Explore and Leave Your Mark at Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, TX)

Cadillac Ranch was created in 1975 by millionaire Stanley Marsh 3 (not III) and the art group Ant Farm that consisted of Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels. The idea behind the project was to come up with something that would mystify the locals. What they came up with was half-buried Cadillacs with their noses planted in the ground, showcasing and paying tribute to the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin. In 1997, the Cadillac’s were moved and replanted to where they stand today. 

A total of ten Cadillacs are in the ground at Cadillac Ranch and are set in the ground in chronological order from the earliest, a 1949, to the latest, a 1963. Tourists that visit the attraction are free to decorate the cars with spray paint. You can purchase cans of spray pant on the property or simply walk around and pick one up off the ground. The end result is years of layered paint from visitors contributing to one of the more iconic community-created pieces of art in America. 

To access Cadillac Ranch, pull off onto the I-40 frontage road and park your car along the shoulder. There will likely be a lot of cars, but there is also plenty of places to park. As you walk the road up to the gate you’ll notice the asphalt decorated with creative graffiti — creating sort of a Yellow-Brick-Road vibe up to the entrance to the field.  Enter the pasture through the unlocked gate and take the stroll up to your first-ever legal vandalizing experience. You’ll pass a truck selling spray paint so if you want full cans to create your art then make a pitstop. If not, you’ll be able to find cans laying around the cars with plenty of paint left in them to create some art. 

When we visited Cadillac Ranch it had been raining days prior so there were some massive puddles to work around. Nonetheless, we grabbed some cans from off the ground and went to work. Your art likely won’t last more than 10 minutes without someone making it their new canvas so make sure you take your pictures when you can. Overall, we had blast being part of the Cadillac crew that was able to add a mark the this work of art … even if it did become just another layer. 

If you get a chance to stop by Cadillac Ranch, do it. There is something about spray paint, legal vandalism and cars that just works and it’s an experience you’ll remember for a very long time. Depending where you park, you’ll also cover about half a mile walking, in addition to burning some extra calories playing around the cars. In total, this little adventure makes for a fun, stress-free, calorie-burning stroll that you’ll be glad you did.