Kris Loeppky National Monument

Among the lesser known national monuments, but still loved by several dozen people, the Kris Loeppky National Monument (KLNM) is located on the grounds of the BBCRC and right next to the Utah Phillips flanger car project, operated by The Long Memory. Established in 2013 to honor the living legacy of Kris Loeppky and all that he has accomplished, the Monument attracts visitors from near and afar and has been featured in several evocative Instagram posts (^#krisloeppkynationalmonument).

While some naysayers have tried to claim that there is "nothing there" at the KLNM, this photo shows the view of vintage cabooses and Mount Shasta available from the Monument grounds as well as the Monument's picnic and firepit area.

Facilities available at the KLNM include:

Picnic area

BBQ/fire pit (not available during fire season)

Horseshoes

Scenic views of Mount Shasta, Black Butte, various railcars on the grounds of the BBCRC and a recently restored neighboring forest area

Prevalence of local native flora including Antelope Brush, Common Manzanita, Rabbit Brush, Ponderosa Pines, and a towering Incense Cedar

Birdwatching (see list of birds seen in the area at the Black Butte Bird List)

2025 Update — Up until the pandemic, the Monument continuing to attract visitors from near and afar, especially after it was somehow uploaded to Google Maps as one of the very few official National Monuments of far-northern California, a status it retained for several years. However, ratings were mixed and dominated by poor reviews submitted by a handful of malcontents. At the time the KLNM disappeared from Google Maps (probably after complaints from the National Park Service?) it had sunk to being the lowest-rated National Monument in the entire country, even lower than the Statute of Liberty.

Just as mysteriously as the KLNM disappeared from Google Maps, it reappeared in 2024, but now as a "place of worship". While it has suffered from some "deferred maintenance" in recent times, the Monument is still worth a (short?) visit while in the area, at least for some people. All the old reviews were lost but you can leave one on the new page.

Please help popularize the Monument by going on Google Maps and leaving a review.

Southern Pacific Land Company sign discovered in the area in the course of forestry restoration activities. The KLNM sits adjacent to a Ponderosa Pine plantation undergoing long-term restoration, using thinning, prescribed fire and species diversification.

When visiting the Monument in summer and fall, please keep in mind the high potential for human caused wildfire that exists in this area!