Welcome to Slab City: Inside the Californian military base turned alternative community flourishing in the wake of the housing crisis
By Daily Mail Reporter|
This is the former military base turned alternative community now home to almost 2,000 people including jobless and financially struggling recession refugees who can no longer pay for food and housing.
Although from the
outside it looks nothing more than a rag tag collection of RVs, ramshackle
buildings and scruffy tents , Slab city has developed into a complex community
with cafes and restaurants, a nightclub, a library and even a golf
course.
It takes its name
from the giant concrete slabs it is built
on. All that's left of the World War II
training camp where a group of servicemen decided to stay put after it was
decommissioned at the end of the war.
Many of the
residents, known as snowbirds, only come for the winter months before heading
back up north where the weather is cooler.
It is a place
on the fringe both geographically and philosophically. Of the hundred or so
permanent residents, most have been forced to live there through poverty and
survive on social security. 
An old checkpoint, now painted as a welcome sign, marks
the route to Slab City, a former Californian military base that was closed after
World War II
A truck converted into an art installation sits in the
settlement just outside Niland, California
Installation: A sign for a Slab City sculpture garden
called East Jesus. The community is home to almost 2,000 people including
jobless and financially struggling recession refugees who can no longer pay for
food and housing
Monument The 'Salvation Mountain' built out of hay, wood
and old tryes by longtime resident Leonard Knight marks the entrance to the city
Residents chat over a bite to eat. Slab City has become a
mecca for people who have lost their jobs or who are struggling financially as a
result of the recession
Facilities: Although from the outside it looks nothing
more than a collection of RVs, Slab city has several cafe and restaurants, a
nightclub and even a library
Longterm resident Jeff sits by his trailer. He counts the
days with bottles with every passing day represented by an empty bottle of
wine
Mark is one of the many residents known as Snowbirds, who
head south to Slab City for the winter months
Siblings Timothy, Zack and Casey Spyder, hang out in their
campsite. Many entire families have been forced to move to the community as a
result of the recession
Friends: 'Princess' Stephanie (left) talks to another
woman over dinner at the Karma Kafe
Close knit: A group of residents meet over dinner at the
Karma Kafe
Fore: The community even has its own golf course known as
Gopher Flats
Online: Frank, the owner of one of Slab City's internet
cafes, looks on as a couple hook up their computer
Another resident Mickel smokes a cigarette sitting round a
campfire
Smoke: Long-term resident
Pose: The colourfully named Jack 'Two Horses' sits at his
campsite
Jack Two Horses (left) and 'Purple' while away the hours
by Jack's campsite
Midnight blaze: Jack 'Two Horses' stands at his campfire
Two men talk near a trash can fire
Law: A deputy with the Imperial County Sheriff talks to a
man who was bathing nude at a hot spring
Pet cemetery: A wooden headstone marks the resting place
of one resident's cherished companion
Dinner time: Tracy 'Magenta' Ross (left) along with
another resident and Don chat over a meal
Embrace: Tracy 'Magenta' Moss hugs internet cafe owner
Frank
Twilight: Rob Walker kisses girlfriend Dayna Lambert as
Walker's son Andy walks toward their campsite
Don (left) talks to Frank over a few beers outside the
internet cafe
Beer we go: A can of lager in an Slab City drinks
cooler
Bath time: A man takes a dip in the hot springs
Grooming: A man shaves in the city's hot spring
Randy Stevenson poses for the camera in the midday
sun
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117488/Welcome-Slab-City-Inside-Californian-military-base-turned-alternative-community.html#ixzz1piQTNIsH
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