johnny lang grave

This grave site is not clearly marked as an exhibit, nor does it have a pullout. It's located just west of the Lost Horse Mine Road. The etchings in the white grave marker are fading over time, but apparently a cool place to stop for "grub"

Located on the west side of Keys View Road directly across from the dirt road spur to the trailhead for Lost Horse Mine Trail, the lonely tombstone marks the final resting spot for Johnny Lang, a shady local prospector, where his body was found three months after leaving his home with the note “Gone for grub. Be back soon.” tacked to his door. Johnny lost his horse one day to a local outlaw that claimed it for his own after it wandered away. Soon after, Johnny gained control of a claim that he registered as the Lost Horse Mine and the adjacent areas became known as Lost Horse Mountain and Lost Horse Valley. Although a founding partner of the very productive Lost Horse mine, he was later caught stealing from his partners and forced to sell his share. He then worked a small claim for the next 25 years but frequently sold suspiciously large amounts of gold that many suspected came from a secret stockpile that he had stolen from the Lost Horse Mine.

It is a small spot along the side of the road, across from the entrance of the Lost Horse Mine. It is where Johnny Lang died on his way to "get some grub". His body has long since been remove due to grave robbers. A nice piece of history of Joshua Tree N.P.