How do you become a resident of Slab City?

Becoming a resident of Slab City is an informal process. You simply show up, find a patch of land that no one else has claimed, and set up a trailer, shack, yurt, or truck. But living in the community requires a certain degree of self-reliance.

Can I live at Slab City?

While Slab City has package delivery and there is no charge to live here, there is no running water, sewage, plumbing or electricity, unless you are creative and savvy enough to create your own, which some have done.

Can I buy land in Slab City?

Jim Porter, a public land management specialist with the State Lands Commission, confirmed the state considered selling the Slabs about 20 years ago. While there have been inquiries about the land over the years, the only purchase applications on file with the agency are those by Salvation Mountain Inc.

How is Slab City Legal?

Called by some “the last free place” and by others “an enclave of anarchy,” Slab City is also the end of the road for many. Without official electricity, running water, sewers, or trash pickup, Slab City dwellers also live without law enforcement, taxation, or administration.

Can anyone camp at Slab City?

Anyone can stay there, its a “live and let live” type of place. Lots of tourists come out to see Salvation Mountain and the East Jesus museum. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Just a half mile up the road from Salvation Mountain is Slab City.

What is Life in Slab City REALLY Like?

What is the population of Slab City?

Despite the high temperatures, there are about 150 permanent residents of Slab City.

Does Slab City have electricity?

Built on an abandoned military base in the middle of California's Sonoran Desert, Slab City doesn't have many modern amenities. No power lines or pipes carry electricity or fresh water to the city. Residents have to sort out their own system for disposing of sewage or trash.

Who owns East Jesus?

Charlie Russell, the founder of East Jesus, initially came to the area to work alongside Knight, and quickly became enamoured with the idea of “The Last Free Place.” In early 2007, Charlie left his tech job, packed all his belongings into a shipping container, and began to surround his two art cars with the sculptures ...

Who owns the Land of Salvation Mountain?

Owner Ed Brashear says he can tell immediately who wants to go to Salvation Mountain. "Sometime when they walk in the door you just know, you say 'go two blocks to the south and turn left and go straight'. That's just how it is. And sometimes you'll get a 100 a day that just want to go do Salvation Mountain."

Why do the members of East Jesus in Slab City want to obtain grants from the county and state?

Now, East Jesus is hoping to expand some of those community practices into the Slabs. Iskaki says he's working on accessing county and state grants so dumpsters can be brought out to Slab City to help alleviate its growing trash problem. “[We're hoping to] get it to something more livable,” he says.

What can you not do in Slab City?

Why is it free to live in Slab City?

People have lived on Slab City's 640 acres for decades. They are squatters on state-owned land. They don't pay rent, and so it's often referred to as "the last free place in America."

How do you make money in Slab City?

Residents with working vehicles can make money transporting water, goods, or people. Other Slabbers set up stands to sell merchandise like artwork and tie-dyed Slab City souvenir t-shirts to tourists and visitors.

What can you do in Slab City?

Where is the city of lawless?

There is one lawless city that still remains in the United States today. This area is called Slab City, better known as The Slabs. This plane, documented by NPR, was found to hold 600 acres in the Sonoran Desert in Imperial County, California.

Why is it called East Jesus?

But Russell became involved in his own project less than a mile from Salvation Mountain, where he had begun to turn a trash-strewn area into a colorful and quirky art installation. He called it East Jesus, after a colloquialism meaning “the middle of nowhere” (there's no direct religious connotation).

Is Slab City toxic?

Keeley: Slab City is not dangerous if you keep to yourself and stay clean. It seems dangerous to drug users who intermingle and, especially in the heat, get on each other's nerves. In other places, citizens in this circumstance exchange words and ignore each other for the rest of their lives.

Why is it called Slab City?

Slab City gets its name from the numerous concrete foundations that dot the land, the only reminder of Camp Dunlap, a World War II Marine artillery training base. The state is somewhat of an absentee landlord on this 600-acre patch.

Can you swim at the Salton Sea?

Salton Sea beach is located along the western shore of the Salton Sea. The sea is not safe for swimming, boating or fishing.

Is there a town without laws?

This bizarre, lawless land in the California desert is inhabited by drug addicts, eccentrics, army vets, hippies and just plain old weirdos. Slab City is referred to by its residents as "the last free place in America."

Is Salton Sea a good place to live?

Salton Sea communities "no longer a good place to live" for those with respiratory issues.

How does Slab City get water?

Because this water source comes from the hot springs, it's essentially used bath water. In any case, it's very high in iron & sulfur; it still tastes bad after filtering. You should bring in your own water for your stay in Slab City.