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Greetings family and friends! Today's Roadside Distraction is about "Holy City" that once enticed motorists traveling between the Bay area and Santa Cruz to stop for roadside services and get bombarded with signage promoting the twisted world view of cult leader and charlatan William Riker.
Also attached is the reproduction of a circa 1930's postcard showing the Holy City Service Station and Zoo (on the right). The Observatory and Radio Station KFQU are on the hillside.....Bill
Roadside Distractions
HOLY CITY
The highway through the wooded mountains between the Bay Area and Santa Cruz has been rich with roadside attractions beginning in the 1920’s when travelers to the coast were enticed to stop and view the creatively grafted trees at Axel Erlandson’s Tree Circus or walk among Lost World’s cement dinosaurs. The Mystery Spot still attracts inquisitive visitors as does Felton’s Big Foot Museum and Roaring Camp’s trains. Santa’s Village was a must stop for families in the 70’s and 80’s but none of these compare to the first and most unusual roadside attraction of them all.
Motorists on the Old Santa Cruz Highway passed through cult leader, racist, and bamboozaler William Riker’s “Utopian community” of Holy City nestled among the redwoods a few miles out of Los Gatos. At it’s peak, Riker’s disciples provided a bizarre collection of roadside services to motorists who were enticed to stop. Visitor’s could purchase gas at a Super Service Station, grab a quick meal at the town Restaurant or visit the Holy City Zoo. Ubiquitous signage throughout the village promoted Rikers bigotry, unique views and teachings as well as advertising for the villages General Store, Butcher Shop and Bakery. Curious motorists were encouraged to partake in Holy City’s healing waters, visit the soda stand, get a haircut, have their shoes repaired or use the free eighteen seat comfort station. Penny peep shows housed in miniature churches displaying an array of temptations were available to adults while kids were attracted to a display of wooden Santa Claus figures. Night time visitors were encouraged to pay a quarter to view the night sky at the Observatory and purchase property on the moon guaranteed authentic by an “official” certificate printed in the Holy City Print Shop along with endless posters and brochures promoting Riker’s views, teachings and political aspirations. His radio station RFQU, located on the hillside above town, featured the Watsonville Cowboy Wranglers as well as the spreading of his twisted world view over the airwaves to anyone who would listen.
In the 1940’s the newly completed four lane State Route 17 highway bypassed Holy City spelling the beginning of the end of the unique roadside attraction. Most of his followers drifted away to find work elsewhere and RFQU was shut down by the Federal Radio Commission. Ultimately Riker lost control of his property and the once thriving village faded into obscurity joining Lost World, Tree Circus and Santa’s Village. In 1959 a fire destroyed the last traces of Holy City.
-Bill 5/23
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