Salvation Mountain Niland California

9 February 2015 Artistic License rules at The Slabs

A long time ago the military abandoned a WWII base just a bit east of Niland California. Took away all the buildings but left the slab bases. Hence the name Slab City or The Slabs. Not hard to find – Niland is on Highway 111 along the lower east edge of the Salton Sea.

Since they didn’t know what to do with this dry infertile chunk of desert, and they lived on the east coast, the Federal government gave the land to California in 1961. California doesn’t know what to do with it so it allows free camping anywhere in the area. No services and no regulation. Brings out individualistic folks with an unfettered take on art, architecture, and living standards. And Norene thought I might be harsh - see how PC I can be?

A primary draw is Salvation Mountain:

Read about this years ago. Just as weird as I expected.

Yes - there is an interior.

In here.

Feeling cozy?

If you have to ask go back and read your bible again.

Now you know what happened to your Aunt's Pinto.

And here’s the back story:

We drove around the area a bit just to get the flavour. It is a community in the best voluntary sense but with a clear desire to keep a respectful distance from each other. Sometimes the messages are amusing:

Actually I understood by the presence of the truck, trailer, tent, tchotskies, fence, and dogs that the site is "Occupied" but thanks for the notice

Nice tropical look.

And sometimes a bit obscure:

There isn't a real river for many miles from here. It's OK to dream.

I did not come away with a burning desire to build a mud and latex paint church. And though I think it’s a great idea that even the least artistic among us deserve the opportunity to express themselves I have an unexpected newfound appreciation for building permits and architectural controls.