The Youngest Manson Family Member

the story of Dianne ‘Snake’ Lake

Dianne ‘Snake’ Lake

In December of 1967, Charles Manson was traveling around the southwestern United States with five women (Mary Brunner, who was pregnant, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins and Ella Jo Bailey) in an old school bus, painted black. During their travels, the sextet visited Hog Farm, the most famous commune of its time. Founded by ‘Wavy Gravy’ (true name Hugh Romney), a peace activist from New York, Hog Farm sat on the grounds of a pig farm in Tujunga, north of Burbank. The commune was created in the mid-Sixties when the Merry Pranksters (friends of writer Ken Kesey, aficionados of the acid lifestyle) got stranded near L.A.

Wavy Gravy supplemented the commune’s coffers by working as a character actor. By 1966, they were hosting open concerts at the Farm, featuring Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead. In August 1969, the Hog Farm prepared all meals at the Woodstock Festival.

Initially, the communers totally dug Charlie Manson.

“A lot of the Hog Farmers were very enamored of his smile. He could mesmerize you.” — Hugh Romney aka Wavy Gravy from the documentary “Charles Manson: The Man Who Killed the 60s” ©1995 TLC (The Learning Channel)

But before long, they got a taste of Manson’s sinister underbelly. He pissed off Wavy Gravy, who then led the Hog Farmers on a collective ‘OM’ chant to boot Manson’s group from where they were camped and rid their happy collective of his dank vibes.

But during their brief stay, the women met the Lake family, who had dropped out of society and were living at Hog Farm. Mr. and Mrs. Lake were acolytes of Timothy Leary and Beat writers Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac. Mrs. Lake made a point of telling the women about her daughter Dianne, who was in the Los Angeles area with friends. She gave Charlie a photo of her daughter, a spunky and attractive auburn-haired 13-year old and asked him to keep an eye out for her.

Dianne (far right, in curlers) with her family. Her first experiences with marijuana and LSD were with her own parents.

By year-end, Manson had decided to settle down in Los Angeles, in time for Mary’s upcoming delivery.