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Slab City, Niland California

Slab City, also called The Slabs, is a largely snowbird community in the Sonoran Desert located in Imperial County, California, 100 miles (161 km) northeast of San Diego and 169 miles (272 km) southeast of Los Angeles within the California Badlands, and used by recreational vehicle owners and squatters from across North America. It took its name from concrete slabs that remained from the abandoned World War II Marine Corps barracks of Camp Dunlap.

Several thousand campers, many of them retired, use the site during the winter months. The "snowbirds" stay only for the winter before migrating north in spring to cooler climates. The temperatures during summer are as high as 120 °F (49 °C); nonetheless, there is a group of around 150 permanent residents who live in "The Slabs" year round. Some of these "Slabbers" derive their living from government programs and have been driven to "The Slabs" by poverty. Others have moved to "The Slabs" to learn how to live off the grid and be left alone. Still others have moved there to stretch their retirement income.

Address: Sonoran Desert, California
Population: 1006
Established: 1914
Climate: typically varies from 42°F to 107°F and is rarely below 35°F or above 113°F.
County: Imperial
Median Home Price: $98,2000

Did you know: Slab City took its name from concrete slabs that remained from the abandoned World War II Marine Corps barracks of Camp Dunlap. Several thousand campers, many of them retired, use the site during the winter months.

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WHY YOU NEED TO SEE IT

  • A famous area for snowbirds, Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort supplies so many activities you won't know what to do first.

  • See Leonard Knight's massive artistic expression, a continual work-in-progress that has become a community landmark. A trip to see Salvation Mountain is something every visitor to Niland should make time for.

  • Relax, and soak in healing mineral waters at Bashfords Hot Mineral Spa, located at the base of the Chocolate Mountains.

  • Slab City: Experience off-the-grid RVing at its finest, and see a former Second World War marine training base.

  • Check out some native bird species as well as other wildlife at Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.