Traveling through the Texas Panhandle can bring with it some unusual sights. One of the most popular paths is to follow along the old Route 66, which passes through Amarillo. Just west of the city, we happened upon the Cadillac Ranch. This quirky art installation is visited by thousands of budding artists annually. The open invitation to leave their mark has created an ever-changing landscape. We saw this opportunity as a chance to be part of history, even if only for a moment in time.
Color on the Panhandle
The Cadillac Ranch will certainly catch the eye of passing motorists. The backstory is just as impressive as the monument. A local Texas millionaire, named Stanley Marsh 3, invited an artist collective to create an intriguing installation on his ranch. Marsh’s goal was to have something so unique that it would baffle the minds of locals. The artists, known as the Ant Farm, hailed from San Francisco. With the permission and financial backing of Marsh, they came up with a plan for the Cadillac Ranch.
Our Path to Paint
In 1974, the plan went into effect. The idea behind the art installation was to show the evolution of the Cadillac’s tail fins, from 1949 to 1963. To accomplish this, they planted ten automobiles nose down in the Texas Panhandle. All of the Caddies are angled toward the west in a straight line. Since the piece was accessible by the public, it didn’t take long for change to occur. It began with visitors removing pieces from the cars. The glass was broken out, and much of the chrome was stripped off.
Ever-Changing Landscape
The next step, in the evolution of the ever-changing landscape, came in the form of spray paint. It began simply as tagging the cars with a name. Visitors looked for any unaltered spaces to claim for their own tag, and soon all of the cars were covered. With every inch plastered, it was only logical that old tags would soon become covered with fresh paint. Fast forward forty years, and what we found was a field of nearly unrecognizable autos.
Hands-On Approach
While the original finish is long since been covered, the tail fins still show through the layers of paint. Not to be left out, we came prepared with our own can, as well as some gloves. The biggest challenge was finding a spot where our short-lived markings would survive. It seemed like each of the ten cars had its own little group, and there was an almost unending line of new arrivals.
Fame is Fleeting
Soon we found our spot and prepared to make our mark in the ever-changing landscape. With the wind whipping all around, we were a little nervous about the spray. Fortunately, our spot was on the eastern side of the last Cadillac on the eastern edge of the art installation. Within minutes, our legacy was complete and left a permanent record of our visit. Of course, the layer upon layer of paint suggested that it would be covered up by the end of the day.
Time to Fly
We looked around at the scene around the Cadillac Ranch in amazement. It was obvious that visitors were not satisfied with just painting the cars. Nearby, the parched Texas soil was covered in brightly colored shapes and designs. The hot July sun was sliding across the horizon, so it signaled the time for our departure. With all of the running we had been doing, we were looking forward to a little relaxed time. (We found it here at the Botanical Gardens.) With our addiction to this Route 66 landmark complete, we made the walk back to our car. Along the way, we passed other travelers who made the pilgrimage to leave their mark on the ever-changing landscape. It made us realize that the one constant at this site is change.
I love your pictures! Cadillac Ranch looks so different than what I remember from the 1980’s as we sailed past it on Route 66 without stopping. Now, I’d have to. I don’t know whether I’d leave my mark, but found it interesting that people were lined up to spray paint and have started marking the ground, too. What a sight to see! I’ll make a pit stop next time I’m traveling through Texas on Route 66.
It is truly an amazing sight to behold. We were just glad it wasn’t muddy during our visit.
Wow, that really is an unusual and quirky sight to see. But when you think of it, there’s likely no better place than Route 66 for a Cadillac ranch. It’s funny how the ranch reminds me of Verona where people’s’ “love notes” began migrating out of Juliet’s balcony and onto the surrounding streets when the official surfaces began to disappear. People do have a lot of creativity and determination to leave a legacy!
That is so right. You know that sights like this are to be expected along Route 66. That’s a big part of the fun of traveling the Mother Road.
I loved visiting this art installation when I was in Amarillo! It is probably my very favorite thing to see there–I did, indeed, visit it twice on the same trip! Glad to see it is doing well. I did hear something recently about vandalism at the site.
Unfortunately, there was a fire set at one of the cars. My understanding is that it has already been covered with fresh paint.
This is so cool and funky. We’ve romanticized about doing Route 66 for some time. When we do this is a must see. Love the photos.
We have decided to break up the route into manageable pieces. That gives us time to really explore each segment.
What a place!! Your photos definitely ‘paint a picture’ of your stop!!
Thank you. It was certainly a “colorful” experience.