"Slab City", Niland,Ca

Have you ever seen the movie"Into the Wild"? There is a scene that takes place in a remote desert spot where RV'ers and others hang out. Having spent time at Quartzsite and in organized campgrounds this place just attracted my attention. Onto the web I went to see if it was real...It is more than real! "The last place that is free." An ex Marine base that was active from 1942-1948. Later abandoned ergo "The Slabs". All that is left are the slabs that were the foundations for the administrative infrastructure as the Marines all stayed in tents. The community started arriving in the mid-60's. Not one that everyone would want to be a part of, but one that everyone could be a part of. For more of the history go to www.slabcity.org. It is said that one trip to Slab City and you are addicted. We arrived mid day and drove around looking for a spot to park for the night. The area encompasses in ranch terms a section, 640 acres or 1 mile by 1 mile so you can spend a while hunting if you want. We found a spot that looked ok and stopped. We then went walking around to scope the place out. The Traveling Pals club, a club for single people, The Oasis Club, an place for eating and drinking...and a small library were nearby. These were spots for people to gather to socialize. Alaskan Linda had volunteered to put on a lasagna dinner for the next night. We were soon asked to join a campfire ring by Professor Mike, who rode around on a powered beer cooler. Soon several others joined in..Darcy brought over Cheryls chocolate chip cookies...You would have thought they had died and gone to heaven. Cooking was probably not high on their priorities. Probably beer was number 1.
We saw people from all walks of life from prosperous millionaires to happy go lucky paupers camping side by side. They will mingle for the season and then go on their separate ways. We talked with people in their 80's to people in their teens. It is truly an anthropological experience. There is a current documentary on the fine arts circuit called "Below Sea Level" See it if you can.. Will we return? Sure hope so..