Atascadero’s monolith is gone — but definitely not forgotten. Could this story get any weirder?
And just like that, it’s gone.
Atascadero Deputy City Manager Terrie Banish confirmed Thursday morning that the mysterious monolith that appeared atop Pine Mountain has just as suddenly disappeared, following in the footsteps of its older cousins in Utah and Romania.
It’s a fitting end to a helluva year.
Strange monoliths suddenly appearing and disappearing in out-of-the-way places — including a hilltop in Atascadero — to get our minds off COVID-19, a Congress still bickering over economic relief, a president who has to yet concede and, on top of all that, our inability to enjoy all those fun, holiday things like over-drinking eggnog at parties and braving teeth-chattering temperatures to jostle for curbside seating at Christmas parades.
Is it any wonder that the first monolith sighted in the Utah desert became an instant celeb — and that its disappearance only fueled the mystery?
We’d like to say that it was abducted by aliens, but according to several news reports, Monolith No. 1 was uprooted by some kill-joys who toppled it, broke it into pieces and carted it away, self-righteously proclaiming, “This is why you don’t leave trash in the desert,” and “Leave no trace.”
Before we had time to properly mourn the Utah monolith, another appeared on a hilltop in Romania. Then it, too, disappeared. which brings us to Monolith No. 3, in our very own Atascadero.
How did it get there?
We don’t know.
Who was behind it?
Don’t know.
Are extraterrestrials somehow involved?
That seems unlikely.
Is it part of some worldwide monolithic conspiracy?
Possibly.
Why did it leave?
Haven’t a clue.
Truth be told, there’s very little we do know about this mystery (which is precisely what makes it a mystery), aside from this: for a brief and glorious period of time, Monolith #3 put A-Town in the international spotlight.
Take a look at these headlines:
Deseret News out of Utah: “The Utah monolith started it all. Now, another monolith was spotted in California.”
USA TODAY (travel section): “Monolith discovered in California, similar to metal structure found in Utah.”
New York Post: “Yet another mysterious monolith appears — this time in California.”
India Today: “After Utah and Romania, 3rd mystery metal monolith appears on California mountaintop.”
Eminetra (New Zealand): “A new mysterious metal monolith on the summit of California.”
ALKhaleej Today (Based in United Arab Emirates): “What is behind the metal monolith?” (It offered theories, but no conclusion.)
Sputnik International: “Aliens’ strike again? New monolith appears in California after two others mysteriously vanish.”
The (London-based) Register: “Where’s the mysterious metal monolith today then? Oh look, it’s atop a California mountain. Is this some sick game of whack-a-mole?” (That same account took issue with the strength of the installation, calling it “some me-too shoddy workmanship compared to its Utah cousin.”)
Gizmodo: “Another ... damn monolith has appeared.”
Then this, in the Observer, another British newspaper: “Third Mysterious Monolith, Appearing in California, Has Reportedly Disappeared”
Fittingly, the Observer story wrapped up like this: “No one artist, governmental body or city official has yet come forward to claim ownership or authorship of the monoliths, which seem to be popping up like daisies in totally random areas. Until the next one appears, theories are multiplying faster than you can say ‘aliens.’ And who knows? In a year this insane, alien art installations actually sound pretty reasonable.”
This editorial has been updated to reflect the disappearance of the Atascadero monolith.
This story was originally published December 3, 2020 at 10:50 AM.