Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, TX)
The entrance to Cadillac Ranch
As you can see, our trip timeline had us there after quite a bit of rain. Therefore, we did not get the whole experience of what Cadillac Ranch offers. I’ll admit, it wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought it would be in the middle of nowhere. More significant than it was, and I expected it to be dry. None of those things met my expectations.
Some facts about Cadillac Ranch
An architect and two art students created Cadillac Ranch. An eccentric billionaire funded this whole project. The original structure was ten Cadillacs, which were set at an angle, nose down. At first, the idea wasn’t to have the cars spray painted or torn to bits. But as time went on, local vandals started ripping them apart and defacing them. Instead of getting upset, the creators actually encouraged it.
The cars aren’t actually at the original site, they were moved in 1997, but this location is an easy pull-off from the highway to have your fun adding to the artwork.
Things to consider:
Footwear.
Clearly, we didn’t know what we were in for with all of this. Have some boots or shoes you don’t mind getting muddy and a bag to put them in to keep your car clean. The lot is mostly dirt and becomes a mud pit when it rains. We visited at the end of May for reference.
Cadillac Ranch is off the I-40 Highway on Frontage Road, about 11 miles west of Amarillo.
Right off the historic Route 66.
You’ll exit the freeway at 60 or 62A, depending on which way you’re driving.
There are no signs stating the ranch, but you can see the Cadillacs off the road. You’ll need to keep an eye out to see them. There will most likely be other cars there to help point it out. There is a spray-painted metal doorway which is the only announcement of the entrance to the location. We didn’t have any trouble finding it.
There is no fee to get in. However, if you want to take part in the spray paint, you’ll need to stop at Home Depot or a Walmart nearby. Another thing you might want to grab when picking up spray paint is some garbage bags. It really takes away from the exhibit to see empty spray cans littered around the Cadillacs.
How much time is needed to experience Cadillac Ranch?
That all depends on how artsy you are. If you’re going to check it out, try your hand at spray paint art and take some pictures…I would say you could get that all done in half an hour, an hour at most.
Looking for more to do in the area? Check out this post on our visit to Caprock Canyons State Park or this one when we visited Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
