Slab City: The Last Free Place in America

Slab City California - The Last Free Place in America

Jesse and I took a roadtrip a few weeks ago on our weekend off.  Our plan?  To not have any plans.  We headed east from Los Angeles towards The Salton Sea.

A friend and fellow burner had suggested we stop by Slab City.  Without too much detail, we were told it was a community of travelers, hippies, free-spirits, and wanderers.  As the title states, it is also the last free place on earth.  Located in the Sonoran Desert, this place is free of taxes, free of government, and open to anyone who stumbles upon it.

As we approached the town we came across this "slab structure" asking us to "Question Everything" and "Leave [our] baggage here."  I was already excited.  We continued on towards the city, running into Salvation Mountain on the way, a beautiful hill painted by a local artist, Leonard Knight, and maintained by a caretaker who lives on the property.  

Salvation Mountain near Slab City California

The sun began setting just as we arrived to Salvation Mountain.

Sunset from Salvation Mountain near Slab City California

Once the sun had set, we finished our journey into the city.  On Friday nights, you can find all of the Slab City residents in the community center, where they have local bands and singers perform each week.  Everyone in the community was beyond welcoming to us.  Ten or more dogs ran around free, people of all ages gathered, and personalities ranged from the completely normal to the more eccentric side.  Did I mention you could purchase a burger from the side stand for $2-3?  Cheapest vacation yet!  Each person brought their own drinks and snacks to share and danced the night away.  We left that evening to continue our journey, but Slab City will always hold a place in our heart.

Slab City California Friday Music Nights - The Last Free Place in America

Salvation Mountain near Slab City California