By Tim Binnall
A California community has been brought together by a rather odd but endearing landmark: a massive mound of dirt dubbed 'Mt. Chipotle.' According to a local media report, the sizeable earth pile became something of a sensation in the town of Oakhurst after resident Larry Townsend took to a local Facebook page with his fanciful recounting of how he scaled the 'mountain' that was left behind in a plaza parking lot following some construction. His 'harrowing' dispatches captured the imagination of the community, which came to embrace the quirky mound named after the fast-casual Mexican chain restaurant located in the shopping center.
Inspired by Townsend's 'historic feat,' other residents and visitors soon followed in scaling Mt. Chipotle, which subsequently became festooned with an American flag, a Christmas tree, and an array of personal items left behind by those who scaled the faux mountain. "I did not think it would be this treacherous," climber Tristan Reden told a TV station while marveling at the 'breathtaking' view one experiences at the summit "you can see Vons, you look over here, you have Chipotle; you have Dollar Tree and Verizon." The faux mountain has become so popular that it even inspired an anthem performed by area musician Matt Sconce and another resident, Judy Zendner, created Mt. Chipotle Christmas ornaments to commemorate the site.
Sadly, the holiday spirit surrounding the faux mountain even extended to a visit by a Grinch costume-clad ne'er-do-well who was filmed snatching the tree and other keepsakes from the summit of Mt. Chipotle. That said, the brazen act of naughtiness only served to further the legend of Mt. Chipotle. To that end, the chagrined community swiftly responded by replacing the Christmas fixture atop the mound that has become an appreciated Oakhurst tourist attraction this holiday season as word of the weird site spread throughout the region. Given the outcry against the Grinch's actions, one imagines that any other aspiring miscreants will think twice before messing with the now-beloved pile of dirt.
Looking back on his role in bringing Mt. Chipotle to life, Townsend wistfully mused that "I felt like I gave the community a present, but then it felt different. It felt like more of the community was giving me a present with all their comments and how fun it was." The sentiment was echoed by area resident and former C2C guest Adam Gorightly, who alerted us to this heartwarming tale and called the emergence of Mt. Chipotle "a huge moment for a small town with big dreams." While it is uncertain what the future holds for the faux mountain that will likely someday be removed from the parking lot, for now, residents are celebrating the curious landmark that has provided the community with an array of holiday memories to last a lifetime.