by Candolin Cook on
TOWARD THE CENTER of a small cemetery in Ranchos de Taos, among rocks and desert scrub, a weathered wooden cross marks the grave of Dennis Hopper. Bandanas, motorcycle patches, and beads flutter from its arms—offerings left by bikers, fans, and friends. It’s less a monument than a living collage. Hopper, who died in 2010 at age 74, is perhaps best known for co-writing, directing, and starring in Easy Rider, the 1969 road movie that reshaped American cinema. Parts of the film were shot in and around Taos, which left a lasting imprint. In 1970, Hopper moved into the sprawling Mabel Dodge Luhan House, renaming it the Mud Palace, and invited many of his influential friends, like Joni Mitchell, to visit. “Taos gave Dennis a unique spark of inspiration and artistic freedom that he was looking for at the time,” says longtime friend Robby Romero. “He was marked by controversy, [but] it’s that rebel spirit that brings fellow artists from all over the world to his grave site.” Four years after Hopper’s death, his eldest daughter, Marin Hopper, and Romero helped launch Dennis Hopper Day. The annual May gathering—held around his birthday—features motorcycle rides, film screenings, community events, and a sunset ceremony at the grave. “The Easy Rider Ride is the heart of Dennis Hopper Day,” Romero says. “Every year it’s different and exciting.” Hopper’s colorful resting place is a window into the restless creativity that bound him to Taos—and to the open road that still calls to others.