Stupid.........

European tourists accused of defacing one of California’s most ethereal parks

“Fresh” yellow paint was discovered throughout the area, officials said.

By Ariana Bindman

Three German tourists have been accused of defacing various parts of Joshua Tree National Park last weekend, adding to the California destination’s ongoing battle with vandalism. 

On August 4, a ranger patrolling the popular Jumbo Rocks Campground noticed “fresh” yellow paint splattered all over park infrastructure, according to a news release from the National Park Service. After more rangers were called to investigate the area, NPS said they found and questioned a group of tourists who admitted to shooting paint with paintball markers and slingshots. Both are considered weapons and prohibited in the area. When rangers searched the visitor's car, they discovered three slingshots, a paintball marker and other equipment. 

At least 11 signs along Park Boulevard from Jumbo Rocks campground to the Maze Trailhead were defaced, the release said. Each person received a violation notice for firing paintballs on signs, bathrooms and dumpsters, which could lead to a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to six months in prison. 

Although frustrating to some, vandalism is nothing new for one the California’s most ethereal parks.

In 2022, SFGATE reported that the park’s landscape had been increasingly defaced in recent years. Reports of graffiti skyrocketed during the pandemic and in tandem with the rising number of visitors, according to data from NPS. There were 85 reports of graffiti in 2017; four years later, that number rose to 216. Volunteers – or “graffiti busters” – are tasked with cleaning the park’s vandalized rocks, and given that tourism in the area doesn’t show any signs of slowing, it’s possible they’ll continue to stay busy.