Imagine zooming down the desert highway and seeing colorful car graveyards or enormous feet just appearing on the side of the road; the average person would be convinced it's a hallucination or a mirage. In fact, Amarillo, Texas is a haven for roadside kitsch and vintage Americana, where you can stumble upon graffitied vintage cars and giant cowboy statues as you road trip along the famous Route 66. While there are a number of nostalgic pit stops on Route 66, like the bursting vintage town of Tumcari
with its eclectic attractions, Amarillo is home to popular roadside landmarks such as Cadillac Ranch, the Second Amendment Cowboy, and Ozymandias on the Plains. Noticing these wildly unexpected landmarks along the highway will definitely make you do a double take as you drive by.
If you happen to be flying into Texas and renting a car, the closest airport to Amarillo is Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, just 120 miles away. There are plenty of hotels and motels to choose from in the area, such as Big Texan Motel, Cactus Cove Inn & Suites, and other common chains like Best Western.
Venturing south on Highway 27 just outside of Amarillo, you will come to find a peculiar monument that is borderline disturbing — two dismembered legs cut off at around knee-level wearing red-striped white athletic socks, one severed higher than the other. Ozymandias on the Plains is a bizarre tribute to King Ramesses II, and has grabbed the attention of many roadtrippers, including famous poet Percy Shelley and his wife, Mary Shelley of 'Frankenstein' fame. This giant feet effigy, built by Lightnin' McDuff, was a creation of Stanley Marsh 3, who also funded Cadillac Ranch and other local curiosities. The socks weren't an original feature of the monument, but somehow they keep coming back.
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See The Trippy Art Along Route 66
Cadillac Ranch was conceived by Stanley Marsh 3 and was created as a monument to the American Dream; he believed art should be everywhere and in unexpected spaces. The ranch is practically synonymous with this popular panhandle town, found just west of Amarillo, with its massive spray painted Cadillacs sticking out of the sand like a modern-day Stonehenge acid trip. The hippies who built the ranch back in 1974, a group known as the Ant Farm from San Francisco, even buried the cars facing west in ceremonial fashion, burying them on the summer solstice and positioned at the same sloping angle as the pyramids of Giza.
There is something surreal about seeing a bunch of old dilapidated cars out in the desert, tails up, with decades of art and rust adorning their mechanic shells. Visitors are encouraged to add their own graffiti art to the weathered cars, and car parts have been stolen by visitors who take them as a memento of their pilgrimage to this bright vehicular graveyard.
Being the biggest city in the Texas panhandle and the best pit stop for scenic canyon fun and amusement parks on Route 66, it's no surprise Amarillo sees thousands of visitors each year. The Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau has noticed an increase in tourism to Amarillo since they changed their marketing strategy to focus on the famous route, and they have noticed more tourist revenue as a result. The Texas Route 66 Festival encourages folks to come out and pay homage to this beloved road as they visit towns and attractions along the way. Travelers can partake in the 10 days of roadside shenanigans before it culminates in a big bash on Amarillo's iconic 6th Avenue, complete with vintage cars, live bands, and all-around festivities.
Discover Amarillo's Kitschy Wonderland
Amarillo has some kitschy local venues as well. Come see the Big Texan RV Ranch with its signature giant cowboy statue welcoming visitors from all over the world, then stop at the Slug Bug Ranch across the street to check out more psychedelic vehicle art. Recently relocated to 1414 Sunrise, the Slug Bug Ranch is filled with spray painted Volkswagen Beetles buried in the ground much like what one would see at nearby Cadillac Ranch. Tourists can wander among the tattered car carcasses and behold the layers of neon paint and dirt covering the weathered metal right before obliterating a delicious sirloin steak at the Big Texan Restaurant. The restaurant even has a live camera feed that streams hungry diners taking on the 72-ounce steak challenge.
For a more formal dining experience, treat yourself to an unforgettable dinner at the Western Horseman Club and enjoy live music and a selection of bourbons with your meal. If you are craving barbeque, visit Tyler's BBQ or Shi-Lee's BBQ and Soul Food, a couple of local favorites. For atmosphere and charm, head over to Cafe Moonwater, where you can sip some coffee and enjoy delectable desserts while admiring the space's cute cottage-core decor. They even include charming little note cards on the plate containing poetry and inspirational messages.
No kitschy roadside adventure is complete in Amarillo without taking a picture of the Second Amendment Cowboy that towers over tourists, tipping his hat and proclaiming his right to bear arms on his bright yellow shirt. This Amarillo staple can be found in front of three tilted Cadillacs adorning the entrance of Cadillac Ranch, driven by mannequins representing various pop culture legends. Make sure you stop by and take advantage of this perfect photo op before you leave this wonderous town.
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