At 40 acres, the operation is, ironically, located in Jail Canyon, a part of the park that is rarely visited and is located on the western side of the Panamint Mountains.
While illicit and unlicensed cannabis grows are already a problem for California, a state that is trying to crack down on the illegal growing and selling of cannabis, this is an even bigger deal than an unlicensed grow normally would be because it was discovered in a national park.
Additionally, this is a concern because of how damaging cannabis grows can be if not done properly and with the environment in mind.
This may seem like an unusual place to find a cannabis grow, especially based on the foreboding name, but actually, this is one of hundreds of grows that have been found in Death Valley over the past ten years or so.
“The natural and cultural resources in these areas are irreplaceable and invaluable, damaging them for profit shows incredible disrespect to our homeland,” Barbara Durham, Traditional Historic Preservation Officer for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, said according to the official statement.
Currently, Jail Canyon is closed while authorities try to get more information about the grow and hope to discourage the growers from coming back.