McCAMEY

Population 2,421

Altitude 2,441

General

Before 1920, only a lone boxcar occasionally stood on siding at this featureless site. Then an oil driller named McCamey hit a gusher. In less than a year, McCamey was brawling boom town of 10,000 housed in tents and hastily constructed buildings. Much quieted, McCamey today is still a center of oil activity and is livestock shipping point for surrounding ranches.

Attractions

• MENDOZA TRAIL MUSEUM-Exhibits include relics of this recent frontier; Indian artifacts, fossils, mementos of oil boom, antique furniture. Also on museum grounds are historic Adrian House, and Santa Fe RR depot. Open Mon. - Fri. 1 - 5:30 p.m. on U.S. 67 east. 915/652-3192.
• SANTA FE PARK-Large pecan and elm trees, rare in this region, shade picnic areas and grassy playground. At east city limits of McCamey on U.S. 67.
• SCENIC DRIVE-Panoramic views on drive across King Mountain. Mesa's surface at altitude of 3, 100 feet is ranch land shared by cattle, sheep, and oil wells. Inquire locally about country-road route.

Back to Main | Advertiser's Index | City Index