Friday, October 26, 2012

Salvation Mountain near Slab City, CA…

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Salton Sea CA 068_thumb[3]As I mentioned in the last blog there was one town I was seeking out in particular just outside of Niland, California. The “town” is known as Slab City. Slab City began in the 1940’s as a military training facility and like most settlements in the area it too was abandoned and the only thing left behind were the concrete slabs of the former buildings.

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Salton Sea CA 039_thumb[4]Hollywood discovered Slab City during the filming of Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn. It is described as a “free RV oasis located in the desert” but it is anything but an oasis. Free; yes, Oasis; no! There is trash everywhere, but there is a movement Slab City Organization clean up Slab City. To do so is going to be a major undertaking and sadly a continuous effort as well. If done it may become more like a winter oasis in the future.

There were many RV’ers settled in at Slab City who appeared to fulltime Salton Sea CA 040_thumb[2]primarily due to poverty. It is said many live here as they can easily afford to do so on their small government checks or tiny pensions. Why? Because you can boondock here for free… just pick a spot and it is yours. No water, no electricity, no nothing… sand, rocks and scrub desert. Yet, it is still a very popular place for many transient wintering RV’ers and there are services nearby making it easier to stay for Salton Sea CA 043_thumb[2]extended periods in this part of the desert.

But the main reason we came to Slab City was because there was one very interesting inhabitant here. A fellow named Leonard Knight, now living in a convalescent home, who had a vision and what he created with his vision is very impressive to say the least. Salvation Mountain is “Leonard's tribute to God and his gift to the world with its simple yet powerful message: "God Is Love."” If you are anywhere near this part of the state this is indeed a must see place,

Even if you are not spiritual, simply the enormity of his undertaking will astonish you. You can only imagine what incredible Salton Sea CA 052_thumb[2]devotion it took for this man to pour his entire life into such an endeavor… The end result is called Salvation Mountain! It has even been designated a National Folk Art Site, by The Folk Art Society of America. See it, feel it, experience it… you won’t be sorry… but hurry as in a recent LA Times article (Feb 2012) it was stated… “Knight has been gone about six months. Already Salvation Mountain is showing signs of aging: Paint is fading, cracking and peeling" Hopefully someone will pick up where Knight left off or at least maintain it.

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NOTE: We are now settled some 140 mile southeast in Yuma, Arizona for the next six days and today we will celebrate Sharon’s birthday somewhere nearby…

12 comments:

  1. I do love reading all the different impressions of Slab City from the folks who visit. It is definitely an interesting place. Nice to see your take on it.

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  2. Happy Birthday to another Sharon... But as for Slab City... interesting? yes! But not for us. Maybe we're a bit older than the hippie-folk that live there and just didn't buy into that type of life.... we visited there and know it just ain't for us. (but Yuma isn't either, for that matter.... I guess the good thing is that there's a place for everyone, no matter what their preference way of living is)

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    1. yes Slab City is certainly interesting but we would only stay if we had full solar capacity, Yuma is better than I thought it might be but probably not a long winter destination for us.. although the park we are at is fantastic...

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  3. We have visited Salvation Mountain and it is definitely unique. We also know folks who go to Slab City for a period of time during the winter. The folks we know are far from the poverty level but go because some of the people in their little group go. Not all the folks are hippie-folk as mentioned by Odd Essay. Some of them are pretty well healed. It's just what they prefer. It's not a place we have stayed or want to but it's there for those who do. Isn't it great we all like different things?

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    1. yes, different strokes for different folks, and no I didn't mean to insinuate that everyone there is in poverty as that is certainly not the case...

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  4. We got to meet Mr. Knight when we were there. He even gave me a jigsaw puzzle of Salvation Mountain. I hate to hear that it is suffering. He put his heart and soul into that place.

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    1. cool that you met him and I hope I didn't paint the picture (no pun intended) that it is in major disrepair cuz it isn't, it is just beginning to show signs of wear and tear...

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  5. Unique place. I've heard so much about it. Thanks for sharing your impressions.

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  6. Certainly an interesting place to visit when we were there but did not wish to park there overnight. Salvation mountain is sure a sight thou. Enjoy Yuma area, and a trip day to Los Algodones is always fun while in the area.

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  7. We haven't visited this yet but have see lots of photos. I'll be interested to see how you like the Yuma area. We stayed 6 weeks in Tucson and loved it, great place during the winter months.

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