Georgia's junkyard of classic cars

Photos by David Goldman Nestled in a north Georgia forest, over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres that have been turned into a junkyard museum. Owner Walter Dean Lewis' parents started the business in 1931 as a general store that also sold auto parts. Lewis grew the collection, which had just 40 cars in the '70s, over time.

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Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Owner Walter Dean Lewis looks into a 1950s school bus as it sits at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. ìItís history. I saved them when other people were crushing them," said Lewis. ìI donít know what I would do if I couldnít get up every morning and look at old cars.î (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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"The only thing I ever knew was cars and trucks," Lewis says. "I like to say I work for tomorrow, always thinking about the future. Someday they would be valuable."

Lewis stopped selling parts about six years ago, soon after realizing he could sustain the business more as a museum, charging $15 for visitors just looking, and $25 for photographers. He estimates that 95 percent of the people who come through the six miles of trails are photographers.

Visitors are greeted by various artworks and hand-painted messages. On occasion, Eddie McDaniel, who goes by "Fast Eddie," a childhood friend of Lewis, plays blues piano next to a shotgun and a bear mounted on a wall.

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Classic Car Junkyard

Eddie McDaniel, who goes by Fast Eddie, plays piano for visitors at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard,Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. McDaniel and owner Walter Dean Lewis grew up playing in the cars on the lot which started as a general store selling auto parts in 1931 by Lewis' parents. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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In the 30 or 40 years that many of the cars have never moved, trees now grow through them and, in some cases, even lift them off the ground. One of Lewis' more popular vehicles is a 1946 Ford truck used in "Murder in Coweta County," a 1983 film starring Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith.

"It's history. I saved them when other people were crushing them," Lewis says. "I don't know what I would do if I couldn't get up every morning and look at old cars."

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Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Owner Walter Dean Lewis walks past a 1950s school bus as it sits at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. ìItís history. I saved them when other people were crushing them," said Lewis. ìI donít know what I would do if I couldnít get up every morning and look at old cars.î (AP Photo/David Goldman)

APTOPIX Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Eddie McDaniel, who goes by Fast Eddie, walks through Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard, where he occasionally plays piano for visitors Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum by owner Walter Dean Lewis. The two grew up playing in the cars on the lot which started as a general store selling auto parts in 1931 by Lewis' parents. Lewis stopped selling parts about six years ago when he realized he could sustain the business more as a museum, charging $15 for visitors just looking, and $25 for photographers. Many of the cars have never moved in over 30 years and in some cases, trees now grow through them, even lifting some off the ground. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Messages greet visitors on the "Tree of Knowledge" as maintenance man Rockey Bryson walks by at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Six miles of trails wind through the 32 acre forest which is home to over 4,000 classic cars. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

An ornament decorates the hood of a 1952 Pontiac Firechief as it sits at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. About four years ago, owner Walter Dean Lewis saw a photo for sale by a regular visitor to the junkyard of over 4,000 classic cars. It was then he realized the potential for profit as a museum, not just selling parts. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

A message greets visitors along a trail at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Six miles of trails wind through the 32 acre forest which is home to over 4,000 classic cars. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Trees grow over a car at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum by owner Walter Dean Lewis. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Owner Walter Dean Lewis drives through Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. ìItís history. I saved them when other people were crushing them," said Lewis. ìI donít know what I would do if I couldnít get up every morning and look at old cars.î (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

A tree grows under a Volkswagen Camper van lifting it off the ground as it sits at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Many of the cars have never moved in over 30 years and in some cases, trees now grow through them, even lifting some off the ground. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Broken glass remains on a car at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. The owner stopped selling parts about six years ago when he realized he could sustain the business more as a museum, charging $15 for visitors just looking, and $25 for photographers. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Judith Kimber, of Belfast, Northern Ireland, takes photos while walking through Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum by owner Walter Dean Lewis. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

APTOPIX Classic Car Junkyard Photo Gallery

Trees grow through the windshield of a 1937 Chrysler Imperial as it sits at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Many of the cars have never moved in over 30 years and in some cases, trees now grow through them, even lifting some off the ground. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard

Radios sit in the back of a van sitting at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard

Barbie dolls sit in a car at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard

Owner Walter Dean Lewis sits under a 1931 photo from when his parents first started a general store that sold auto parts before Lewis turned it into today's Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. ìItís history. I saved them when other people were crushing them," said Lewis. ìI donít know what I would do if I couldnít get up every morning and look at old cars.î (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard

A bench sits among cars at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard

The old parts office still stands at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Classic Car Junkyard

A spider web is seen next to a car at Old Car City, the world's largest known classic car junkyard Thursday, July 16, 2015, in White, Ga. Over 4,000 classic cars decorate 32 acres of forest which have been turned into a junkyard museum. First started by his parents as a general store selling auto parts in 1931, Lewis grew the classic car collection from about 40 in the 1970s. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Text from AP news story, AP PHOTOS: In rural Georgia, a junkyard of classic cars, by David Goldman. 

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