Our visit to Cadillac Ranch is more than a sightseeing adventure; it is a journey of love and connection. Armed with cans of spray paint, we join the ranks of countless others who have left their mark on these classic cars….
Cadillac Ranch is a peculiar and iconic roadside attraction in the vast, rolling plains of the Texas Panhandle. This unique public art installation, located on Historic Route 66 in Amarillo, serves as both a testament to American ingenuity and an enduring symbol of artistic expression.
The sculpture is home to 10 perfectly lined-up tailfin Cadillacs covered in thousands of layers of spray paint. The cars are buried from east to west with their noses down in the field.
Cadillac Ranch has been open since 1974 and has become an iconic attraction of the Mother Road. Every year, thousands of Route 66 road trippers and Texas travelers stop here to take photos with the one of a kind artwork.
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Route 66: The Mother Road
Before delving into adventure at Cadillac Ranch, it’s essential to understand the significance of Route 66. Often referred to as the “Main Street of America,” this legendary highway connected the Midwest to the West Coast, serving as a lifeline for travelers and a symbol of hope during the Great Depression and post-World War II era.
It is the most famous road in the country and begins in Chicago and ends at Santa Monica on the Pacific Coast. The Texas section of Route 66 passes through the Panhandle and is approximately 180 miles long. Popular attractions along the route include Cadillac Ranch, Midpoint Cafe, Leaning Water Tower in Groom, and the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock.
How to Reach Cadillac Ranch?
Cadillac Ranch is located on Historic Route 66 west of downtown Amarillo. The quirky attraction is located in a cow pasture south of the frontage road of I-40. It is located between exits 60 and 62. You will find many signs for Cadillac Ranch along the way. The frontage road is part of the Old Route 66 alignment.
Cadillac Ranch is visible from the highway and pretty easy to find. The art installation is located on private land, but visitors are allowed to walk up to it. You can park near the roadside / shoulder and enter through the small gate in the fence. Then it’s an easy walk across the field to the buried Cadillacs.
Cadillac Ranch address: 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX
While Cadillac Ranch is mere 10 miles away from downtown Amarillo, it is 372 miles from Dallas a whooping 600 miles away from Houston!
Also Read: Best Things to do in Amarillo, Texas
Is Cadillac Ranch worth visiting?
Yes! Cadillac Ranch is an icon for road trippers and worth visiting for all kinds of tourists. It is a classic Route 66 roadside attraction and one for the books. The cars buried nose first with their tail in the air is a unique sight and a must-visit on Route 66 road trip in Texas.
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History of Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch
The art installation at Cadillac Ranch was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels – three well known American artists and designers who founded the San Francisco based art group Ant Farm.
Amarillo’s based philanthropist and millionaire Stanley Marsh 3 funded Cadillac Ranch. He had the reputation of being pretty eccentric and when approached by Ant Farm, loved the idea of funding an artwork that would baffle the public. And thus, Cadillac Ranch was born.
The work of art features 10 half-buried Cadillacs, nose first in the ground. The cars are from the years 1948 to 1963. The ten Cadillacs though purchased from junkyards were in pretty good condition when the project was completed. And they also retained their original colors!
Since then, vandals and souvenir hunters have broken windows, stolen small parts and equipment including radios and speakers, as well as some of the doors of the Cadillacs. Locals and visitors alike have spray painted the cars with graffiti since the project was installed.
As a result, Cadillac Ranch looks completely different today than when it was finished. Only the bare bones of the 10 cars remain at Cadillac Ranch today – and they are completely covered in paint! The result is an intriguing, vibrant, one of a kind art work that’s rich in story and very fluid.
Cadillac Ranch has since become one of the most famous roadside attractions in the Lone Star State and along US Route 66.
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An ode to the Tailfin Cadillacs & the American automobile
The Cadillac Ranch art project was planned to pay a tribute to the remarkable tailfin design of the cars. The Cadillac Tail Fins were one of the most memorable and iconic cars in America.
The design of these post war cars was inspired by a US fighter plane, the P-38 “Lightning”, which had striking twin rudders. Cadillac Tail Fins, with their extravagant design, were an instant success in the 1950s and remained popular for over two decades.
In fact, they were a defining feature of America’s automobile culture in the 1950s!
Each car in the art installation is a different model and displays the evolution of the tailfin. Car lovers can easily discern how the design evolved even though the cars are buried under many layers of spray paint.
Travel Tip – Planning to take a Route 66 all the way to California? Read our Texas to California road trip planner!
Can you spray paint the cars at Cadillac Ranch?
Yes! If you visit at popular times during the day, you will be assailed by the smell of Krylon in the air!
Visitors are encouraged to paint the cars, leave behind their mark, and add inspiring messages on the sculpture. You can either take your own spray paint or buy paint cans near the parking lot.
Need to buy some paint at the last minute? Try the Home Depot in Downtown Amarillo. Here are a few tips for painters: no surface of the cars is left unpainted, so you will be painting over other’s work. If you plan to create an intricate design, then prep your canvas by a coat of black or gray color first. Take a photo of your creation immediately, as it can be easily repainted by someone else.
Spray painting the buried Cadillacs at Cadillac Ranch is one of the essential things to do when visiting the attraction – an almost rite of passage on Route 66. We have seen visitors swap stories of their Route 66 road trip and become friends. We have spotted them sharing leftover spray paint and making a colorful impact! We have seen them create beautiful designs to commemorate a special trip or occasion. It’s an amazing feeling ❤️
Be sure to clean up any cans or paints after your visit and do not litter Cadillac Ranch.
Things to do at Route 66 Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo
There are a few other things to do at Cadillac Ranch besides spray painting the cars. You can snap photos, admire the artwork, and even buy chipped paint souvenirs on a visit to Cadillac Ranch. The attraction is pretty popular for photoshoots and an Instagram hotspot. Visitors love taking photos and videos for social media at Cadillac Ranch.
Cadillac Ranch is also a popular filming spot. The cars have appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, books, and in pop culture. The spot has been the subject of Bruce Springsteen song ‘Cadillac Ranch‘.
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How much does Cadillac Ranch cost to visit?
Cadillac Ranch is a free roadside attraction and does not cost anything to visit. It is open 24/7 though you need to visit during daylight hours to see the art installation.
Best time to visit Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac Ranch is located in the Texas Panhandle which is one of the most arid parts of the Lone Star State. Both winter and summer seasons are pretty brutal in the region. That hasn’t stopped tourists from taking photos of the Cadillacs with a dusting of snow or under scorching heat. However, if you are looking for milder weather, I would recommend Spring and Fall seasons to visit this part of Texas.
Also be careful in selecting your time of the day to visit Cadillac Ranch. My personal favorite is early in the morning during the golden hour. The light is perfect and you would be avoiding most of the crowds. After all, there is nothing more annoying than other people photobombing all your pictures. Weekdays are obviously better then weekends, for the exact same reason.
The golden hour around sunset is another great time to visit Cadillac Ranch – the painted cars and their tail fins look really vibrant at this time. Or stay in downtown Amarillo and visit the attraction during different times!
If you are going on a windy day, give wide berth to other graffiti artists unless you want a smattering of paint all over you! The field where the cars are located gets very muddy after a rainstorm or snow – use caution while walking up to the cars.
Fun Facts about Cadillac Ranch
The Cadillacs were originally located almost 2 miles away from their current location! The entire sculpture was relocated in 1997 to the current empty pasture to make room for Amarillo’s new businesses!
Another quirky fact – the cars at Cadillac Ranch are buried at an inclined angle of 52 degrees which resembles the angle of the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt!
Where to stay near Cadillac Ranch?
Amarillo is the perfect base for visiting Cadillac Ranch. There are plenty of hotels and motels in the area, as well as other great lodging options. The Best Western Plus Medical Center is one of our favorites to stay in the area, plus it’s closer to Cadillac Ranch. The Holiday Inn Express located near I-40 offers easy access to all of the city’s attractions.
Other Things to do in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is home to many attractions and activities for visitors. The Amarillo Botanical Gardens has beautiful gardens with amazing views of the skyline. The Amarillo Zoo is home to more than 200 species including tigers, lions, bears and monkeys! Amarillo is also known for its famous Big Texan Steak Ranch. For those interested in shopping, there are over 100 stores at Westgate Mall.
One of the main natural attractions in the area is Palo Duro Canyon State Park. You’ll be dazzled by the natural beauty of this park – it has rugged cliffs with red-rock formations that are unlike anything else in Texas!
As our family works together to create designs on the car, our kids laughter fills the air and the sheer fun they’re having is mirrored in the colorful graffiti. In the midst of this open-air art gallery, we strengthen our bond as a family and solidify our intent to create wonderful memories with our children.
Cadillac Ranch standing tall in the midst of a sprawling ranch is the ultimate Texas icon. The cars, adorned with layers of paint in every hue imaginable, stand as relics of a bygone era while simultaneously serving as a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity. Car enthusiasts or not, Cadillac Ranch should definitely be on your bucket list while visiting the Texas Panhandle!