SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Interested in buying an entire town here in San Diego County?
There's now a renewed push to sell Campo out in East County. It's a 16-acre property that comes complete with a post office and church.
You might call it the ultimate "fixer-upper." The tiny town of Campo has been on the market for about five years now, and while no buyer has materialized yet, this renewed push to sell has some residents wondering what the future of Campo might hold.
"I would say that it is a hidden gem," said resident Shannon Martinez.
Tucked away in East County, Campo lies more than an hour away from the City of San Diego.
"We like that about Campo," Martinez said, "that it's far away from everybody else!"
While it's far from the city, those who make Campo home are definitely close.
"Everybody knows everybody, so even if you go into the store you say hi to everybody," said Campo resident Crystal Rivera. "I think it's more like family."
"We're very family oriented here," added resident Nicole Leon. "Everyone is there for each other. Everyone has each others' back."
They're hoping that whoever ultimately buys Campo shares those same values.
"It would be awesome if whoever buys it focused on the kids," Leon said.
This would include renovating and upgrading the park space and ball fields, according to Leon, which parents now have to maintain themselves.
The 16-acre property up for sale includes a post office, gas station, church, and even Border Patrol office, as well as apartments and homes, some of which were previously military barracks.
The current asking price is $6.6 million, a significant jump from the $1.75 million dollar range that Campo's previous owners were asking back in 1994 when the town was also for sale.
As for who might make an ideal buyer today: "Somebody who cares about the history and about the people who live here," said Rivera.
The history of this community runs deep.
Known as Camp Lockett during World War II, Campo was home to the Buffalo Soldiers, an all-African-American cavalry until 1944.
Many residents say they hope a new owner would not mean any major changes or development.
"Because I think that is what makes Campo, Campo!" said Rivera. "You know, if we wanted to live in the city, we'd go to the city."
With its timeless quality and historic charm, what could the future Campo look like 10 years from now, even under new ownership?
"I feel like it's going to look the same," Rivera added. "I hope it does!"
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