Hall of Horrors name?

Any one know the origins of the name, Hall of Horrors, in Joshua Tree? Trying to figure out how or why it got its name. 

Have you not felt the horror of being there?!

That’s a great question to ask here. I do not know the answer for sure.  Still, a tourist once asked me that question in the parking lot which spurred some thinking.

My guess is it had to do with climbing being fringe a la “get a job.” So I like to think the name “Hall of Horrors” was sort of climbers poking fun at the many in society who were clutching their pearls over climbers.

I imagine many others here also have speculated with other guesses. Would be fun to hear them.  And if we are lucky, someone is around who knows, or the background is in some old guide book.  

Bill Bjornstad wrote:

Any one know the origins of the name, Hall of Horrors, in Joshua Tree? Trying to figure out how or why it got its name. 

Climbers, like most people, aren’t very creative, it probably just sounded cool in their haze of marijuana addiction.

From a quick Google search, there seems to be a slot canyon of sorts that might be what gave that area the name.  This begs the question, how did Chasm of Doom get its name?

Gumby King wrote:

From a quick Google search, there seems to be a slot canyon of sorts that might be what gave that area the name.  This begs the question, how did Chasm of Doom get its name?

Again, drugs.

Gumby King wrote:

From a quick Google search, there seems to be a slot canyon of sorts that might be what gave that area the name.  This begs the question, how did Chasm of Doom get its name?

The "Real Hall of Horrors" is the aforementioned slot within the formation. Picture taken two days ago:

As to who came up with the name and why, no idea. Though I generally like the theory that drugs were involved.

Calling Randy.

If anyone on MP has the answer it would be him.

Tradiban wrote:

Again, drugs.

Mr. Magoo's Magic Mystery Tour was a result of drugs.  

Some of the early routes there do share a similar theme - Exorcist, Jaws and Zardoz.

As related to me by Mad Dog Wilson, Tobin suggested the name as the two major formations are parallel to each other, so walking between them is like walking in a hallway. As well, apparently horror movies were in vogue during the early seventies thus, some of the route names are reflective of this. The “real hall of horrors” which was once little known is the true gem of the area.

Dimes

I'm not sure of the origin of the name, but presumably was bestowed by the likes of Jim Wilson, Tobin Sorenson, Gibb Lewis, and Dean Fidelman -- who were some of the first climbers to establish routes there.

And, as mentioned, it fits the theme of The Exorcist, etc. Yes, that photo is the "real' Hall of Horrors.

Early climbing records don't give any clues except that the name was given at the time the first routes were established.

Joshua Tree Bolt Replacement Project wrote:

As related to me by Mad Dog Wilson, Tobin suggested the name as the two major formations are parallel to each other, so walking between them is like walking in a hallway. As well, apparently horror movies were in vogue during the early seventies thus, some of the route names are reflective of this. The “real hall of horrors” which was once little known is the true gem of the area.

Dimes

Thanks KP (and Randy). Appreciate the glimpses into the history.

Do either of you know offhand what the first routes established in the area are?

Interesting to see Saddle Rock referred to as Dike Rock and the mention of Trashman Roof, the 5.9 mentioned in red ink.

The map is from late 1975 onward as it has Buckets to Burbank (November 1975) but not Jaws (November 1975).

Hall of Horrors also has a route from the future; the route "It" was first climbed in March 11974.

The earliest recorded route in the Hall of Horrors is Lazy Day (November 1971) followed by Grit Roof (December 1973) and then the secret was out.

1974 was a banner year for the Hall of Horrors, starting with Zarmog the Dragon Man (January 1974), and included many of the now popular routes like Zardoz, Lickety Splits, Diamond Dogs, Nurn's Romp and the Exorcist; Trashman Roof was done this year as well.

Chris, the above images are from my handwritten guide of new routes from the mid 1970s. 

At the time, the only existing published guide was Wolfe's 1970 paperback. Dike Rock was the name Wolfe used in that very first guidebook.

So much new route activity was occuring, the pages in my spiral notebook filled up quickly.

Appreciate the history about the name and area. Very cool folks are willing to help reach back 50 years.  

Hope this all gets preserved somewhere besides this thread. The name is another opportunity for climbers and non-climbers to connect given that it is there on a road-side park sign. 

The handwritten guide was passed around and added to as new routes were established. if I remember correctly, I got it from Matt Cox and in lieu of doing homework, spent that time hand copying it in preparation for the upcoming weekend so it could be passed on and climbing plans figured out.

On a side note, Diamond Dogs, Exorcist and Grit Roof had no bolted anchors, so you had to down climb to get off.  

Joshua Tree Bolt Replacement Project wrote:

The handwritten guide ….

On a side note, Diamond Dogs, Exorcist and Grit Roof had no bolted anchors, so you had to down climb to get off.  

As was the custom of the day.

You all know that there are many more “hallways” around Josh. Just saying.

To me it’s amazing that “hall of horrors” gets pages on the net- !!!!

I want to thank Randy for being the scribe of JT, and other spots, the rest of US were busy running around, climbing stuff, and not looking back and yes, Tradi, smoking weed, tons of it.

Who remembers “Ulysses Bivouac”???
Or the crumbling wooden shack out behind HVCG that was the source of wood for many bonfires?

Guy Keesee wrote:

Who remembers “Ulysses Bivouac”???
Or the crumbling wooden shack out behind HVCG that was the source of wood for many bonfires?

Well that solves this riddle:

Why did the Hidden Valley Dirtbags burn pallets? 

Because they ran out of historic buildings....

Johnny Appleseed wrote:

Well that solves this riddle:

Why did the Hidden Valley Dirtbags burn pallets? 

Because they ran out of historic buildings....

I’m honored. So my comment about a falling down shack, and other piles of trash, getting buried got you so upset you burned one of your never used Avatars to crawl out and spew something. Dude whoever you are, you made my day.  Thanks 

Randy · 1 day ago · Lassitude 33 · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 1,279

I'm not sure of the origin of the name, but presumably was bestowed by the likes of Jim Wilson, Tobin Sorenson, Gibb Lewis, and Dean Fidelman -- who were some of the first climbers to establish routes there.

Bill Keys named the "Hall of Horrors" but the real spelling was "Hall of Whores".  It was the home to a miners "comfort station" that also featured baths and hourly companionship for a price.