Salvation Mountain

In 1986, Leonard Knight came to Bombay Beach to attempt to fly his hot air balloon. Two weeks later he was asked to move on from the beach area. He was told by people he met there that there was a place in the desert he could stay as long as he wanted. That place was Slab City! Slab City was a development of squatters made up of traveling laborers in the farm and construction industry, struggling artists and musicians, retirees, and pretty much anyone who couldn’t afford to live in more conventional settings.

In 1956, the U.S Marines dismantled Camp Dunlap and left only the concrete slabs that the buildings were on. The Department of Defense released the land back to the state of California in 1961. The first to stay at this place were laborers sent by pharmaceutical companies in LA to harvest several plants used in pharmaceuticals. Later, laborers building chemical and other facilities, were known to stay in the area. Temporary camps were built and when the laborers moved on, others would move in.

Over time, survivalists, writers, scientists, recreational users and other wandering geniuses made it their home. “Snow birds” found the location and made up a tremendous part of the population through the winter months. Those who lived there year-round out of necessity began to develop a swap meet and stage entertainment to raise funds.

This became an icon in the area attracting many visitors to shop the artworks and creations of those residents. The word about Salvation Mountain became known through word of mouth and film, which grew the area into a international tourist attraction.

During the 21st century, the introduction of East Jesus, another tremendous art installation among many smaller outdoor exhibits, gave Slab City a more predominate artist environment.