What has come before:
Vaughn, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
San Jon, New Mexico/Adrian, Texas/Vega, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Just a couple of miles west of Amarillo is the Cadillac Ranch. I actually had to use longitude and latitude for once with my GPS to find this place, located just off of I-40 in a cattle field. Built in 1974 by Stanley Marsh and San Francisco art collective the Ant Farm; moved about 3 miles west in 1997 due to development. It is one of the Route 66 artifacts referenced in Cars. And although you could Google "cadillac ranch" and find thousands of pictures just like these (many much better), here you go:
A ten verse ode to the birth and death of the American automobile's tailfin?
I read somewhere this is a historic, old Art Deco theater.
The Beef Burger Barrell has been open since the late 1930s.
The 1930 Pueblo Deco (Art Deco) Paramount Theater
Streamline Moderne Greyhound Bus Station, c. 1947
The 1940, Streamline Moderne Bivens Building
The Potter County Courthouse, c. 1932, Moderne
Back on Route 66...
Called "A Tourist Court," the Triangle Motel was a God-sent haven midway to California, offering comfortable suites with one 12x16 room, the other one 12x12. The bathrooms with extra-large tiled showers--3x5--were also unexpected luxury for weary travelers in the middle forties. (source)
Vaughn, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
San Jon, New Mexico/Adrian, Texas/Vega, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
McLean, Texas
Shamrock, Texas
6 comments:
Wow, some wonderful photos. Great signs!
I have never been to Amarillo. I didn't know the Cadillac Ranch was so close to it.
My great aunt married an Amarillo man in 1918 and moved there - she was his second wife, and after he died in 1930 she didn't last long there - she moved back to Dallas. I've recently been interested in her time there and would love to go to Amarillo and research where they lived.
Great tour of the town. I love the Beef Burger barrel. Many of the Art Deco buildings must have been built after my great-aunt left town.
Amarillo was great, Aunt Snow. I should have spent one day just exploring there. Maybe I'll go back someday. I was surprised (pleasantly) to find all of the Deco, one of my loves.
I've not been commenting, but I'm enjoying your trip.
Thanks, Retro Hound. At least one more installment coming up.
Are you loving that gigantic old neon or what?
What's the Big Texan - touristy airbrushed tee-shirts, etc.? From the outside, it looks like some kitchy place I'd have loved as a kid.
Amy, the Big Texan is a steak ranch/motel and considered to be a Route 66 institution. Lots of great neon, that's for sure.
Post a Comment