Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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SLAB CITY, CALIFORNIA DESERT
SLAB CITY - A REAL FUNKY PLACE
Hmmmm....could be a ricochet from Area 51..or an off-course V2 rocket? The sign says something like 'Alien Camper'
..it's just part of the funky landscape at Slab City.
Slab City near Niland, California.
Slab City is actually an abandoned marine training facility, Camp Dunlap, formerly located 3 miles east of Niland, California. This 640-acre compound,
located approximately 120 feet below sea level in the desert near Salton Sea, began operating in 1942 as a training ground for US troops during World
War II. In 1946, it's operations ceased, and the buildings were removed and sold. By 1961, the base had been completely dismantled and abandoned.
Only the cement foundations of buildings remained, thus providing a convenient name for the area, Slab City. Soon afterwards, RV campers began to
occupy the area during winter months to take advantage of the rent-free parking. Attendance steadily grew over the years, and now thousands of
visitors return to "The Slabs" each winter to enjoy the relatively mild climate and escape the harsh conditions found elsewhere.
If the Burning Man festival were a permanent settlement instead of a weeklong escape — remixed with a hard dose of reality — this might be it. A
blend of Mad Max, Grapes of Wrath, and The Wild, Wild West...it has multiple personalities. For me, it was slighty reminiscent of the early campers
in Baja Sur...an adventuresome bunch of survivalists and do-it-yourselfers.
As a side note, the State of California is currently considering closing Slab City to the public permanently because of improper handling of the
environment....due to litter, illegal dumping, (gopher holes), etc. Some concerned long-time residents have formed organizations to help combat the
environmental problems and are making good progress.
Arriving at dusk I looked for a likely site to hunker down for the night. This is not hard at all. No signs saying Park Here ..Register at office.
You can just pull over anywhere so it seems...which I did.
Spending a quiet night, I awoke to the sounds of what I thought was a Briggs & Stratton grain auger (sounds of my youth). Grabbing my camera I
went outside and saw this...
It takes off at about 30-35mph..and it's payload was not quite enough to carry me along with the pilot. So he said, anyway...
It was a group of flyers who had towed their ultralight aircraft behind an RV. Seems it is a common thing at Slab City. What fun they had that
morning...flying high over the hundreds of campers and barnstorming over their rooftops.
The whole thing reminded me of a few years ago in northern North Dakota when a couple friends and I used to tow-start our hand glider behind a car.
Hey, it's flat! Those were some times!
Slab City....an interesting place for sure. I wonder what's over the next hill?....
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Pompano... I think you could be the next Huell Howser with your on-the-road reports!
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BornFisher
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Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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Check out the art work on the water tanks above and south-east of Salvation Mt. You won`t believe your eyes!! Then there`s Moth who lives in another
water tank just south of the Mt. and keeps chickens in another.
Sad news about Leonard Knight, the builder of Salvation Mt. who is in bad health now.living in La Mesa.
I was in Niland Tues., lots to see if you know where to look. Mudpots, hot springs, old jail, nature preserves and this weird pool of bubbling muddy
water across from Wister.
Check out Bombay beach, especially on the Sea side of the berm--- end of the World stuff here. And see that old homestead just south of Bombay Beach
off the 111? Check out the water tank-- came off a WW2 jet, fuel tank I heard.
Really, a great place, and looks so much like Baja with points of land blending into the sea. Have fun, if I was there I would guide you!!
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
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I think Anthony Bourdain did a show on Bombay Beach a few years ago,,,
yet end of the world
as always Roger love you posts
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
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Location: Baja California
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Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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Slab City Singles..
My ex husband and I would go to Niland while I was in Imperial Valley and we'd talk to the guys and gals at Slab City Singles...have to say one thing
though, the weather there is gorgeous during the winter.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Indeed....there has been a lot of specials about this unique place called...The Slabs.
Here's just a couple:
http://www.helpthechildren.org/news/community-outreach/help-...
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2105597,00.ht...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpPmT7S4zHE
America always amazes me.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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For a while, BLM in El Centro was responsible for the "management" of SLAB CITY because it was partially on Public Land-------frankly we had no idea
how to do that-------especially from a Law Enforcement point of view-------the area was sort of a no-man's land for us, and lots of very strange
things happened out there. We finally abdocated, and decided to pass the responsibility off to the County, and they have done a pretty good job out
there. (local control in action)
Whew!!!!
Not sure what it's status is now.
Barry
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Barry, I noticed a patrol car pass thru my camp area at least twice in 3 days. Maybe they were tipped off that I was coming..?
I saw no signs of any current trouble whatsoever..and did not hear of any recent problems in a few talks around the campfire.
I got the impression that some long-time residents made their own law enforcement. Meth is always a concern in areas like this and Slab City is no
exception. A fellow nicknamed Shotgun once blasted a would-be burglar who was attempting a break-in on his neighbors camper. He used rock salt
loads. Wild West justice prevailed.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Thanks, Roger. You have touched on exactly why I thought it best to sorta stay away from that area with patrols unless called in by
victims---------they really did seem to self-police very well, so I decided we would do more harm than good by our presence thru routine patrols.
Sometimes the best action is no action at all.
It is a very unconventional place, and that is neat, IMO. It makes me happy to know that it still "maintains" on it's own terms. (I have been gone
from there since 1986)
As always, you pics and narratives are the highlight of my visits to the NOMADS board. So glad you are back to prowling around-----you have been
missed.
Best, Barry
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BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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amazing place, it sounds like and it would surely behoove the permanent residents to make good on taking care of the environment to as to keep it
open.
thanks for the report and it is not a bad idea to get a tv station to sponsor your reports .... just for the hoot of it !
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
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Registered: 11-7-2006
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Love those UltraLights-- on my list of stuff to do, for sure.
I saw my first one on tv with Gallagher flying Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and the second down on San Felipe beach in '96.
Do you think they'd travel over the peninsula safely from, let's say, Mulege to San Juanico or perhaps Asuncion?
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
amazing place, it sounds like and it would surely behoove the permanent residents to make good on taking care of the environment to as to keep it
open.
thanks for the report and it is not a bad idea to get a tv station to sponsor your reports .... just for the hoot of it ! |
Yes, Slab City is indeed quite an amazing place, Blanca. A place that is very representative of the lifestyle changes happening in America.
And I saw that concerned folks are maintaining the area. In my stay I never noticed any garbage, clutter, or waste disposal problems as have been
previously reported in a few travel blogs. I think it's pretty much like anywhere responsible people gather, respecting the earth. Exactly like
remote places in Baja. You bring it in, you take it out. Of course, there are always some outlaws in every society. They soon learn the error of
their ways or are expelled.
A sponsor, huh? Okay, but instead of a TV station, could you please make that a GAS station?
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
Love those UltraLights-- on my list of stuff to do, for sure.
I saw my first one on tv with Gallagher flying Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and the second down on San Felipe beach in '96.
Do you think they'd travel over the peninsula safely from, let's say, Mulege to San Juanico or perhaps Asuncion? |
For sure, Mulegena. I've seen them a few times in Mulege. And once encountered 4 of them near Catavina following the road south to Cabo. Killer
Caine has a close call with one at Santispac Beach many years ago...and I believe another passenger broke a few bones on a different jaunt around the
area. unfortunately, they are not without their share of fatalities. A good friend with thousands of hours crashed and died in one near his home in
Wyoming in 2004. He was a veteran of flying in Baja and frequent visitor to Mulege and the Bay.
Mulege. Here's two ultralites on the pista at the Serinadad a couple years ago. 4 Mexican buddies on a tour. Later that day they all flew over my
place at Coyote Bay. Flying to Asuncion should not present too many problems. What fun!
[Edited on 1-11-2013 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2396
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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they are fun.. we used to fly them at Borrego Springs from a dry lake bed
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TMW
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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This is great stuff, love it.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
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Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Great to see you back amigo and missed your photo reports...
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daveB
Nomad
Posts: 244
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: B.C. Canada
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Mood: wondering about Nomads!
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Glad to see your posts back here, Roger!
After a month of "failure" at the Fountain of Youth Spa, located 6 miles from Bombay Beach, we've escaped the area. Yes, we did the Mud Pots, Sony
Bono National Wildlife Refuge, Obsidian Point and, viewed from a distance, the 15 or so Geothermal installations, walked for the second time the paths
of Salvation Mountain (two workers doing maintenance). And Slab City. A second brief visit there in four years, it appeared more clean and orderly
than the first time.
We plan to be in San Felipe (for the first time) this Tuesday, an informal caravan of three. We hear the prawns should be good?
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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I am pleasantly surprised to hear so many folks know about Slab City and have visited there. There's always something over that next hill....and Slab
City is no exception...except that there are damn few hills. I'll put it on my return list for future jaunts around America.
Below is a Google map of the Salton Sea and Slab City area near Niland, Ca. Very easy to drive to from any direction. I drove in from Oceanside and
exited on Hwy 111 west side of Salton Sea and north to Indio. Note: Hwy 111 sits directly atop the San Andreas Fault. Nobody tells me these
things beforehand...
The Slabs are pretty much 'do as you want' style camping. Some are a little haphazard, but nothing was life-threatening or too offensive  Pretty much like some under-the-radar spots in Baja. A bit treeless and
grass-less.
This lifestyle promotes Self-Sufficiency. Your crew learns how to make intricate but necessary repairs without having to phone in a specialist.
A great opportunity to try out some new camping equipment.
"20 for breakfast, dear? Not a problem."
And about those ultralight aircraft, here's a photo of a red ultralite homebuilt flown by a frequent visitor to the Slabs. He was/is 80 years young
and tows this barnstormer behind a large motorhome. He says he can assemble the craft and fly it within 20 minutes. His wife claims to not have
severe jitters anymore.
Note: A special treat at night are the sounds of a far-away train whistle and the odd coyote howling across the desert. My own howling was a
little off-key the first couple nights, but neighbors quickly taught me the right pitch.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
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Mood: Just dancing through life
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Thunder God!!!!Aka Pompano
Jaime and I have visited the place a couple of times and found it does , indeed, march to a diffferent drummer...sometimes the march is little more
than a stagger.
I think you can sum it up as Sun, Air, Art, booze and pot!
The swap meet is a hoot...and I love the ammo bunkers that have been converted to homes.
And many of them do Speak to God in their Art...The Cholocate Mountains make a wonderful backdrop.
Thanks for the pictures
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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