In "Inherent Vice," Thomas Pynchon delves into Gordita Beach's dark past, highlighting an incident post-World War II when the community reacted violently to a black family's attempt to integrate. Incited by the Ku Klux Klan, the townsfolk burned down the family's home and condemned the site, leaving it vacant as a symbol of their collective prejudice. This trauma seemed to cast a shadow over the town, as it refused to allow anything to rise from the ashes of that hate.

Eventually, the city appropriated the land, converting it into a park. This transformation, however, did not erase the legacy of intolerance. Instead, it became a gathering place for the youth of Gordita Beach, who found solace in rebellious activities, much to the chagrin of their parents. The juxtaposition of a once-violent site now frequented by the younger generation illustrates a cycle of societal issues, encapsulating the struggle between progress and the remnants of past injustices.