All I can say is that this is like no other place I've ever been. Despite the lack of water, electricity and other services this place is home to about 150 year round residents as well as the RV snowbirds that hang out here in the winter. A short time after we arrived we saw a UPS truck and later a big yellow school bus drop off six children. There's a church, library, internet cafe and more here as well. Apparently it does function like a small city.
The community bulletin board with the Sun Works solar store in the background.
Most of the full time residents make an encampment near one of the many Palo Verde trees here. Some kind of additional shading is also added to guard against the scorching 120 degree temps. common here in the summer.
Though we hear the hum of a generator most of the time most people here employ solar panels or wind generators to keep things running. With most campers able to occupy at least a 1/4 acre for themselves it's surprisingly quiet and uncrowded here. The weather is nice too, 72F now and 60F this morning at sunrise.
There is a lot of junk here, we expected that. It's really awful in some places. There is a group, slabcity.org, who is trying to change this but some people just spoil things for everyone else.
The interior of Salvation Mountain is a labyrinth of odd shaped rooms and bizarre art work.
I met the owner of this establishment who told me what all else there is to see here. I will probably post some more photos in a day or two.
So, how does Slab City rate as a campground? It's definitely big rig friendly with plenty of huge, level campsites. You can park in view of other RVs or you can park totally alone on the fringe near a cluster or trees with a view of the mountains and the Salton Sea. You can even find sites without garbage but there is no avoiding the trash when you drive in and out or go for a walk. If you're only going to be here for a day or two try to include a Saturday night, when you can enjoy free live music under the stars at "The Range", an open air concert stage where local artists perform.
We caught this sunset right out our windshield yesterday evening.
While we're slummin' it here at the Slabs, fulltime RVer Nina, and her dog, Polly from Wheeling It is lounging in paradise. Nina visited us at our last stop in the La Quinta area; Lake Cahuilla County Park
Nina may be lounging in the spas at Desert Hot Springs but Slab City has its own bubbling hot spring too. There were no bathers when I stopped by due to the strong winds yesterday.
The VW bus lives on!
The Wooly Mastodon made out of tires is one of my favorite art exhibits here.
The bottle garden is cool too.
