The Integratron Rejuvenates Itself

Out of this world

By Trevor Summons
sbsun.com
9-3-05

      The Earth's population can probably be divided into two types of people those that believe in UFOs and those that don't. There is little doubt that George Van Tassel was in the first category, and during the 1960s and 70s, he gathered a lot of followers who shared in his beliefs.

     In the desert of Landers, there is a monument to Van Tassel's life and it is the result of an extraterrestrial experience he reported over 50 years ago.

     In 1951, Van Tassel said that he saw a large airship on the far side of an airstrip he had built in the area. The sighting was confirmed by two other men. Van Tassel originally kept the story to himself, but in August 1953, he said he was awakened by an alien from Venus named Solganda, who invited him into a spaceship which at the time was hovering 25 feet off the ground.

     The Venusians reported to Van Tassel that although they were impressed by the human race, they were sorry that our lifespan was so short, and they had a machine that would help. The result, he said, was the design for a "high-voltage electrostatic generator that would supply a broad band range of frequencies to recharge the cell structure," and thereby extend human life.

     This machine was to become the Integratron.

     Joanne Karl is one of three sisters who now own the Integratron and is an enthusiastic member of a community that regularly meets there.

     "Most of us came from corporate lives in the helping or technological professions," she said from the well cared for desert garden close to the building.

     "Many of us used to come here for relaxation in the early days," she said.

     As for an explanation of the phenomenon, she explains it in two ways: "It was one man's Field of Dreams," she said.

     The other explanation is a little more complicated.

     "It's constructed along geomagnetic lines. It is a 16-sided dome supported by glue and laminated wooden spines held together by the pressure of a one-ton block of concrete at its apex. It was made with no metal fasteners in its construction."

     Originally the dome was to rotate, generating 50,000 volts of static electricity. Seekers of rejuvenation could walk through the building in white clothing exposing every cell in their bodies to the cosmic forces that would reportedly prolong life.

     Unfortunately for the builder, the final stage was never completed. In 1978 Van Tassel died at age 68. However, he had set the stage for an abiding interest in cosmic travel, extraterrestrials and other unworldly events.

     "We are having a very important symposium on the UFO phenomena of the 1950s and 60s," said event coordinator Barbara Harris of a gathering scheduled for April 2006. "It will be held in conjunction with the Institute of Mentalphysics of Joshua Tree."

     Harris has been a frequent visitor to the Landers area for the last 25 years.

     "Often my husband and I would hang around hoping to see the interesting building. But it was mostly closed back then," she said.

     In fact, following the death of Van Tassel, the Integratron was deserted for many years.

     Fifteen years ago, Landers was the epicenter of a more terrestrial experience with an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.3. It shook buildings hundreds of miles away, but the Integratron stayed firm, anchored to the earth.

     Today, the Karl sisters are only too happy to arrange tours and plan overnight events for visitors.

     "The Integratron is a wonderful place to relax," Karl said. "It's ideal for people who want to unwind not just on the outside, but on the inside too."

     She said that many people from the creative side of life come here to relax and create new works of art. Its acoustics are prized by musicians.

     "The construction of the dome makes for some wonderful sounds, and many composers use it," said Karl.

     In fact, the upstairs chamber is used for "sound baths," where the recipient sits in a chair and allows sound to wash over them.

The Integratron
2477 Belfield Boulevard, Landers
Phone: (760) 364-3126
Web site: www.integratron.com; www.getunplugged.org
Special events and group tours available.

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