CAMPO, California — The history of the East County is awaiting visitors this coming weekend in Campo with four museums are offering free admission all day Saturday and Sunday.
Brian Elmore admits he has a thing for old trucks. which is why he volunteers as president of the Motor Transport Museum in Campo. “This is a step back in time. You come here, you're going to have some real fun,” said Elmore.
“The Motor Transport Museum is in the old feldspar mill. You can't miss it. It's kind of sticks up into the air. It's the highest thing that we got here in Campo, nine stories,” said Elmore. “We have about 300 trucks here. And we have about another 200 miscellaneous items that are connected with the motor transport industry.”
The truck museum is one of four nonprofits that are offering free admission May 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the annual Campo Days. Country music and dancing area also on tap Saturday night at the Camp Lockett Event & Equestrian Facility (CLEEF).
“We'll have music live music from 1 to 10. We’ll have the whole shebang,” said Ray Fleury, the CLEEF events coordinator.
CLEEF will be open both days with food and drinks available, and of course, horses.
“This is a free event for the entire family. We'll have a couple of kids bounce houses. We have goat roping and the kids can try to rope something without having a horse. Barrel racing, mutton busting, horse obstacle course, we're celebrating the ranching heritage of the East County along with the history of Buffalo Soldiers that were here in Campo during World War II,” said Fleury.
Larry Johnson is the president of the Mountain Empire Historical Society. “There was up to about 5,000 horses here at one time, and maybe 3,000 men,” said Johnson.
The historical society runs the Gaskill Brothers Stone Museum, the site of a deadly gun battle in 1875 with border bandits.
Down on the train tracks is the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum with free admission and train rides for a nominal fee. Kids of all ages love those old trains.
“I love anything that's old. I just am attracted to it,” said Elmore.
Campo is about an hour drive from downtown San Diego. For more information on Campo Days, go to visitcampo.com.
WATCH: Drone footage of the Motor Transport Museum: