Monument for Camp Cajon to be dedicated in July

Volunteers plan to rebuild the stone entrance to the long-defunct Camp Cajon off Route 66 in Southern California and dedicate it July 4, 2019 — the 100th anniversary of its founding.

According to a column by Mark Landis for the Press-Enterprise, Camp Cajon was on the present-day Wagon Train Road, south of the McDonald’s near Interstate 15 and Highway 138.

Landis wrote about its history:

The free public auto camp was the brainchild of William Bristol, a local orange grower, writer, and prolific promoter of the region.

Camp Cajon was designed to be a shady oasis where weary motorists could rest and recuperate from their grueling trip across the expansive Mojave Desert. After a meal, some automobile repairs, or even a good night’s rest, the final leg of their journey would take them into the burgeoning new communities of Southern California.

Camp Cajon featured beautiful stone structures and facilities constructed from local river rock. Many of the facilities were designed and built by Bristol himself. The spire-shaped monument at the camp’s entrance stood approximately 8 feet tall and featured large hand-laid stone text that spelled out “CAMP CAJON.”

A massive flood destroyed the camp in 1938, and it never was rebuilt.

More images of Camp Cajon during its heyday may be found here.

Landis said the new monument will resemble the old, with some modern-day structural adjustments. Instead of five bronze plates in the original, the monument will have the original text engraved on five granite plates.

The nonprofit San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society is taking donations through PayPal here (be sure to state in the memo where the donation should go). Checks also can be written to “Camp Cajon Monument” and mailed to: San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society, PO Box 875, San Bernardino, CA 92402. It also has set up a GoFundMe account with a $20,000 goal.

(Image of the original Camp Cajon entrance via its Facebook page)