Locally milled and vacuum kiln dried. Has a cup to it, you'll end up with at least 2" once flattened.... price reflects. Cottonwood is not a wood you find slabbed very often due to the difficulty of drying it. In fact it is such a high moisture wood that you can't even burn it with out air drying for years, when they are cut down most Cottonwood is just chipped. Our supplier uses a specially made kiln to get it dry. Would make an amazing bar top.