Well I did it. I officially went to the last free place and survived. Slab City, you were quite the trip. There’s this tiny town out near Joshua Tree called Slab City, and it is considered the Last Free Place on Earth. It consists of a bunch of snowbird squatters living out in the Sonoran Desert. But let’s go back to how it all started. It took its name from concrete slabs that remained from the abandoned World War II Marine Corps Barracks. The deed for this site was later given to the California State Teachers Retirement System. The town, If you can even call it a town, has no electricity, running water, sewers, toilets, trash pickup, and is not even recognized by the government. There are no fire stations, police patrol, or any type of government facilities on site. The people that live here are definitely characters, trying to escape modern reality as we know it and live off of the grid. They survive by means of DIY solar panels, generators, and the ability to not feel the basic needs that todays culture puts pressure on you to have.
I arrived right at sunrise, since it was the summer desert temperatures of 103 degrees, and this way I could get all my photography in before the locals got up and were out and about. My philosophy was to get in and get out without having to hang around. Right as you enter, you are greeted with an information booth about the town. Don’t be fooled, it’s only informative contents are Lost Cat posters.
Salvation Mountain
The first attraction in Slab City when you enter from the East side of the town, is Salvation Mountain.
Salvation Mountain is a giant hill made out of hay bales, covered in latex paint, concrete and adobe, and covered in bible verses. It was created by Leonard Knight and took him almost two decades to create this “piece of art”. Once he died, a new person took over continuing to add to the hill. You’re encouraged to climb and explore all throughout the concrete hill, but don’t stray from the yellow brick road.
East Jesus
The next stop in this Slab City Tour was East Jesus. East Jesus is an experimental art installation that has no religious significance, but instead is a colloquialism for a place in the middle of nowhere that is off the grid. The art installation is made from discarded and recycled material, basically trash, that is constantly in development. Some parts of the installment even encourage active participation, such as the bowling lane.
The Range
The last stop of this Slab City tour was the Range. This is an open-air nightclub in between trailers that is integrated with a stage, lights, amplifiers, and speakers. Every Sunday night, a talent show ensues, and anyone is encouraged to get on the stage and perform. The Range comes complete with old tattered couches for stadium seating. The best part about the Range is the fact that the locals hold proms complete with old used prom dresses, since many of them never got to go to a school prom.
Walking around Slab City was not only thrilling, but terrifying. At first glance, this town seems like it is full of complete anarchy. But looking closer at the messages sprawled throughout, you can tell that the community has a strong sense of social acceptance and community love. It’s definitely an outing to do if you’re not put off by the folk art style, or the idea of sparking up a conversation with an eclectic type of people who have been living off the grid for the last 20 years, making their own means of survival. So if you’re looking for a way to stretch your retirement, or even to witness a Sunday night talent show that is welcoming to anybody and everybody, this is the place for you.
