We hiked to the top of Ghost Mountain, to the ruins of Yaquitepec, the off grid desert home of Marshal South!
Marshal South was an American writer, poet, and artist best known for his bold experiment in off-grid desert living during the 1930s and 1940s. Born Roy Bennett Richards in 1889 in Australia, he later moved to the United States, where he pursued a literary career.
In 1930, during the Great Depression, South and his wife Tanya settled atop Ghost Mountain in California’s Anza-Borrego Desert, where they built an adobe homestead called Yaquitepec. Their goal was to live self-sufficiently, growing their own food, harnessing solar energy, and embracing a minimalist, nature-driven existence. For nearly 17 years, South chronicled their unconventional lifestyle in Desert Magazine, captivating readers with his accounts of desert survival and natural philosophy. (See link below for Desert Magzine)
However, life in the desert was far from idyllic. The extreme conditions, isolation, and growing tensions between Marshal and Tanya led to the eventual collapse of their experiment. In 1947, Tanya left with their three children, and soon after, Yaquitepec was abandoned. Marshal South died in 1948, leaving behind a legacy of adventure, hardship, and an enduring mystery about the realities of desert homesteading.
Today, the ruins of Yaquitepec remain a testament to his vision, attracting hikers and history enthusiasts who seek to uncover the story of one man’s quest for freedom in the wild.
Travel Update:
We have big plans coming in April! Stay tuned!
