During the Mexican revolution (1910- 1920 ) several different groups were fighting for control of the government. One of the revolutionaries, Pancho Villa, led his men across the border on March 9,1916 and raided a small US army base and the town of Columbus. The object of the raid is not entirely clear. It may have been to secure arms and supplies, it may have been in retaliation for US support to his rival Carranza or perhaps a combination of both.
Eight soldiers, ten civilians and about seventy five of Villa’s men were killed during the raid. The US beefed up the base with 10,000 more men and General Pershing led soldiers into Mexico seeking Poncho Villas trail. Villa was never caught and the army withdrew when the US entered WWI but this expedition was good training for the troops using new types of equipment. This was the first time that the US army used trucks for carrying supplies and planes for reconnaissance.
Pancho Villa State Park is located on the old army base. The customs house is now the visitor center where a short video and good displays explain the revolution and Villa’s raid. A few adobe buildings and concrete foundations are scattered around the campground.
The visitor center is all accessible. A short trail to the top of a hill is inaccessible due to loose gravel. Most of the old historic structures can be seen without exiting your vehicle. The campground has one accessible RV site. It’s completely paved with an accessible table and accessible hookups but does not have access to the restroom which is a good distance away. Many of the other sites are accessible enough to be used by a person in a wheelchair.
The campground has tent only, water hookup only, and water and electric hookups sites plus a dump station. Most of the sites are large enough for any RV. Park
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Pancho villa state park is one of my favorite parks around the world I wish I could visit it again one day.
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