Entry No. 59 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: soak
The Integratron
Ufologist George Van Tassel began this all-wood parabolic dome in 1954, claiming the design came from Venusians and Nikola Tesla and that it was a 'rejuvenation machine.' It was built without a single nail. Inside, the acoustically perfect dome hosts crystal-bowl sound baths, and nearby sits Giant Rock, the freestanding boulder where Van Tassel held his Spacecraft Conventions.
The story
In 1954, a former aviation mechanic named George Van Tassel picked a spot on a magnetic anomaly in Landers and started constructing an all-wood parabolic dome. He didn't use a single nail or metal screw, claiming metal would disrupt the electrostatic fields. The blueprint, Van Tassel insisted, didn't come from an engineering firm—it was dictated directly by Venusians and the spirit of Nikola Tesla. The goal was a human rejuvenation machine capable of cell restoration, time travel, and anti-gravity.
To fund the build, Van Tassel hosted annual Giant Rock Spacecraft Conventions right down the road, drawing thousands of UFO enthusiasts, seekers, and oddballs to the high desert. He died in 1978 shortly before the machine could be completed or switched on, leaving behind a 38-foot-tall wooden tabernacle that sits in middle-of-nowhere Mojave like an abandoned retro-futurist temple.
What it's like
You’ll pull off the asphalt onto dirt roads twenty miles north of Joshua Tree to find a gleaming white dome surrounded by desert scrub. After taking off your shoes, you climb to the upper chamber, lie flat on mats beneath the wooden ceiling, and wait. The 60-minute session kicks off with a quick rundown of the building’s weird history before the host plays live quartz crystal bowls for 35 to 40 minutes. Because of the dome's precise parabolic geometry, the acoustic vibrations bounce violently off the walls and sink right into your ribcage. Book weeks in advance—public sound baths run about $63 per person, and the place shuts down entirely from Sunday through Tuesday (as well as for summer maintenance from early July to early September).
The move: Book a shared sound bath, lie head-to-head on the dome floor, and let the quartz-bowl tones wash over you, then drive out to Giant Rock.
📍 Before you go Reservations required; ~$63/person for public sound baths. Closed Sun-Tue, and closed July 5-Sept 9, 2026 for maintenance. About 130 miles east of LA near Joshua Tree.
- 📍 Landers
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2477 Belfield Blvd, Landers, CA 92285
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Desert Christ Park — Eleven miles south in Yucca Valley, another high-desert outsider spent a decade populating a dry hillside with snow-white concrete statues.
- Cabazon Dinosaurs — A natural pit stop on the drive back toward Los Angeles along Interstate 10 to see two giant concrete beasts built by another high-desert visionary.
- Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch — If Van Tassel's alien architecture piques your interest in high-desert eccentrics, drive northwest to wander this forest of welded metal pipes and glass bottles.
Good to know
Do I need a reservation and how much does it cost?
Yes, advance reservations are required. Public sound baths cost around $63 per person.
What happens during a sound bath session?
Each 60-minute session includes a brief introduction to the Integratron's history and acoustics, followed by 35 to 40 minutes of live quartz crystal bowl playing, ending with time to rest.
Is the building really constructed without nails?
Yes, Van Tassel built the dome entirely without metal nails or joints to avoid interfering with what he believed were its electromagnetic and electrostatic properties.
When is the Integratron closed?
The venue is closed Sunday through Tuesday every week, and closes for summer maintenance from July 5 through September 9, 2026.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · Atlas Obscura · thisuglybeautifulcity.com
last checked: 2026-06-23