Slab City, California

Slab City (Located at 33°15′32″N 115°27′59″W), is an abandoned World War II Marine Barracks (former Camp Dunlap), that has been inhabited by squatters and RV owners since it closed.

It takes it's name from the concrete slabs that remain from the military base.

Most of the people who live there (about 150 full time) do so from poverty.  There is no charge to stay.  There are no hookups or water, but supplies are available in nearby Niland.

At the entrance to Slab City is "Salvation Mountain" created by Leonard Knight.  We met Mr. Knight at the base of the mountain, he toured us through the concrete and adobe painted project he has been working on for  30 years.

The place reminds you nothing more than what it would look like in a post apocalyptic world.  People live in shelters made from whatever they can find or make.   We bought firewood from a nice gentleman named Ron, who has lived full time at the "slabs" for 2 years, but has been coming there for 12 years.  He sold us some firewood he had "recycled" from a 5th Wheel camper that someone had left.  It was the wood from the support structure.  It cost us $3.00 per bundle.

Ron had been cleaning up the area around his "home" for some time and had made a fairly substantial debris pile or tinder dry wood and an old chair and mattress.  He told us it would be fine if we lit it on fire.  So we did.  :)  It made a huge fire that kept us entertained for a couple hours.  

We had another couple neighbours who we met, a couple that had been living there since 1997.  They were ummmm.. interesting.  :)

I spent a some time under the millions of stars practicing yoga in the desert.