several other preferred ash-spreading locations across the country such as sports arenas, speedways and historic landmarks.

The influence of die-hard sports fans was evident in several states. In Indiana, Hoosiers named the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as their ultimate resting place. The speedway, known for the legendary Indianapolis 500, is not just a racetrack but a symbol of the state’s rich motorsport heritage.

A significant number of states selected important urban or historical landmarks for their final resting place. Texans opted for the Alamo, a symbol of their state’s independence and resilience. The Alamo stands as a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for Texas’s freedom, making it a revered site for many residents.

The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is not mentioned in the Choice Mutual survey.

However, The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg, 68, recently revealed that after her mother, Emma Harris, died in 2010, she honored her by spreading her ashes on her mom's favorite Disneyland ride: It's a Small World, E! News reported.

To secretly pull off the ash-spreading mission, Whoopi would quickly play off the sneeze, joking, "And I'd say, 'My god, this cold is getting worse and worse.'"

Whoopi also spread her mother's ashes over the flower beds near the park entrance.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Joshua Tree National Park top choice for spreading ashes of dearly departed