Slab City is located in Imperial County in SE California, about 3 miles east of Niland. From Highway 111 you head east on Main St, which will turn into Beal Rd as you cross the railroad tracks. After about 2.5 miles you will see Salvation Mountain on your right. It is designated as a national treasure. If you stop to take pictures you're likely to meet an energetic man named Leonard Knight, enthusiastic about his work and eager to give you a free tour. A few hundred yards past Salvation Mountain on Beal Rd you'll get a better look at the creative campsites of this low desert community. People have made homes in tents, campers, converted busses, motorhomes, hollowed out vehicles, hand-made shacks, mobile homes, aluminum sheds, and nearby bunkers. As long as you're not bothering any neighbors you can park and set up camp anywhere.
Every Saturday at sunset 'The Range' has free live entertainment by the Slab City locals. 'The Range' is an outdoor stage, built on one of the slabs, out of scraps and retired buses, powered by diesel generators and car engines, and decorated with hubcaps and Christmas lights. 'The Range', built by Builder Bill, is complete with comfy seats extracted from old cars and buses, metal trash cans for fires, amplified music, stage lights, and dancing. Feel free to bring a beer or a couple joints with you.
Slab City also has a book exchange library operated solely by volunteers. It was started by a full-time Slabber named Rosalie in 1998. She has since passed away and is buried out front of the library. As well as books and encyclopedias it has games, puzzles, maps, magazines, and even a fountain!
Each year on the last Saturday in January, Solar Mike holds the Annual Solar Potluck and Talent Show. This event has been growing each year with lots of great food and local talent. If you're ever in the neighborhood and see the lights on, swing on by Slab City USA. Maybe you can contribute some of your ideas and talent while enjoying this great FREE desert community.
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