I was born and raised in Niland (Nile + Land), lived there 50 years, off and on. Left in 2000 for good. Niland was started to be a resort town for Holly Wood big wigs, but it turned out that they liked Palm Springs better. Niland, The Gate Way to Imperial Valley, was once in the running to be the county seat. Then the US Congress declared the Tomato a veggy instead of its botanical classification of Fruit. oops, we died. Niland is 141 feet below sea level. Calipatria, 8 miles south, has the tallest Flagpole in the world. 184 feet tall and it's tip is at sea level. Running Commentary: :08 In between the camera and the left most visible train car is the site of the famous Silver Dollar Saloon. :21 The "Courthouse" was a Bank and to its left were various stores and shops. The first Grocery Store was there. It is part of "Old Town" 1:07 We're looking South up Niland Ave, To the left is Bill Ma's place, now known as Niland Sportsman's Bar and Cafe, damn good Chinese food. My parents played poker there. At the end of the Bank Building, on the right was Jack's Taxi. For the right price, he would drive *anybody* North thur old Camp Dunlop,Sla City, Across the mountains on the the old stagecoach road safely past the order Patrol. 5:06 Barking Dog, Looks like the recycling business might still be there. Must be his son running it now. 7:14 Another bank. I played a lot of Hacky Sack on that slab. 9:02 My Dad's Gas station. My First lob, checking the air in the tires. I was 3yo at the time. There used to e a thermometer on the south side of the building. it went up to 130*. One year the top of the glass tube busted out. 11:03 That tower was originally a Fire Watch tower. It was also a handy place to hang fire hoses to dry. Niland Fire Department is just to the right of the tower. They prvide emergency services to Slab City. My Taxes on 1 acre of undeveloped land was $750/yr, but $700 was Fire Department Assessments. 12:43, "Creepy shit. Fire hazard, too" We called those dead palm trees "Roman Candles," 'cuz they throw flaming bits 100 feet up in the air. 13:46 Abandoned trailer house. Kids moved out of town and momma died. Property is only worth a couple of thousand dollars. After cleanup. 14:11 Creepy Concrete building. Yeah, it belongs to the guy that lives behind it. It was an Ice Plant. Not only sold Ice to residents, (before refrigerators,) it provided tons of ice every day of harvest to keep the Tomato fruit fresh while being shipped across the country. Niland once provided 87% of all Table Tomatos sold in the USA. 16:13 We've moved to New Town, built in the 60's. They've had a few morw fires since I was last there. 17:45 Looking South down Hwy 111 at the "Business District." A mile south of there is where I was born. 19:19 My Gas Station is GONE! Aaaah! 21:56 The shell of the last Packing Shed in Niland, there used to be a dozen in town, and many, many more in the surrounding farms. There were also two private train loading docks whee they could load tomatoes into 6 box cars at a time, 24/7 for about 6 weeks every Janurary Hope y'all enjoyed. SamT
Sam, thank you for the feedback, it's a shame the UA-camrs only focus on Salvation Mountain and Slab City. It looks like I'm the only UA-camr that's actually done a walkthrough. I'm going to Pin your comment sir !
Mexico could import vegetables but not fruit. We were the first legal tomato fruit harvest in the US. Mexico harvested "vegetable" tomatoes before us and flooded the market
I was in Niland this passed weekend. The town is a ghost town. However, the people living there seemed really nice. I wouldn’t mind spending a week their.
Anival1984 As you see most of what I filmed was the abandoned part, I never film or try to avoid filming people’s homes. When I arrived here about a year ago first thing I noticed were Federal Agents and Sheriff Deputies patrolling this Ghost Town. As I ventured into Slab City I got Information from some of the people who reside there, saying that Niland was the pit-stop for Narcotic Transactions. Most of what I filmed was on sale by Real Estate. My response to this video may seem very harsh but it’s a reality.
I worked at Sahara Packing Co., Brawley, Calif. 1969, 1970. Sahara grew their lettuce at Salton Sea in the irrigated desert, as far as the eye could see, all around Niland & Calipatria. Brings back many memories, thank you
😂😂😂 my dog was born in this town that is so funny to see this. I used to have to go out there once a month to a clinic they have around the block on 111. Cycles around there cuz I just love looking at those old buildings wondering what they were back in the day and how it must have been. I lived in Westmorland which is a few miles west a little South West from there. And it used to be a bagel Saloon town at one time these little towns are pretty crazy there's a lot of history. Anyways I'm still tripping that my dog was born in this little town he's the best dog ever
My family had a catfish farm down there in 60's -80's. My AUNT DOT WALTON HAD A HAIR SALON IN HER HOME WAS ALWAYS SOOO HOT THERE WE USED TO SCOOT ACROSS THE BORDER TO CALEXICO WAS ALOT OF FUN BACK THEN
Anybody else remember Harold Greene? He was the owner of the little cafe on the south end of Niland. This was back in the late 80's & early 90's I knew Harold. At that time I think it was the only cafe in Niland. Very popular cafe for the bird hunters in the winter.
This is my hometown. I grew up playing in that abandoned court house. And roller-skating down the streets. Looking back, it was a weird place to grow up but I'm Niland tough because of it. And you're right, mess up and they will bury you in the desert. Growing up, people would disappear, only to be found buried in the desert in the slab area or further out in the desert. Or they would never be heard from again and you just knew they messed with the wrong people. Lots of OD's as well. The streets look exactly as they did 30 years ago. Not much has changed. My mom still lives there along with my brother, Andy.
I spend a lot of my childhood years in Niland. My grandparents, Duke and Connie Snider owned a ranch there from the 70's to the early 90's. I don't remember any of these buildings, I just remember a little convenience store we used to go to and my elementary school.
Don't blow smoke up our asses. My wife is Canadian and all three of our children have dual citizenship. I flew transport aircraft for the Air Force and have been all over the world and almost every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Canada, especially British Columbia is the most beautiful landscape I have seen or just as beautiful. C'mon, the desert is bleak and barren. I lived in the Mojave Desert and have been all throughout the lower So. Cal and Arizona deserts. Come on down when it is 120 degreed F. snd see how beautiful it is. It is hard, rough dirt. In the summer time, nobody is out here because it is so hot.
Charlie B Charlie look towards the end of my video at 16:17 I film several structures that were burned down. I heard that one of those structures was a Bar. Please let me know what you see!
I always wanted to know why this city is very reclusion. Maby it's a hunted place!!! And this city just has only one restaurant and gas station. There isn't any motels of banks and stores around the town.maby just a little grocery store at the main road of the town. Its very mysterious.😧😧😐😐
RJDCR Niland has become the center point for all negativity, because it’s the entrance to Slab City. All I saw were Law Enforcement and other Federal Agents patrolling this half-ghost town. It’s said, this small village was once used to support to Marines during WW2. Now, most of what I filmed is up for sale through Real State
Because it was filmed here in Niland and featured the abandoned court house. It was a big deal with the locals in Niland. " Three Kings " featuring Ice Cube and George Clooney was also filmed here.
I have family roots in Niland and Calipatria. Beal St. is named after a branch of my family. My great Aunt and Uncle and my grandmother were all there. My mom tells of my great great grandfather coming to Calipat and building little shanty shacks in hopes that family from Oregon would stay once they got there. Are you kidding! The Baxter side of the family were ranchers there. I wish you would have shown some other parts of town not just the abandoned buildings.
Jim Haggett Did you ever noticed why no one has ever filmed the real Niland? Everyone seems to bypass this portion and go straight to Salvation Mountain and Slab City. Once they enter Niland they don't look back. You see 99% percent of those who call themselves Explorers are Vloggers are fakes who don't care about Nilands past, all they care about are homeless losers in Slab City. As for me, I'm the first to ever film the real Niland and its history. I avoided filming current residents as much as possible due to privacy reasons. Some parts of Niland we're infested with drug dealers.
My Mom went to Calipatria High. My grandmother and great aunt used to wait until about midnight to drive down to Brawley to get their mail because it was too hot during the day. John and Thelma Smoot were my grt. aunt and uncle. All passed away now but Thelma made it to 100. My grandmother was Alna Simmons and her second husband Ken Simmons. For awhile they use to manage the Fountain of Youth before it went bankrupt in the beginning. I was hoping to see the old Niland house in your video :o) thanks for filming though. One day I may just be another Bombay. I thought Calipat was really booming because of the prison they built?
Cities like this are intriguing. I'm not so much a fan of slab city... Just outcasts and the homeless fartin around out there it looks like, but seeing desolate cities really sparks my interest.
There are many cities and towns in the country that look like this. It's hard to imagine that there ever was motivation to try to make a go of it. They look so dead.
I live in the Bay Area in Contra Costa County there used to be 2 canneries here Hickmontt & Tullie Lewis one of my fondest memories as a kid in the 60's is warm summer nights smelling the tomatoes being processed that probably came from Niland
It’s a partial Ghost Town, this town was once active during WW2 with the Marine Corps Barracks and Salton Sea Resorts during the 1950s. After the WW2 the Marine Corps Barracks moved to 29 Palms several years later. After the collapse of Salton Sea Resort this entire region suffered massively. What I filmed is only half-Ghost Town. Train Station is a part of the former glory old Town.
Dude.. It’s like you stumbled onto the ultimate horror movie set haha... it even has the lonely freight train passing by in the ‘run for your life to catch it’ distance. Awesome content here!
I was there last week and saw most of the buildings you filmed. I saw the last building off the CA-111, that one you zoomed in. I was going to stop there on my way back from Slab City, but I was too tire. I want to go back soon to check it out and the "Skate Park" in Slab City that I just found out about couple of days ago. You're right though. I am surprised not too many UA-camrs visit Niland.
The Meat Market Store is still there, so is a Pizza Place, Resturante and other shops. Last time I went to Calipatrai it didn't look so well, many shops closed, some buildings brokent into.
regarding the recycling center his son doesn't run it his widow does,at least i believe they got married..niland fire district no longer exists services are provided by the county, did mel have another son besides downey?
Why didn't you go up to opened doors at the bank ? ( not the one with barking dog) you thought it was a courthouse but it looked more like a old bank. Oh well thanks...
Grant Keller The reason why I didn’t go inside this Courthouse/Bank is because it’s not abandoned. And yes, there were people inside doing some construction work. I don’t film people. Inside the Courthouse/Bank there was a German Shepherd and two guys.
Dude that must've been a particularly busy day you were there recording on because I drive around Niland A LOT like 3 times a week and there is just no one out and about. Good video, I know Niland has its history and lots of tell-tales to be shared
EdLndrs12 What I saw I couldn’t record I had to edit almost 30 minutes of original clip. Niland is cool, but Slab City brings in a lot of unwanted people at Niland.
Mike Hanseman The original video was narrated but was receiving negative feedback from Trolls, so I decided to phase out my narrative and delete all negative comments. Part of being an Explorer is to capture as much as possible before it all goes away. The majority of those who call themselves Explorers are fakes.
The REAL DJ Fruit Loops This small village (Niland) is the entrance to Slab City. No one has ever filmed Niland. So, I decided to film it and so far it’s done very well
I was raised in niland you dont know anythibg about our little town all of its history really bad you went about it this way shouldve been there 10 years ago when everything was controlled
@@SoCalUrbex74 hi. Why is it a ghost town. Is there any population. Some stories state niland is under water. What happens there. I am reading the stories and I find them fun. Who owns niland Thanks
@@tinawoehler5758 Its a partial ghost town, there are residents and even a school. I only filmed the abandoned locations. Niland is very dry, hot it still is that same as as I filmed it
Viking Mike The Original Version was a Vlog, was receiving too much negative attention. The population is 1,200 mainly field workers. So, out of respect for those who live here and were former residents I had to delete my Vlog, and add Ambient Music. I heard this entire are was sold out. I'm not sure..
Not sleepy, very active with Narco Activities and Police. I’m from San Diego, been here several times, noticed that not one UA-camr has ever film this place first but me. I titled it the Strange Town of Niland because this placed was once the entry to the Marine Corps Barracks back in WW2. I have more knowledge on this entire region then most of those Vloggers who By-Pass Niland and go straight to Salvation Mountain & Slab City.
There are hundreds of small forgotten towns like this that were active during WW2, most of them end like this. The distance from Niland, California to San Diego, California is: 150 miles / 241 km driving
I drove thru just past dusk last summer ( 2017 ) wanted pics of salvation mountain . Caretaker was a dick . Kept saying come back in the morning . I said I'm heading to L.A. . I took pics anyway . That place is creepy AF at night .
I was born in brawley and lived in niland for a bit....anybody remember the opina's....zarate's my relatives and longtime friends mendoza's I miss the valley but I live in Illinois for the last 24years b town native...
for everybody's information that's watching this video that was not the courthouse that was a bank it was a Bank of America in the 50s it was not a courthouse that is falseinformation it was a Bank of America back in the 50s to the 60s
Falsifying Information? Lady, no one even knew about this place existed until it was posted on UA-cam. A Courthouse that was supposedly a bank that no one cares about. The video is showing the American People on how locations are quickly forgotten
@@SoCalUrbex74 some of us care seems how some of us have lived there since 1961 secy everybody knew about the Salton Sea in this it was settled by Filipino which Drew and farmed it and turned itgeneral Patton is the military base it was at that base of slab City that's where general Patton and his soldiers United States army back in the 40s secy yeaheverybody knew about this town way before the video on UA-cam
@@SoCalUrbex74 slab City didn't actually start tell the 60s and that's when the teachers association bought that propertyand the military still draw trains out there on the other side of the canal from bra 8 all the way to drop 13 to this day
@@SoCalUrbex74 I'm not trying to be mean orany bank that's just I've lived there in Italian you said nobody knew about oh yeah everybody knew about it where the police department we have everything that was a full-blown town at one time in the 60s and I bank at the Bank of America that's how I knew it was a how many Filipinos live in that county one-time over 200 of them Hay Mall Farmers a different crops which is what that landa still out there is nothing but crops in farming I was just trying to make sure the truth was out or the misleading some people would understand what those buildings really were that's all sorry you took offense you said you nobody knew about that town so don't be offended
@@ginianne45 In February 1942, the U.S. Army assigned General George S. Patton Jr. to advance desert tank warfare and train U.S. soldiers for combat under the harshest desert conditions possible. In early March General Patton and his staff surveyed the southwestern United States and established the boundary of the Desert Training Center. It encompassed 18,000 square miles of rugged, desolate and largely uninhabited lands within the Mojave and Colorado Deserts in California, Arizona and Southern Nevada. Patton established the headquarters for his base camp near Shavers Summit (now Chiriaco Summit), 25 miles east of Indio. The Small Camp next to Nialnd was a Marine Corps Barracks the was later transfered to 29 Palms. Also, the Us Navywas conducting training at Salton Sea during that Time-Frame. 2020 US Special Forces still conducts training in near Niland.
Eerie video; gave me the chills that I look for (and look for me) in this world. Never been to Niland but I lived for a year in Palmdale, California, some ways away in the same desert. Niland reminds me that, to quote myself; Nothing is promised, everything is illusory. If it isn't eternal, it isn't really there. Thank you for the film.
Temperatures in the Summer can reach up 115F. Crime is not high, but there’s a lot of homeless and drug users. The Town of Niland is the entrance to Slab City
It'a really a shame to see American towns laying in waste, too bad California would concentrate more of getting rid of a lot of problems so they can concentrate on rebuilding towns and help American citizens.
Sam I lived in Niland in 1969 to 71 my dad taught school there. Byrdie was the sheriff who got the shit kicked out of him for giving my brother a hard time for something his own kid had done. I drove a truck for Gib Holtz for a while then went to work for Don Cannon. My niece was born in Calipat. I am trying to figure out where you took your video. I remember the little coffee shop on the corner of the hwy. or what was a truck stop,, and the bar down the street from it. The gas station down from it, my brother in law worked there, Bill Kelly,, you might remember Oma Mankins the old Indian who lived in the desert we lived on 1st St. if memory serves, But I sure don't remember slab city at all. oh well this was a long time ago, and Im live in Arkansas now but thank you for the Video. Sure miss those Date Shakes....(:>
Silent Pray Hello, my name of SoCal Urbex. I'm the one who filmed this video. I pinned Sams response because it was him who contacted me first. Perhaps you could respond to the Pinned Comment.
I gave it the Title "Strange Town of Niland" because of it's history and involvment with Slab City. No one has ever filmed Niland as much I, everyone seems to bypass this once forgetten town. The part I fimed was only the part that has been affected. In reality, everyone is too chicken shit. Hollywood film crew was down here when I was here, they filmed the Old Courthouse. if you want to give more insite on Niland, please do so for everyone to read.
George whiplemyer jr. The portion I recorded was the dead part of this small village. Niland has a population over 1,000 most work in the crop fields near by
I lived in Niland for some time while I was working on the power plant there, we used to go to a little Beer bar after work. It’s a nice little town, and the rent was cheap. I very much enjoyed my stay there.
When I was filming, noticed that much of abandoned areas were very dry. I read that this last Summer half of Niland burned down. The cause is unknown but I’m speculating homeless set it on fire by accident
@@SoCalUrbex74 that’s a possibility, I went back for a visit on 4/21, hoping to have lunch at the Chinese restaurant but it’s gone, as well as the Mexican restaurant We’d have lunch at. But the store we use to buy beer at hasn’t changed much at all.
You know... I've seen this play out many times through the years, (ie; yuba city, marysville, ca.) 1st- local town economy destroyed... 2nd- businesses gone... 3rd- buildings/windows secured/boarded up... 4th- property values drop, residents forced to move on... 5th- revitalization begins under discreet sustainable agenda... Mark my words, there is a plan/agenda at work...(data center, gateway city, time will tell...) Peace
Interesting, I have never even been to California, but you mentioned Yuba City and I thought of the dam that was flooding it years ago. Agenda 21 indeed.
Joel Weidenfeld Both, Niland economy is hurting since the end of WW2. Slab City has several hundred homeless & visitors through the year. Niland still has a population over 1000. Most of the resident of Niland arevMigrant Farmers who work in the fields in El Centro. Slab City is a Hippie-Post-Apocalyptic City kind of like Mad Max. Both places at Night can be dangerous.
Dan McCarthy Some of the things people may disagree. But, Niland and surrounding small towns are quick stops for Narcos. When I arrived at Niland first thing I noticed were Sheriff and Border Patrol Vehicles. Also noticed other Federal Agents. Noticed lots of Unwanted Human Trash, Drug Dealers there. I didn’t film any of it. When I was filming everyone thought I was a Real Estate Agent. So, they left me alone. What make Niland Dangerous is the lack of Medical and Law Enforcement. Not to say Niland is a bad place, Slab City attracts many teenage runaways and homeless many stop by at Niland and that’s were trouble begins. As for the Military that’s true, all former US Military Bases, Camps or Forts we’re are no longer in use those Cities and Towns were turned into Ghost Towns. Some of those small dependent greatly on the US Military. There’s also a response by a gentleman name Sam TT, he was a former resident of Slab City. Read his response
Strange fascination with places like this / Salton Sea . Live in Lansing Michigan and have driven out west a few times the last couple yrs . Stop in Phoenix at a buddy's place and on my way to another friends in L.A. I always stop thru here . Nice vid.
I was born and raised in Niland (Nile + Land), lived there 50 years, off
and on. Left in 2000 for good. Niland was started to be a resort town
for Holly Wood big wigs, but it turned out that they liked Palm Springs
better. Niland, The Gate Way to Imperial Valley, was once in the running
to be the county seat. Then the US Congress declared the Tomato a veggy
instead of its botanical classification of Fruit. oops, we died. Niland is 141 feet below sea level. Calipatria, 8 miles south, has the tallest Flagpole in the world. 184 feet tall and it's tip is at sea level.
Running Commentary:
:08 In between the camera and the left most visible train car is the site of the famous Silver Dollar Saloon.
:21 The "Courthouse" was a Bank and to its left were various stores and shops. The first Grocery Store was there. It is part of "Old Town"
1:07 We're looking South up Niland Ave, To the left is Bill Ma's place, now known as Niland Sportsman's Bar and Cafe, damn good Chinese food. My parents played poker there. At the end of the Bank Building, on the right was Jack's Taxi. For the right price, he would drive *anybody* North thur old Camp Dunlop,Sla City, Across the mountains on the the old stagecoach road safely past the order Patrol.
5:06 Barking Dog, Looks like the recycling business might still be there. Must be his son running it now.
7:14 Another bank. I played a lot of Hacky Sack on that slab.
9:02 My Dad's Gas station. My First lob, checking the air in the tires. I was 3yo at the time. There used to e a thermometer on the south side of the building. it went up to 130*. One year the top of the glass tube busted out.
11:03 That tower was originally a Fire Watch tower. It was also a handy place to hang fire hoses to dry. Niland Fire Department is just to the right of the tower. They prvide emergency services to Slab City. My Taxes on 1 acre of undeveloped land was $750/yr, but $700 was Fire Department Assessments.
12:43, "Creepy shit. Fire hazard, too" We called those dead palm trees "Roman Candles," 'cuz they throw flaming bits 100 feet up in the air.
13:46 Abandoned trailer house. Kids moved out of town and momma died. Property is only worth a couple of thousand dollars. After cleanup.
14:11 Creepy Concrete building. Yeah, it belongs to the guy that lives behind it. It was an Ice Plant. Not only sold Ice to residents, (before refrigerators,) it provided tons of ice every day of harvest to keep the Tomato fruit fresh while being shipped across the country. Niland once provided 87% of all Table Tomatos sold in the USA.
16:13 We've moved to New Town, built in the 60's. They've had a few morw fires since I was last there.
17:45 Looking South down Hwy 111 at the "Business District." A mile south of there is where I was born.
19:19 My Gas Station is GONE! Aaaah!
21:56 The shell of the last Packing Shed in Niland, there used to be a dozen in town, and many, many more in the surrounding farms. There were also two private train loading docks whee they could load tomatoes into 6 box cars at a time, 24/7 for about 6 weeks every Janurary
Hope y'all enjoyed.
SamT
Sam, thank you for the feedback, it's a shame the UA-camrs only focus on Salvation Mountain and Slab City. It looks like I'm the only UA-camr that's actually done a walkthrough. I'm going to Pin your comment sir !
Sam, thanks for the history but why if the called a tomato a veggie did it make your town close up ? i mean you could still grow tomatoes their ?
Mexico could import vegetables but not fruit. We were the first legal tomato fruit harvest in the US. Mexico harvested "vegetable" tomatoes before us and flooded the market
Out of respect of former and current residents of Niland, I have removed all negative comments, removed my Vlog (Voice) and added Ambient Music.
WOW! Thank you.
What a beautiful little desert town! Awesome palm trees!
Yes,
This is what the Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon will look like pretty soon!!😱😈
True, they want to destroy this country
@@SoCalUrbex74 Who are "they?"
Surprisingly populated for such a deserted town.
I was in Niland this passed weekend. The town is a ghost town. However, the people living there seemed really nice. I wouldn’t mind spending a week their.
Anival1984 As you see most of what I filmed was the abandoned part, I never film or try to avoid filming people’s homes. When I arrived here about a year ago first thing I noticed were Federal Agents and Sheriff Deputies patrolling this Ghost Town. As I ventured into Slab City I got Information from some of the people who reside there, saying that Niland was the pit-stop for Narcotic Transactions. Most of what I filmed was on sale by Real Estate. My response to this video may seem very harsh but it’s a reality.
@@SoCalUrbex74 Meth all over the place...SAD..
I worked at Sahara Packing Co., Brawley, Calif. 1969, 1970. Sahara grew their lettuce at Salton Sea in the irrigated desert, as far as the eye could see, all around Niland & Calipatria. Brings back many memories, thank you
This town was mentioned in the book "Into The Wild"
I need to check it out !
It is right next ro the slabs where Chris Mc Candles stayed for a while.
😂😂😂 my dog was born in this town that is so funny to see this. I used to have to go out there once a month to a clinic they have around the block on 111. Cycles around there cuz I just love looking at those old buildings wondering what they were back in the day and how it must have been. I lived in Westmorland which is a few miles west a little South West from there. And it used to be a bagel Saloon town at one time these little towns are pretty crazy there's a lot of history. Anyways I'm still tripping that my dog was born in this little town he's the best dog ever
My family had a catfish farm down there in 60's -80's. My AUNT DOT WALTON HAD A HAIR SALON IN HER HOME WAS ALWAYS SOOO HOT THERE WE USED TO SCOOT ACROSS THE BORDER TO CALEXICO WAS ALOT OF FUN BACK THEN
Thats what I have been hearing !
Anybody else remember Harold Greene? He was the owner of the little cafe on the south end of Niland. This was back in the late 80's & early 90's I knew Harold. At that time I think it was the only cafe in Niland. Very popular cafe for the bird hunters in the winter.
Yes I used to live there and we would always go and have burgers there really good. I remember ordering the Harold's heavy half pound burger 🤪
I like this town
Im going back to shed more light on it.
This is my hometown. I grew up playing in that abandoned court house. And roller-skating down the streets. Looking back, it was a weird place to grow up but I'm Niland tough because of it. And you're right, mess up and they will bury you in the desert. Growing up, people would disappear, only to be found buried in the desert in the slab area or further out in the desert. Or they would never be heard from again and you just knew they messed with the wrong people. Lots of OD's as well.
The streets look exactly as they did 30 years ago. Not much has changed. My mom still lives there along with my brother, Andy.
Thank you positive feedback !
That was supposed to say " tough " not " though " autocorrect is a scam! Lol. You're very welcome! Thanks for the awesome video.
I spend a lot of my childhood years in Niland. My grandparents, Duke and Connie Snider owned a ranch there from the 70's to the early 90's. I don't remember any of these buildings, I just remember a little convenience store we used to go to and my elementary school.
Tonya Johnson Right across the railroad tracks are some old farms. There was one farm that looks very old early 1900s
I've long been fascinated in what I call the Greater Niland Area, believe it or not. Excellent video, really captures it well.
Seederman Thank you
Hello from Edmonton- Canada. Looks beautiful I think. We in Canada are forever envious of desert and palm trees.
Rid Akbay We have endless miles of land empty! What my other videos!
SoCal Urbex ok will do. TTYL
Don't blow smoke up our asses. My wife is Canadian and all three of our children have dual citizenship. I flew transport aircraft for the Air Force and have been all over the world and almost every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Canada, especially British Columbia is the most beautiful landscape I have seen or just as beautiful.
C'mon, the desert is bleak and barren. I lived in the Mojave Desert and have been all throughout the lower So. Cal and Arizona deserts. Come on down when it is 120 degreed F. snd see how beautiful it is.
It is hard, rough dirt. In the summer time, nobody is out here because it is so hot.
My grandfather owned a bar in Niland, I think it was called Silver Dollar
Charlie B Charlie look towards the end of my video at 16:17 I film several structures that were burned down. I heard that one of those structures was a Bar. Please let me know what you see!
The end was the original Post Office
JHG ELF That’s horrible, I really wanted to check it out but there were some unexpected thugs around here.
I always wanted to know why this city is very reclusion. Maby it's a hunted place!!! And this city just has only one restaurant and gas station. There isn't any motels of banks and stores around the town.maby just a little grocery store at the main road of the town. Its very mysterious.😧😧😐😐
There's a small active community that I didn't film.
But, there are some crazy things out here !
thanx 4 this vid...yeah , that place has'nt changed , in like 40 years.....it was like that , in the 70's......rock onnn CD,,,,,,
RJDCR Niland has become the center point for all negativity, because it’s the entrance to Slab City. All I saw were Law Enforcement and other Federal Agents patrolling this half-ghost town. It’s said, this small village was once used to support to Marines during WW2. Now, most of what I filmed is up for sale through Real State
looks like iraq almost.
Jim Brady This small village once supported the Marine Corps during WW2, after the War the Marines were sent to 29 Palms.
SoCal Urbex cool thanks
Sandy shores is looking good with RTX on
Im imagining myself walking along side you.
Crispy sand.
Dry af air.
Periodic noises in a background of stillness.
It looks exactly like Comfort in the movie The Bad Batch. I think it is.
Because it was filmed here in Niland and featured the abandoned court house. It was a big deal with the locals in Niland. " Three Kings " featuring Ice Cube and George Clooney was also filmed here.
Nice video . Imagine not knowing about this and driving into this town and seeing such a large building with huge columns and everything
I think that was a bank not the court building
I have family roots in Niland and Calipatria. Beal St. is named after a branch of my family. My great Aunt and Uncle and my grandmother were all there. My mom tells of my great great grandfather coming to Calipat and building little shanty shacks in hopes that family from Oregon would stay once they got there. Are you kidding! The Baxter side of the family were ranchers there. I wish you would have shown some other parts of town not just the abandoned buildings.
Jim Haggett Did you ever noticed why no one has ever filmed the real Niland? Everyone seems to bypass this portion and go straight to Salvation Mountain and Slab City. Once they enter Niland they don't look back. You see 99% percent of those who call themselves Explorers are Vloggers are fakes who don't care about Nilands past, all they care about are homeless losers in Slab City. As for me, I'm the first to ever film the real Niland and its history. I avoided filming current residents as much as possible due to privacy reasons. Some parts of Niland we're infested with drug dealers.
Jim Haggett Calipatria is going through tough times right now, doesn't look good. But, Brawley has had a major make over, looks very modern.
My Mom went to Calipatria High. My grandmother and great aunt used to wait until about midnight to drive down to Brawley to get their mail because it was too hot during the day. John and Thelma Smoot were my grt. aunt and uncle. All passed away now but Thelma made it to 100. My grandmother was Alna Simmons and her second husband Ken Simmons. For awhile they use to manage the Fountain of Youth before it went bankrupt in the beginning. I was hoping to see the old Niland house in your video :o) thanks for filming though. One day I may just be another Bombay. I thought Calipat was really booming because of the prison they built?
Jim Haggett I plant to go back to Niland and Calipatria next Fall if all goes well. Just make sure to stop by my check in the future!
Jim Haggett You wouldn't happen to be related to Gary Baxter of Calipatria he still resides here
I was in town for the weekend must say empty but the people I ran across were nice
Probably looks worse now! Ugh
Cities like this are intriguing. I'm not so much a fan of slab city... Just outcasts and the homeless fartin around out there it looks like, but seeing desolate cities really sparks my interest.
Another new Mexico
a strange beauty there
herbie kritzer Yes
It looks like a good place to film a Mad Max or zombie movie. At least you wouldn't need to spend money on a set.
There are many cities and towns in the country that look like this. It's hard to imagine that there ever was motivation to try to make a go of it. They look so dead.
I live in the Bay Area in Contra Costa County there used to be 2 canneries here Hickmontt & Tullie Lewis one of my fondest memories as a kid in the 60's is warm summer nights smelling the tomatoes being processed that probably came from Niland
Pam Carballoca I may go back here one day and film the rest of Niland
Anybody heard of Marvin Baxter? A resident years past.
Scroll through all the comments, many former residents are here.
So what was the large building-train station? When did this town die?
It’s a partial Ghost Town, this town was once active during WW2 with the Marine Corps Barracks and Salton Sea Resorts during the 1950s. After the WW2 the Marine Corps Barracks moved to 29 Palms several years later. After the collapse of Salton Sea Resort this entire region suffered massively. What I filmed is only half-Ghost Town. Train Station is a part of the former glory old Town.
Dude.. It’s like you stumbled onto the ultimate horror movie set haha... it even has the lonely freight train passing by in the ‘run for your life to catch it’ distance. Awesome content here!
Yes, I can imagine how it is at night !
13:36 no joke, Trevor’s trailer in GTA5.
Rockstar used several buildings in inland Ca, Bombay Beach as well.
Edit: And Salton city.
Ha, ha, that was going to be one of future videos!
SoCal Urbex please make that video!!!!!
Actually niland it's Trevor's place in GTA if you look around the city in the game you always can see old cars from the 1950 of 60 s 😄😄😄
Between the trains and the constant air traffic overhead, it's surprisingly noisy!!
Yes !
It use to be the bank
I was there last week and saw most of the buildings you filmed. I saw the last building off the CA-111, that one you zoomed in. I was going to stop there on my way back from Slab City, but I was too tire. I want to go back soon to check it out and the "Skate Park" in Slab City that I just found out about couple of days ago. You're right though. I am surprised not too many UA-camrs visit Niland.
Most UA-camrs by-pass this loaion, go straight to Jesus Mountain and Slab City. So, I decided to film this and so far it's gotten lots of reviews !
my sis used to live on that street
There used to be a convenience store next to that courthouse and some projects further down the road towards Calipatria.
The Meat Market Store is still there, so is a Pizza Place, Resturante and other shops. Last time I went to Calipatrai it didn't look so well, many shops closed, some buildings brokent into.
How did they tag that did someone climb up there??? Hhmmm!!!!
Gerald Beauchamp Must be some Mutants out here?
I was born in Milan’s, spent the first years of my life there, but don’t have any memories of inland. Anyone know ray price
This town like a ghost town,it's dead drunk !
Niland and brawley are weird when I first arrived it immediately reminded of a rural mexican town that was rich and booming decades ago
11:47 look..it's giant "cousin It's" :D
regarding the recycling center his son doesn't run it his widow does,at least i believe they got married..niland fire district no longer exists services are provided by the county, did mel have another son besides downey?
This looks like my grandma house that bad another new Mexico you can have it
so why exactly did the town go ghost? water shortage i'm guessing?
Why didn't you go up to opened doors at the bank ? ( not the one with barking dog) you thought it was a courthouse but it looked more like a old bank. Oh well thanks...
Grant Keller The reason why I didn’t go inside this Courthouse/Bank is because it’s not abandoned. And yes, there were people inside doing some construction work. I don’t film people. Inside the Courthouse/Bank there was a German Shepherd and two guys.
Cemetery Devil
Thanks, I understand. Great video bro, I enjoyed seeing the town and always wondered about it.
Dude that must've been a particularly busy day you were there recording on because I drive around Niland A LOT like 3 times a week and there is just no one out and about. Good video, I know Niland has its history and lots of tell-tales to be shared
EdLndrs12 What I saw I couldn’t record I had to edit almost 30 minutes of original clip. Niland is cool, but Slab City brings in a lot of unwanted people at Niland.
Kewl! Might consider narrating the video, part of your job as a living historian :)
Mike Hanseman The original video was narrated but was receiving negative feedback from Trolls, so I decided to phase out my narrative and delete all negative comments. Part of being an Explorer is to capture as much as possible before it all goes away. The majority of those who call themselves Explorers are fakes.
Mike Hanseman Read the Pin Comment by Sam T Sam T
Interesting area, looks like they came thru and buffed all the graffiti
The REAL DJ Fruit Loops This small village (Niland) is the entrance to Slab City. No one has ever filmed Niland. So, I decided to film it and so far it’s done very well
I was raised in niland you dont know anythibg about our little town all of its history really bad you went about it this way shouldve been there 10 years ago when everything was controlled
10 years ago maybe 30
looks like a ghost town.
Looks like the town is a little past its glory days
It is spooky like a ghost town but if you listen, there are these beautiful birds singing in the background.
Old Cemetries are my favorite, everything from Rabbits, Birds and Ghost just wandering around, so peacful !
Too hot to live out there. Ain't shit out there.
great video. whats the music score?
pool coping I don't know? I selected it from YB. As soon as I find it, I will post it.
at 1 time this city hanged no gooders
Is it an old movue set?
Its a former Military Town from WW2
@@SoCalUrbex74 hi.
Why is it a ghost town.
Is there any population.
Some stories state niland is under water.
What happens there.
I am reading the stories and I find them fun.
Who owns niland
Thanks
@@tinawoehler5758 Its a partial ghost town, there are residents and even a school.
I only filmed the abandoned locations.
Niland is very dry, hot it still is that same as as I filmed it
This is an introspective reflection of how deep and severe the decay within the Empire will come to be.
Very cool mini-documentary by the way.
Viking Mike The Original Version was a Vlog, was receiving too much negative attention. The population is 1,200 mainly field workers. So, out of respect for those who live here and were former residents I had to delete my Vlog, and add Ambient Music. I heard this entire are was sold out. I'm not sure..
I thoroughly enjoyed your video, keep posting them as you are. Cheers.
RIP Uncle George 😢🕊
Holy cow! You have a viral video!? I am putting this in my watch later! I'll be back to watch (later)! : )
Gone Viral !
9,600+ views!!! WOW
shlisa shell 14 + !
You make it creepier than it rally is, is just a sleepy town in imperial valley outskirts
Not sleepy, very active with Narco Activities and Police. I’m from San Diego, been here several times, noticed that not one UA-camr has ever film this place first but me. I titled it the Strange Town of Niland because this placed was once the entry to the Marine Corps Barracks back in WW2. I have more knowledge on this entire region then most of those Vloggers who By-Pass Niland and go straight to Salvation Mountain & Slab City.
This is really interesting to me a Brit. My surname is Niland.
There are hundreds of small forgotten towns like this that were active during WW2, most of them end like this.
The distance from Niland, California to San Diego, California is:
150 miles / 241 km driving
Can get a house cheap there
Cool
I drove thru just past dusk last summer ( 2017 ) wanted pics of salvation mountain . Caretaker was a dick . Kept saying come back in the morning . I said I'm heading to L.A. . I took pics anyway . That place is creepy AF at night .
Looks like that movie 'The Rover'.
flashdamingo LOL, when I was out here, there was a Hollywood Set out here
I'm so worry about the dog, probably he needs help!!!
Miram Alcantara The one inside the Courthouse was roaming around, there were people inside. He looked well fed to me.
Sad!
Ocean Breeze Yes
I was born in brawley and lived in niland for a bit....anybody remember the opina's....zarate's my relatives and longtime friends mendoza's I miss the valley but I live in Illinois for the last 24years b town native...
Not a good place to be at night.Must have been a nice area in the past.
Sequin Jackson Yes, there’s not much on old pictures.
Go to real estate Niland and look at what some of these masterpieces are going for. Insanity!
Look like zombie town or resident evil movie.
Perfect !
What state?
Tracy's Kitchen and Appalachian Adventures Imperial County, Southern California. It’s next to Slab City and Jesus Mountain
If u like fishing Niland is great for that if u go toward the slab area. And canals
for everybody's information that's watching this video that was not the courthouse that was a bank it was a Bank of America in the 50s it was not a courthouse that is falseinformation it was a Bank of America back in the 50s to the 60s
Falsifying Information? Lady, no one even knew about this place existed until it was posted on UA-cam. A Courthouse that was supposedly a bank that no one cares about. The video is showing the American People on how locations are quickly forgotten
@@SoCalUrbex74 some of us care seems how some of us have lived there since 1961 secy everybody knew about the Salton Sea in this it was settled by Filipino which Drew and farmed it and turned itgeneral Patton is the military base it was at that base of slab City that's where general Patton and his soldiers United States army back in the 40s secy yeaheverybody knew about this town way before the video on UA-cam
@@SoCalUrbex74 slab City didn't actually start tell the 60s and that's when the teachers association bought that propertyand the military still draw trains out there on the other side of the canal from bra 8 all the way to drop 13 to this day
@@SoCalUrbex74 I'm not trying to be mean orany bank that's just I've lived there in Italian you said nobody knew about oh yeah everybody knew about it where the police department we have everything that was a full-blown town at one time in the 60s and I bank at the Bank of America that's how I knew it was a how many Filipinos live in that county one-time over 200 of them Hay Mall Farmers a different crops which is what that landa still out there is nothing but crops in farming I was just trying to make sure the truth was out or the misleading some people would understand what those buildings really were that's all sorry you took offense you said you nobody knew about that town so don't be offended
@@ginianne45 In February 1942, the U.S. Army assigned General
George S. Patton Jr. to advance desert tank warfare and
train U.S. soldiers for combat under the harshest desert
conditions possible.
In early March General Patton and his staff surveyed
the southwestern United States and established the
boundary of the Desert Training Center. It encompassed
18,000 square miles of rugged, desolate and largely
uninhabited lands within the Mojave and Colorado
Deserts in California, Arizona and Southern Nevada.
Patton established the headquarters for his base camp
near Shavers Summit (now Chiriaco Summit), 25 miles
east of Indio. The Small Camp next to Nialnd was a Marine Corps Barracks the was later transfered to 29 Palms. Also, the Us Navywas conducting training at Salton Sea during that Time-Frame. 2020 US Special Forces still conducts training in near Niland.
That they're behind it was Mel's recycling center
Eerie video; gave me the chills that I look for (and look for me) in this world. Never been to Niland but I lived for a year in Palmdale, California, some ways away in the same desert. Niland reminds me that, to quote myself; Nothing is promised, everything is illusory. If it isn't eternal, it isn't really there.
Thank you for the film.
Thank you for positive feedback !
I wonder if that is a high crime area. If it wasn't you could buy a lot of them building's cheap and make a big house out of the court house.
Temperatures in the Summer can reach up 115F. Crime is not high, but there’s a lot of homeless and drug users. The Town of Niland is the entrance to Slab City
Just beans a rice and no activatey to educate the mind
It'a really a shame to see American towns laying in waste, too bad California would concentrate more of getting rid of a lot of problems so they can concentrate on rebuilding towns and help American citizens.
I would have my gat with me that's for sure
Sam I lived in Niland in 1969 to 71 my dad taught school there. Byrdie was the sheriff who got the shit kicked out of him for giving my brother a hard time for something his own kid had done. I drove a truck for Gib Holtz for a while then went to work for Don Cannon. My niece was born in Calipat. I am trying to figure out where you took your video. I remember the little coffee shop on the corner of the hwy. or what was a truck stop,, and the bar down the street from it. The gas station down from it, my brother in law worked there, Bill Kelly,, you might remember Oma Mankins the old Indian who lived in the desert we lived on 1st St. if memory serves, But I sure don't remember slab city at all. oh well this was a long time ago, and Im live in Arkansas now but thank you for the Video. Sure miss those Date Shakes....(:>
Silent Pray Hello, my name of SoCal Urbex. I'm the one who filmed this video. I pinned Sams response because it was him who contacted me first. Perhaps you could respond to the Pinned Comment.
Oh, yeah I saw the movie and it s call " THE BAD BATCH" at 0:18 and the actor was there at that old building and his name is Keanu Reeves !
I waz born and raized in niland I still live the is strange with lots of building
I gave it the Title "Strange Town of Niland" because of it's history and involvment with Slab City.
No one has ever filmed Niland as much I, everyone seems to bypass this once forgetten town. The part I fimed was only the part that has been affected. In reality, everyone is too chicken shit. Hollywood film crew was down here when I was here, they filmed the Old Courthouse. if you want to give more insite on Niland, please do so for everyone to read.
Who are you kidding, that's not Niland....that's Beirut!
Felton Gailey Lebanon
Question. What is the population (full and part time.). Now?
George whiplemyer jr. The portion I recorded was the dead part of this small village. Niland has a population over 1,000 most work in the crop fields near by
Look it up on Wikipedia.
I lived in Niland for some time while I was working on the power plant there, we used to go to a little Beer bar after work. It’s a nice little town, and the rent was cheap. I very much enjoyed my stay there.
When I was filming, noticed that much of abandoned areas were very dry. I read that this last Summer half of Niland burned down. The cause is unknown but I’m speculating homeless set it on fire by accident
@@SoCalUrbex74 that’s a possibility, I went back for a visit on 4/21, hoping to have lunch at the Chinese restaurant but it’s gone, as well as the Mexican restaurant We’d have lunch at. But the store we use to buy beer at hasn’t changed much at all.
@@calvinking8586 I’m going down there to film it again. Thanks
@@SoCalUrbex74 thanks buddy, this little town needs to be rebuilt. Looking forward to your next video.
Didn't most of the town get bought up?
Jay 'Ontario Half of it is being sold under Real Estate.
The bad batch!
The Good, the Bad the the Freaking Heat !
You know... I've seen this play out many times through the years, (ie; yuba city, marysville, ca.)
1st- local town economy destroyed...
2nd- businesses gone...
3rd- buildings/windows secured/boarded up...
4th- property values drop, residents forced to move on...
5th- revitalization begins under discreet sustainable agenda...
Mark my words, there is a plan/agenda at work...(data center, gateway city, time will tell...) Peace
Interesting, I have never even been to California, but you mentioned Yuba City and I thought of the dam that was flooding it years ago. Agenda 21 indeed.
Is slab a bad neighborhood of niland or is niland a suburb of slab
Joel Weidenfeld Both, Niland economy is hurting since the end of WW2. Slab City has several hundred homeless & visitors through the year. Niland still has a population over 1000. Most of the resident of Niland arevMigrant Farmers who work in the fields in El Centro. Slab City is a Hippie-Post-Apocalyptic City kind of like Mad Max. Both places at Night can be dangerous.
Dan McCarthy Some of the things people may disagree. But, Niland and surrounding small towns are quick stops for Narcos. When I arrived at Niland first thing I noticed were Sheriff and Border Patrol Vehicles. Also noticed other Federal Agents. Noticed lots of Unwanted Human Trash, Drug Dealers there. I didn’t film any of it. When I was filming everyone thought I was a Real Estate Agent. So, they left me alone. What make Niland Dangerous is the lack of Medical and Law Enforcement. Not to say Niland is a bad place, Slab City attracts many teenage runaways and homeless many stop by at Niland and that’s were trouble begins. As for the Military that’s true, all former US Military Bases, Camps or Forts we’re are no longer in use those Cities and Towns were turned into Ghost Towns. Some of those small dependent greatly on the US Military. There’s also a response by a gentleman name Sam TT, he was a former resident of Slab City. Read his response
Pretty nice place
Strange fascination with places like this / Salton Sea . Live in Lansing Michigan and have driven out west a few times the last couple yrs . Stop in Phoenix at a buddy's place and on my way to another friends in L.A. I always stop thru here . Nice vid.
Steve Harrod Thanks !
I have explored the old gas station
Y Squad Did you see anything interesting?