So, how do these Slabbers manage out in the middle of the desert, living off the land? It's pretty remarkable how these people live, but it's something all preppers can look up to. Whether you've heard of this place or not, there's a lot to take away from this community of people. Take a look:
Off The Grid
People in Slab City give themselves addresses, because nothing is marked out here. Of course, the address doesn't matter much. Mail doesn't run out here, either. Nothing does.There is no electricity in Slab City, except for people who bring their own generators. There is no sewer service, no water system. No trash trucks come to haul garbage away, and if you look up you won't see any power and telephone lines.
Population estimates are anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand people.
The Free Folks
Now, a few hundred to a few thousand people are living here at any given time. They pay rent to no one. They answer to no one. They're all living off the grid.Slab Industries
There are businesses in Slab City, after a fashion. You can buy a year-long membership to the Oasis Club for $20, where they serve coffee from 7 to 10 a.m. Slab City even has a pirate radio station. An artist from New York runs it out of his solar-powered Airstream. He sells T-shirts to tourists who come to Slab City.That’s Entertainment
The lending library works pretty simply: leave a book to take a book. If you don't want to read, head to one of Slab City's two live music stages. There are several clubs for socializing as well.Community Spirit
All residents share a communal shower, a cistern fed by a natural hot spring. There is a church for those who want to attend. And every year, Slab City throws a prom. It's because so many residents never went to their own school prom.Where The Livin' Is Easy
A mixture of people call Slab City home. Retirees looking to live cheaply are common, but so are young people who are running from society or simply don't believe they fit into it. They're all different, and they're all from different places, but they all have the same goal: to live free.
Even if it's not your idea of home, it's definitely a place to see. What do you think of this particular off-the-grid brand of life, is it doable? Share with us below! To learn more about Slab City and its residents, visit Off Grid Quest!
Featured Image via Gerry/Flickr
The people at slab. City. Are good people talk to them Right
Been there done that, cool place
I would build a Earthship in taos NM before I go to slab city. Sooner or later people will tire of them and the bulldozer will move in.
Sam Libengood
Google it. More info there, and less clickbait.
Inland empire
The first ones to live there were officers who decided they would stay after World War II. The sheriff rolls through there regularly I, a water truck shows up once a week to fill their water tanks if they want it. It’s not going anywhere, it had no real other use and is not desirable real estate.
I will gfo hjere one day
lol!don’t be scared because soon as possible you we see the man talk
For the smile about mr trump……
Until you post it on social media!!
sure beets working and have to support 10 others that dont in the socialist society they call america
I’ve been there.. Lol
I’ve read about Slab City before, but I never knew they had a hot spring with a cistern for communal showers.
Oddly enough this is a “bucket list” item for me. Would love to go and visit this unique place and its unique community.
In the early 80”s till the late 90’s the neighbors went there in the winter, and came back in the summer. One summer they didn’t come back, 3 years later the county took the property for taxes, apparently they passed away there.
would like to check it out but too many tweakers there
they also have federal customs checking people when they leave
And its just down the road from a Bombing range / navy special warfare desert training facility that they tend to scavenge the$#%&!@*out of.
I seen this place on a documentary about weed.
No sewers, and the cistern, as they call it, is undrinkable water. Very, very salty!
People have to drive around 12 miles to fill jugs up with water.
Have to drive further for groceries.
No trash services, huge piles! Not everyone hauls off their trash.
Nothing grows.
Snakes, spiders, scorpions, …found in everything.
Spent 1 winter there…never again!!
Didn’t he stop here during Into The Wild?
I’ve thought about getting a motor home and going there. Guess it gets up to 120 degrees there in the day though.
why would customs check people when they leave if theres nothing there to take and its like your not going to another country . Don’t understand that.
Sharon Shuster Jonathan Shidler. William Watson
Of course it is doable. It wasn’t much more than 100 years ago that most lived without the common household luxuries we have today.
It going to be a solar farm everyone has to move out
Have to stop by here Marshall Bo Diggz Kelly
David Poston look familiar?
It’s on the list
Yes but it was painted differently back in the early 90s. Used to see it every day back 25+ years ago
I don’t think they touch up on the lack of sewers and restrooms enough. My little sister lived out here. When my dad went there he physically started a few of people to father the mountains of garbage that had been accumulating and what he found is that every person leaves there camp to$#%&!@*in front of someone else’s and it happens thousands of times a a day. The smell of$#%&!@*and piss travel through the air with thre slightest breeze.
My question is how can you have a night club and stage and a pirate radio station and not grasp the consent of all shitting is fucking holes in the ground dug out for that reason at the least. No thanks on the slab city tour. Thanks though.
That’s awsome
People have no idea how to manage waste or disease.
Yea. Unless you’ve been there you wouldn’t understand how fucked up the slabs really are lol
Awesome place
Jeffrey Loftus this is what we saw on the way to Vegas.
Vice has a pretty good documentary on slab city
Jennifer Linkeman Waite
Alice Templeton
Renee Gray
Kayla LaNasa
Justin Ryan Slevin
Makes me cry! I hope your plans haven’t changed to help these people.
If it’s off the grid why does everyone know about it now?
Lynn Cannon
I love this
i watched a whole documentary on youtube about this. <3