Cadillac Ranch

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Cadillac Ranch

Old Cadillacs, buried part-way in the ground and spray painted,
are a roadside attraction near Amarillo, Texas

There are no shortage of offbeat roadside attractions in the United States. One of these, located alongside the old historic U.S. Route 66  at Amarillo, Texas, is Cadillac Ranch. Buried nose-down halfway into the ground are ten cars, all Cadillac models from the years 1948 to 1963, covered in layer upon layer of paint.

Cadillac Ranch

This attraction started as an art installation in 1974. It was created by a group of San Francisco artists known as the Ant Farm and sponsored by Texas millionaire Stanley Marsh. Most of the Cadillacs were purchased from junk yards. They were buried nose-down facing west at an angle purportedly the same as that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Car at Cadillac Ranch

Originally the cars were left their normal colour, but shortly after 1976 people started painting graffiti on them. Over time, vandals smashed windows and doors and souvenir hunters stole chrome, radios, speakers, and even doors. The wheels are now welded to the frames to prevent more theft. Adding your own paint is welcomed and expected.

Car at Cadillac Ranch

Paint cans litter field at Cadillac Ranch
The field around the cars is littered with paint cans

Several times over the years the cars have all been purposely repainted. Once they were painted pink in honour of Stanley’s wife’s birthday. They were painted black to mark the death of Ant Farm artist Doug Michels. In 2012 they were painted rainbow colours to commemorate Gay Pride Day. But it never takes long after one of these paint jobs for graffiti to take over.

Car at Cadillac Ranch

I read that Cadillac Ranch was created as an art tribute to the “Golden Age of Automobiles.” Art means different things to different people and is open to various interpretations. Cadillac Ranch appeared to me as less of an art piece and more of a novelty item or even, dare I say, a pile of junk. The rusted cars with parts missing feel like a graveyard. The analogy of Cadillac Ranch as a symbol of the inevitability of death is the theme of Bruce Springsteen’s song “Cadillac Ranch”, released in 1980.

Cadillac Ranch

As Amarillo expanded, the original site of Cadillac Ranch became valuable property. In 1977, the cars were dug up and moved two miles west to their current location on the south side of Interstate 40, ten miles southwest of Amarillo, Texas. The cars are visible from the Interstate as a series of greyish bumps. To get to the Ranch and see the cars close up, take exit 62A to Hope Road and turn west on South Frontage Road.

Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch is open 24/7. Don’t forget to bring spray paint and have some fun adding to the colours. (I didn’t think to bring spray paint when I visited.) Take a photo of your handiwork. It is likely to only last a day or two before being painted over. Take your empty paint can and other trash with you when you leave. There are already too many paint cans littering the field.

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Cadillac Ranch - quirky roadside attraction in Amarillo, Texas #Texas #quirky #roadsideattraction #roadtrip

Cadillac Ranch - quirky roadside attraction in Amarillo, Texas #Texas #quirky #roadsideattraction #roadtrip

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10 Comments

  1. So there’s a fine line between graffiti and street art. Not sure if I’m ever going to end up in a car headed toward Amarillo, but if that does happen I’ll sure be on the lookout for Cadillac Ranch.

  2. I like the idea of the cars turning into “living” art since people can paint when they visit.

    1. Priscilla, I’m learning that this is favourite stop for many people who do regular road trips through the area. Stopping to spray some paint makes a nice break in the drive.

  3. We’ve seen all sorts of unique roadside attractions over the years on various road trips around the US but we’ve missed the Cadillac Ranch. Love the idea that it’s an interactive art piece! Now that I know about it and the story behind it, I’ll have to add it to our list of places to see when next we visit family in the ‘Republic of Texas!’ Anita