Deep in the heart of Southern California, about two and a half hours east of San Diego, beneath the boiling sun of the Colorado Desert, is a hidden cultural mecca known as Slab City. Originally part of Camp Dunlap, a World War II marine barracks abandoned shortly after the war, this area eventually became an oasis for the runaways and outcasts of the tumultuous 1960s. Now, after many generations of artistic and architectural influence, it has become an iconic part of southwestern Americana, and what many locals call, “the last free colony in America.”
The Attractions
The area consists of three main attractions: Salvation Mountain, a concrete structure painted with colorful acrylics and adjourned with many bible verses; the range, an open-air performance stage where anyone with two pots to bang together can perform; and East Jesus, a place where sustainability is king and junkyard trash is made into art in the form of hills of TVs, bottle walls and abstract Salvador Dali-inspired metal structures.
The Residents
The inhabitants of this peculiar place include trailer folk, army vets, hippies and “snowbirds” that travel south from the Northwest United States and Canada in the winter to stay warm. Many are strange folks with interesting stories to share.
Take Caution
While most of the habitants of this area are peaceful and friendly, some can be dangerous. Travelers should always remember hey are visiting what the residents consider home, and that the experience is more than a simple novelty to them. Being respectful and aware of one’s surroundings can go a long way.
The Hot Springs
If travelers feel unclean from all the dust and garbage, they can escape to the desert hot springs that pool around the area to take a perhaps much needed bath.
Salvation Mountain Interior, Slab City, California © Jim Cottingham | Dreamstime
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