Iron Whales and Rusty Nails in Quartzsite
QUARTZSITE — Gene Hassler doesn’t let things go to waste, especially if they’re things he can use to create a whale or a velocipede. Hassler is a welder and artist who spends some of his time in Quartzsite because he owns Hassler’s RV Park here. The property is adorned with about 50 of his creations, all made of scrap materials.
Scrap metal sculpture of a whale at Quartzsite RV park. Photo Credit: Sam Lowe
His rendition of an ostrich has car headlights for eyes and pipe wrenches for legs. Nearby, a huge hand made of bolts reaches out of the ground to grab a vine crafted from reinforcing rods. Elsewhere are palm trees, velocipedes, cowboys with six-shooters, elephant feet and cactus, all rusted because they’re all made of previously used metal.
His most impressive work, from the standpoint of size, is a whale that measures about 20 feet long and six feet tall. It’s made of horseshoes and iron rings, and sits (or floats) next to a water fountain.
This outside gallery is located at 400 West Main Street.
The owner is OCD with his iron works. Treats workers bad for being a “christian man’. Rates higher than other places for what you get. I guess tou pay for his statues, they are very neet to see. But we will not stay ther nxt yeqr. He iw not friendly qnd has no wense of humor.