SAVE Salvation Mountain Forever!!

Friends, the time is at hand! The California State Land Commission is pressing for the sale of Section 36. This parcel encompasses Leonard’s “Love” Mountain and is part of the historic unincorporated Slab City. Five new industrial developments have been approved throughout Imperial Valley. Mining, industrial and solar facilities are becoming more prevalent in the area! It only makes sense that someone will want to do something similar or even develop housing for the many employees it will take to build and staff these facilities. It’s time to preserve Salvation Mountain! Help us Today!

The land (40 acres) has continued to be owned by the State of California. The State will not officially acknowledge Salvation Mountain and simply wants to sell the land. In order to support this community and its history, we intend to purchase this property and place it into a Community Land Trust. The Imperial County Supervisors voted unanimously in 2021 to designate Salvation Mountain Historic Resource and have encouraged us to obtain a Califonria State Historic Landmark designation. This designation will allow us to be exempt from zoning requirements on private property. The Community Land Trust will support this outdoor museum, exempt property taxes, and allow us to protect this land for recurring 99-year periods.

We are working with several art foundations, conservators and Imperial County to develop a long-term plan for the site. With these funds we will purchase the property, completely retore Leonard's invaluable works and we're envisioning a museum/visitor center to offer climate-controlled facilities. This facility would display Leonard’s life, works and history, as well as other artists from Slab City. We will continue to cooperate with the State and County to see this preservation be a great benefit to local businesses and other County services.

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. “Snowbirds” 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 an 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 predominant artist environment.