Random Things That Slab City Is An Off-Grid Desert City (12 items)

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  (#11) It Is A City Of Harsh Conditions That Requires Self-Reliance

  During summer, Slab City temperatures could reach 120 degrees. Without electricity, some residents rely on solar panels for power. Some even use insulation to build cooler rooms inside of RVs during summer.

  Slab City is an area of self-reliance.When a person decides to live in Slab City, they learn the unwritten customs on their own, and their survival in the desolate place is up to them.
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  (#8) Slab City Has Its Own Prom

  Every year, Slab City has a prom. The venue is always the same - a stage built by Builder Bill. An organized dance may not seem like something to come out of a town of self-proclaimed misfits, but it is one of the most celebrated events of the city. It's also an end to winter celebration for the snowbirds who leave Slab City around this time.

  Since the people of Slab City more or less live outside, and in harsh conditions, it's a "tongue-in-cheek" event where they get to dress up and party together. For the most part, it's the one time of the year that slabbers put their differences aside. Almost like high school.
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  (#3) Slab City May Not Remain A Free City

  California is seeking to sell Slab City. A sale could potentially go to energy companies - possibly the only industry that could make the inhospitable and dry land useful. Many residents worry that a deal could leave them without a community or place to live, as the lawless Slab City has become the last resort for so many.

  Due to the threat of a sale, some residents of Slab City call for people to band together and purchase the land themselves in order to guarantee the community's survival. However, others worry that even if residents of Slab City buy the land, it will result in a landlord-like situation, which residents agree is contrary to what Slab City is all about.

  With the threat of government encroachment, the concept of a Slab City resident-run community seems to be the only solution. Some residents acknowledge that the land is useless and that California might sell the city for $1 an acre. Still, most of the residents rely on social security or government assistance, so it's impossible to band together to raise funds to purchase Slab City. Moreover, with such a mixture of different people living in the location, there are hostile feelings among residents regarding a purchase. Still, some of the most lawless residents do not even vocalize opinions on the matter, and it's likely that they wouldn't change their habits regardless.
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  (#9) Some Live Here Because They Cannot Afford To Live "On The Grid"

  Many residents of Slab City ended up there after lousy fortune. For those who would rather live "on the grid" but couldn't afford to do so, adjusting to life in Slab City is difficult.

  The only shower in Slab City is a single hole in the ground. There is no running water or electrical grid in Slab City. There are even children who live in Slab City and go to school in neighboring communities.
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  (#10) Slab City Is Just Steps Away From Tourist Attraction Salvation Mountain

  Just steps away from the entrance to Slab City is Salvation Mountain, an artistic tourist site where everything is covered in paint. While most Instagram-seeking tourists understand that Slab City is a refuge for people who do not want to be bothered or found, tourists still drive through it anyhow.

  While there have been reports of tourists getting assaulted or robbed by Slab City residents, the area is still open to visitors and signs encourage tourists to visit the adjoining art installation East Jesus.
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  (#12) Slabbers Fight For Freedom

  Slabbers, as they call themselves, have developed something of a community for as much as they resist. They identify almost everything in the town. The new-age hobos who visit Slab City are referred to as "train kids."

  Slab City seems to attract every personality type, from nomads to desperate parents scraping by to care for their families. And that's the reason many residents fight to keep "the last free place in America," free.

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