Slabs, Salvation Mountain, East Jesus

garyhaupt wrote:
I have spent time on the Slabs and yep, the filth and trash is quite amazing. As has been mentioned..it gives people who have nothing, a place to be. I kinda figure most of you don't want that type in your area, so maybe the Slabs is a great alternantive.

If, however, one can get past the visuals, you will find some your countries finest vets. Some pretty cool engineers and artists. More than a few lost souls that got all messed up with drugs and alcohol. YOU may want to live in a secure, fenced in, guarded or otherwise controlled environment. Not everyone shares that. There is a certain freedom that is found there. If a person wants to wander about with a joint and a beer at 7am, no one cares. No one is going to harangue you for showing up looking scruffy and unkempt. The fact you are alive will be enough for most. If a person can beat on a guitar or mouth harp and wants howl at the moon? No one is telling them to shut up..or calling the 'manager' or cops..and of course, on Fridays a person can perform at The Range.

Again...for many on this Board, the Slabs aren't for you. But...there are likley one or two that either go and like, or are thinking..hhmmmm...maybe I should check that out. And you should. But then, you should also do Burning Man..sort of like that song...Wear Sunscreen.....Go. Live.

Gary Haupt

X2

I have spent time on the Slabs and yep, the filth and trash is quite amazing. As has been mentioned..it gives people who have nothing, a place to be. I kinda figure most of you don't want that type in your area, so maybe the Slabs is a great alternantive.

If, however, one can get past the visuals, you will find some your countries finest vets. Some pretty cool engineers and artists. More than a few lost souls that got all messed up with drugs and alcohol. YOU may want to live in a secure, fenced in, guarded or otherwise controlled environment. Not everyone shares that. There is a certain freedom that is found there. If a person wants to wander about with a joint and a beer at 7am, no one cares. No one is going to harangue you for showing up looking scruffy and unkempt. The fact you are alive will be enough for most. If a person can beat on a guitar or mouth harp and wants howl at the moon? No one is telling them to shut up..or calling the 'manager' or cops..and of course, on Fridays a person can perform at The Range.

Again...for many on this Board, the Slabs aren't for you. But...there are likley one or two that either go and like, or are thinking..hhmmmm...maybe I should check that out. And you should. But then, you should also do Burning Man..sort of like that song...Wear Sunscreen.....Go. Live.


Gary Haupt

I don't know if my dog farted while I was reading this or if my mind conjured up an odor from the descriptions.
I do agree that these folks aren't hurting anything or anybody by being out there. Beats dying in a wheelchair ignored in a hallway somewhere.
The state could easily dig pits when needed and cover with lime when needed.
The east could never let this happen, that's why "go west young man" still resonates.

If everyone that visited could haul off a bit of trash....
The locals would probably be rather upset :R

davidaf wrote:
Been there, won't go back. Wasn't my cup of tea. Never understood why people want to run these folks off. If they want to live there, let them be. The land isn't worth squat. I'm sure they cause no more harm or strain on public resources than those folks living in public housing. I suspect they have very limited incomes and can't go anywhere else. If they do run them off they'll just end up in a public tenement or some other squatter camp. At least they are happy there and away from those folks that think the only way to live is under HOA supervision.

BTW, Leonard Knight was an incredibly passionate person and I'm privileged to have met him.

Another breath of fresh air on the forum .....

Been there, won't go back. Wasn't my cup of tea. Never understood why people want to run these folks off. If they want to live there, let them be. The land isn't worth squat. I'm sure they cause no more harm or strain on public resources than those folks living in public housing. I suspect they have very limited incomes and can't go anywhere else. If they do run them off they'll just end up in a public tenement or some other squatter camp. At least they are happy there and away from those folks that think the only way to live is under HOA supervision.

BTW, Leonard Knight was an incredibly passionate person and I'm privileged to have met him.

Here's an article on Slab City from a year ago. It is owned by the state of California:

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/apr/15/will-slab-city-remain-last-free-place-america/

rockhillmanor wrote:
...
Someone needs to take action to reclaim this part of our American land.

...

About 2 or 3 years ago, wasn't there an thread, that MANY contributed to, about the slabs being shut down and running off everyone there? I remember it was such a controversial topic, and almost everyone posting had very strong opinions between government involvement vs human rights vs the residents staying there and the mess they were making vs environmental issues vs ... well... where would all these people go if they had to leave?

I don't think there ever was a final resolve. Looks like, pretty much nothing happened, and life just went on the way it did. But wow! it sure caused a ruckus when the government got involved, that do I clearly remember. That discussion was the first time I'd heard about the "Slabs". I had no clue what it was until then. BUT there WAS an attempt for someone to take action and it went over like a lead balloon. That I remember.

That was a nice pictorial. Thanks

Nope, not my idea of an RV'ing destination. Certainly not worth the gas to even do a drive by of THAT!

REAL sad what they have 'allowed' them to do this place. :(
Someone needs to take action to reclaim this part of our American land.