Cadillac Ranch

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This is one of those must see landmarks for every cross country traveler.  Amarillo TX has long been a great stopping point for the weary traveler going back to the early days of the historic Route 66 quest for the west that many Americans took part in over the decades. Amarillo TX is the home of many RV resorts and campsites for that very reason and even to this day  Amarillo TX still maintains that old fashioned Route 66 atmosphere with two “must see” places to stop.  One being the Big Texan restaurant which is home of the legendary 72oz Steak challenge and the other being the Cadillac Ranch which was created in 1974 by three artists , Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels who were part of an art group known as Ant Farm.  If you are not careful though you just might pass it by.  God knows how many times I drove right by this place before I decided to stop in for a look and even then I really had to watch for it so I didn’t pass it again.   From the distance the Cadillac Ranch looked like just another corn field out along  this section of  I-40 which used to be a part of Route 66. But as I got closer I begin to notice something odd.  At first  I wrote it off as some kind of farm equipment and drove on but then out of the corner of my eye  I was bombarded with unexpected bright colors that made me turn my head and notice the 10 old cars with their noses buried in the ground , their tails sticking high into the air and all completely covered in graffiti out in the middle of the corn field.  I was due for a break anyway so I pulled off on exit 60 and went to the little Love’s travel stop for a Subway sandwich and a drink. As I pulled out I started down the 1-40 frontage road and then pulled off to park behind another RV on the side of the road.  I got out and was greeted with the smell of wet paint in the air. One thing is for sure, these cars will never have to worry about rusting because of  all the people coming from all over the country to paint their own mark on the cars of the Cadillac Ranch. Most places prohibit graffiti but here it is encouraged as a  message of free art.  Some people do seem to get a little carried away though because not only are the cars covered in graffiti but also the gate, the dumpsters, the road and even the sign that says NO GRAFFITI BEYOND THIS POINT has graffiti on it.  Some people even try to paint the corn.  You can paint whatever you want on the cars but don’t expect it to last forever because sooner or later someone will come along and paint right over your little artistic expression.  Still there seems to be a little bit of pride in knowing that you left your mark on a landmark somewhere out on the edge of the great state of Texas and didn’t get in trouble for it.  

If you are not careful you will pass right by it.

You won't get in trouble I promise.