Exit to Nowhere

       As you go south on US-101, you will pass an exit called Rodeo Ave on your way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Although it may not be obvious from a distance, this exit goes nowhere. This exit was built in the 1960’s and would have led to a community called Marincello. This exit is one of the only lasting reminiscences of Marincello. This 2,100-acre planned community would have drastically altered Marin and destroyed the current location where 13 million people go every year to enjoy the views of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, and the sunset that Marin Headlands ongoingly offers. 

       Despite being born and raised here, the view on top of the open hills of Marin headlands never ceases to amaze me. Naturally, when I make that comment, I am thinking about how stunning the Marin Headlands are, but what really astounds me and makes the place even more magnificent is its rich history. This narrative of how Marin Headlands came to be is so important in shaping our perception of Marin, but it is often overlooked in Marin society. If you are looking at this open terrain from the trails that cross them or even just from your car on US-101, you are looking at a piece of history—a site that the residents of Marin battled for in the 1960s. If not for the united front of the Marin County residents against Marincello, the Marin County Board of Supervisors may not have reconsidered their approval of Marincello on December 17, 1965.bliss.