December 13, 2024
I’ll be getting my kicks on Route 66 more often now that my daughter has relocated to Denver. On a recent road trip back home from Colorado, as we were approaching Amarillo, the sun was sinking low and I had a sudden inspiration — I need to see Cadillac Ranch at sunset. I hit the gas, and we arrived just as the horizon turned mango, bright Venus and a fingernail moon gleamed in the deepening blue, and a chill settled over acres of flat, brown farmland.
Unlike our last visit on a summer day, we had the place nearly to ourselves. One other couple was there, hurriedly finishing up their spray-painted tags. They asked for a quick photo and departed, and it was just us and the nose-planted Caddies.
Thousands before that couple have added their signatures, tributes, and graffiti art to the rusting car bodies.
I’ve never added to the evolving artwork myself, just taken photos of it. Maybe one day.
It’s such a crazy American tribute to car culture. I love that Cadillac Ranch has lasted so long, since 1974, although the cars were relocated in 1997 to their current location, according to Wikipedia.
These days, they’re almost more paint than metal.
As the horizon went pumpkin orange, my husband turned to snap a photo. I saw the shot I wanted…
…just a car, the man I love, and the beautiful Texas sky, three elements of a good road trip!
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