If you’ve ever driven through Amarillo, Texas, on Interstate 40, you may have noticed a strange sight to the west of the city: 10 old Cadillacs standing on end with their tails in the air. This phenomenon is called Cadillac Ranch and has been attracting visitors since it opened in 1974.

While camped about 4 miles away, we took the opportunity to check out the sight for ourselves and are glad we did. A visit to Cadillac Ranch is free and worth the stop if you’re passing through.

The angle

The idea behind the display was to commemorate the classic Cadillac tailfin. The car models span 1949 to 1963 and are arranged in year order, not that you can tell that now, after decades of spray paint have been added to the vehicles.  

Each car is positioned at a 60-degree angle, supposedly in reference to the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is actually set at 51 degrees, according to the Smithsonian. 

A Texas Highways article says the angle of the Cadillacs wasn’t that scientific or intentional. “We just dug some holes and drove the cars in at 60 degrees, same angle,” explains Hudson Marquez, one of the three artists known as Ant Farm that created the spectacle. “We didn’t talk about that. It just happened to be. It looked good.” 

The paint

As Bob and I drove down the frontage road that leads to these extraordinary vehicles, we knew we were getting close when we observed brightly painted graffiti on the road and on the K-rails separating it from the freeway. We parked and went through a gate, also painted, to get closer to the vehicles in a big dirt field.

We saw what looked like a food truck parked just inside the gate to the right. That made sense as it gets hot out there, and there’s nothing else around. But it wasn’t a typical food truck. In fact, it wasn’t a food truck at all. It peddled spray paint, T-shirts, hats, and stickers.

At Cadillac Ranch, graffiti is encouraged and has been since the display’s early days. Ant Farm liked the idea as it continues the evolution of the art. Each day is a blank canvas with a new masterpiece by sundown.

The cars

We passed on purchasing paint the hot afternoon we visited and walked on to the cars. Many other visitors braved the heat to see the sight as well. Some took time to add their graffiti and love notes to vehicles. Others posed to take pictures in and on the cars. All seemed impressed.

We snapped a few photos as well and stared agape at the layers of paint protruding from the metal frames. It felt soft to the touch and even gave way, leaving a slight indentation.

Normal auto paint thickness is between 3.5 and 6 mils. (A mil is one-thousandth of an inch.) The layers caked on the Cadillacs extend to at least 8 inches in some places, meaning they’re also quite heavy. Despite that, the coatings remain intact (though some are sagging), capturing the historical memories and messages of visitors who once passed by.

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