East Jesus is certainly in the middle of nowhere, but it isn’t fictional. It’s a 30-acre museum in Niland, CA where discarded items, including car parts, swing sets, televisions and floats from Burning Man become art. East Jesus is next to Salvation Mountain, another wild – and wildly popular – art destination in the desert near the Salton Sea.
Fun Fact: East Jesus is part of the California Association of Museums. It is the only registered art museum in Imperial County, Salvation Mountain is a federally-designated “National Treasure” of the United States.
Are East Jesus and Salvation Mountain the same place?
East Jesus and Salvation Mountain aren’t the same place, but one is the explanation for the other. In 2006, Oakland artist Charlie Russel came to Niland (specifically, the “Slab City” area of Niland). Charlie intended to volunteer at Salvation Mountain. He fell in love with the idea of a never-ending, ever-evolving art project like the one artist Leonard Knight created with Salvation Mountain. So, Charlie began to build East Jesus nearby.
Learn more about the history of East Jesus and most recognizable art pieces here.
Fun Fact: Kesha fans will recognize East Jesus (along with Salvation Mountain and the nearby Salton Sea) from her music video Praying.
Visiting East Jesus
There are no services in Slab City. Plan to fuel up on the way in one of the nearby towns, and replenish drinks as well since slab City is in the middle of the desert. Closed toe shoes suitable for walking are a must. Why? East Jesus is spread over 30 acres, and the ground is uneven and (obviously) sandy. Both Salvation Mountain and East Jesus are free to guests, and operate entirely on donations.
The best bet is to visit both locations on the same visit, plan to spend about 2-3 hours if you want to see everything.
East Jesus is about 1.5 hours from Palm Springs or Jacumba Hot Springs, and is just under 2 hours from Julian, CA. It’s about 1 hour from Glamis, a popular spot for riding ATVs in the dunes.
East Jesus
23 Sidewinder Rd, Niland CA 92233
Salvation Mountain
603 Beal Rd, Niland, CA 92257
Stop in the desert for a Date Shake on the way to Salvation Mountain
Date Shakes are famous throughout California, but they are a must when in the Desert region, where the dates actually grow. Get a list of the best spots for date shakes in the desert, plus a recipe to make them at home here.
Find more Only in California original locations like this one!
Article by K.C. Cornwell. Photos by James Collier