What is Cadillac Ranch?

The name “Cadillac Ranch” leaves many possibilities to what this so called ranch may be. I think the name is perfect for the 10 Cadillacs positioned nose first in the dirt just west of Amarillo, Texas. Said to be positioned at the same angle as Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza, the famous roadside attraction intrigues many who pass by it along Route 66.

Cadillac Ranch had been on my list of places to see and I finally was able to check it out on a recent tornado chasing tour. When we pulled up to the site, I could see the Cadillacs diagonally placed from my where we had parked. I made my way through the gate that made it feel like I really was walking onto a ranch.

I walked up the dirt path up to the site with my spray paint in hand that I had bought at a nearby Walmart before coming. There were several other people who obviously had come to release their inner vandal as well. 

After a quick glance, I started to make my mark on the already spray painted car. I quickly learned that I needed to make a solid area and THEN make my design. I, of course, painted my blog name on the hood of one of the vehicles. 

Then, I began to explore the other designs on the Cadillacs. There were people of all ages putting their designs on the vehicles. Some were even climbing in them! I would have been scared of a rattlesnake or spider! 🙂 

When I made my way back to the Cadillac I had painted, I noticed it had already been covered up. Folks, that’s just part of Cadillac Ranch.

Tip: I advise only bringing a couple cans of paint. Most people don’t use all of theirs and end up giving them away as they leave. I think I only used maybe half of each of mine. 

Since my visit here, I have talked to many people about this art inspired by The Ant Farm and Stanley Marsh 3. Some people love the attraction, while others wish it would go away. One person even talked about the environmental harms the spray paint is causing to the area’s water supply. Definitely not something I thought about until AFTER I visited it.