Salvation Mountain and Slab City

Slab City was one of the coolest places we visited on our epic 6,000-mile road trip. I remember watching a show about it as a teenager and hoping to visit sometime in my life.

Here’s the low down on the last lawless place in the US.

What is Salvation Mountain?

Salvation Mountain was Leonard Knight’s brainchild; however, this monumental piece of work was not without much anguish, yet he continued on—something we could all take note of.

His original plan to spread God’s love was to create a hot air balloon with it written on it. After fourteen years of trying, he finally gave up. At the time, his boss had taken him to Ninland, and he decided to stay for an extra week. He stated, “I was going to stay for just one week. It’s been a very good week” twelve years after moving there.

The goal for that week in 1984 was to build a small monument-whatever he could in the time that he had. That continued to grow and expand until 1989, when it collapsed. He took a great stance on it, stating, “I am grateful to God that he told me it was unsafe. I must do better.”

After his passing in 2014, people continued to upkeep the shrine, and to this day, you can donate paint cans and other supplies they may need.

What is Slab City?

Slab City is artistic and funky, continuing with Leonard Knights’ vision. It is located just past Salvation Mountain; hence why I am combining them into one post.

This home to around 150 people year-round was once Camp Dunlap, a military base in Southern California, during World War II. After the war, the US Government decided it was done with the location, so it took everything down to the slabs, hence the name. Then, they gave it back to the state of California, which has had very little to do with it since.

Ninland is the closest city, around ten miles away. It has a population of six hundred people.

Within Slab City, most live in run-down campers and buses. It’s messy and dirty, but it’s their home, and when visiting, it’s not surprising to see them waving at you with the biggest smiles as you check out their little space in the world.

I recommend driving through and checking it out, but I wouldn’t do much after dark. Though rumor has it they have fabulous events at the Range every Saturday night. There is even an Airbnb you can rent out for the night and grab coffee and WiFi from Rob’s the next morning.

If you ever do this or have done it, please tell me all about it!

How to Get there

From Los Angeles or Phoenix, take Interstate 10 to the 86S (just east of Indio.) Travel south (11 miles) to 66th Avenue (Hwy 195.) There is a gas station and truck stop on the left. If you miss this turn, you’ll end up on the wrong side of the Salton Sea.

Turn left (east) and go about a ½ mile to Highway 111. Turn right (south) and go about 42 miles to Niland, California. Once in Ninland, turn left (east) on Main Street (which eventually turns into Beal Road) and travel slightly over 3 miles. Look to the East. You absolutely cannot miss it.  

From San Diego or Yuma, take Interstate 8 to Highway 111 north. Niland is about 32 miles. Turn east on Main Street (turns into Beal Road) and go a little over 3 miles to Salvation Mountain.

And as always, you can put it in your GPS.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend stopping here. The area’s quirkiness is worth a drive-by and a smile—from you and them.