“We always had Packards, until the war, when they stopped making them; then we had a Cadillac.” June Carter Cash
From the front -- Photo by Pat Bean
Adventures With Pepper
You can’t visit Amarillo and not take a little detour off of Interstate 40 to Cadillac Ranch. It just wouldn’t be, well Texan.
It’s not exactly a ranch, just a large field minus the cows. There’s not even a ranch house, just 10 half-buried old Cadillacs with psychedelic paint jobs, courtesy of whomever visits with a spray paint can. The color décor is constantly changing.
The Cadillacs are what Texas millionaire Stanley Marsh, who planted them back in 1973, calls an art installation.
And from the rear -- Photo by Pat Bean
I like it. It’s fun art. And the installation tells a story, part of which is the heydays of automobiles and Historical Route 66, which Interstate 40 replaced.
Back in the 1970s, I briefly owned an old Cadillac. It was a 1965 model if I recall correctly. I needed a car and back then, when the cost of gas started escalating, the Cadillac was the cheapest thing on the lot.
That old Cadillac was smooth running, but a big old gas guzzler and quite expensive to repair. It wasn’t long before the Cadillac was replaced with a used VW Bug, which cost more but was cheaper in the long run. .
According to Wikipedia, the eccentric millionaire Stanley probably paid only about $200 for each of his Cadillacs, which he picked up at junkyards before giving them a half-butted burial.
You just gotta love Texans.
Bean’s Pat: 400 Days ’til 40 http://tinurl/7fvkjjn You are never too old to live your dreams
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I can’t look at your great photos without thinking of Stephen King’s Dolan’s Cadillac 🙂
What fun. I thought of my old maroon Cadillac. Thanks for commenting.
Always wanted to check that place out!
Well if you’re ever in Amarillo, it’s just right off I-40. Happy travels Eric
I remember when these were just painted their original color. Too bad people think leaving their artwork is “attractive.”
I saw pictures of the original, but as a big color person I sort of like the technicolor grafitti. One of the undersides had NANA, which is what my grandkids call me, painted in neon pink. It made the viewing seem personal. Thanks for commenting Bella.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
I love this personal non gallery art. It’s real & it’s fun 🙂
Hey Pat, I had never heard of this display until a few days ago, when Steve Hartman did a feature on it on CBS. Looks like fun!
So how are you and your new traveling buddy getting on?
We’re doing great Bob. It seems as if we’ve been together years instead of less than two weeks.
I didn’t even recognize Cadillac Ranch – I remember the Caddies when they still had their factory-original paint. I’m not sure how I feel about their new look – on one hand, I’m a big fan of folk art and bright colours. But I’m a car nut, and I have a problem with graffiti on classic cars…
I’m looking forward to following your blog – I love hiking and birding, too. Picking up your RSS feed now. 🙂
Thanks for the follow Diane. I looked up some pictures of the original cadillacs. I guess I’m mor of a color nut than a car nut so I like them better now. I like it that everyone sees things differently. It makes the world a whole lot more interesting. Happy hiking and birding.
A classic Texas toast of Americana.
And of course listed in Roadside America. Thanks for commenting Frank