I had planned very little on our trip. But there was one stop that I not only planned but highly anticipated.
Cadillac Ranch.
Amarillo, Texas.
It soon became clear that my family did not share my sentiments and as we crossed into Texas from Oklahoma, those in the back seat began to grumble. It didn’t matter that we’d skipped several attractions that I’d hoped to visit. Or that we were on Day 2 of our road trip and had surpassed where I thought we’d be by hundreds of miles. We were halfway to California and way ahead of schedule, but my children decided that they did not want to stop anywhere else that night. They didn’t want to stop anywhere until we arrived in California. Period. My feeling of euphoria over our perfect first day of travel was coming to an end. Quickly.
My teens had grumbled and snapped at one another for the better part of the day until one child was in the far back seat in angry silence and I was in the front, beginning to comprehend why some animals eat their offspring.
My husband, who had consumed nearly a full bottle of Pepto Bismal earlier in the day, had commented that this trip would have been more enjoyable when our kids were younger. He even promised me that he and I would take another trip along Route 66 and stop at all of the roadside attractions we were missing. And that was before the straw broke the camel’s back and the tears I was trying to hold back spilled over.
By the time we had arrived at Cadillac Ranch, I didn’t even want to stop.
I’d like to think that when my husband and I revisit Route 66 we can have a do-over of Cadillac Ranch, but this roadside attraction is in danger of being removed.
We pulled off the road and joined several other cars in the parking area and began the dusty walk through the field to the iconic automobiles armed with spray paint that I’d packed from home.
My 18-year old didn’t waste any time climbing among the cars to find what he thought would be the ideal location to leave his mark.
While some ‘taggers’ get pretty creative with their craft, my kids preferred not to put in too much effort. It’s clear that whatever form of graffiti one adds won’t last long.
Though my kids would never admit it, I think they secretly enjoyed our visit to Cadillac Ranch.
I only wish I could say the same.
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© 2013 – 2017, Tonya Prater. All rights reserved.
Stephanie @ CrayonMarks&TigerStripes says
January 27, 2014 at 4:01 pmI live about 80 miles from here! I have taken my family and friends that visit there. They have all loved it. It’s odd, but it’s a must see stop!
Tonya says
January 27, 2014 at 11:37 pmI would really love to visit the area again. I think a steak at the Big Texan is calling my name. 🙂
LyndaS says
December 5, 2013 at 8:18 amI hope that you do get the chance to go back. I had never heard of Cadillac Ranch, but it looks like an interesting place to go. I think it would be fun to go there armed with a few cans. It would be the ONE time that I would permit my kids to let loose.
Jennifer @ My Sweet Sanity says
December 2, 2013 at 1:51 amWhat a cool place to visit. I think my nine year old would think this was great!
debra p says
December 1, 2013 at 8:39 pmSorry that the trip wasn’t as you hoped but that does look like a cool place to stop!
Anne says
December 1, 2013 at 2:19 pmTeens are so fun to travel with aren’t they! Glad you stopped though, and those are cool pictures.
Tonya says
December 2, 2013 at 12:03 amI’m sure at some point my teens will be grateful for some of the stops I’ve forced them to endure while traveling. 🙂
Rachel says
December 1, 2013 at 1:35 pmThat looks like such a neat place. Sorry you are having a touch time of it though.
Katie says
December 1, 2013 at 12:24 pmit looks like such a cool place! My brother was there a few years ago and has some neat pics!
Maryann says
November 30, 2013 at 6:30 pmthat looks super fun
stephanie from GrinningLikeAnIdiot.com says
November 29, 2013 at 9:56 pmMy parents took my brother and I on a trip to Canada: worst family vaca ever – according to my parents. My brother and I, on the other hand, who made it miserable, remember it with smiles – our parents forced us to get out of our comfort zones, try something different. Looking back: I laugh every-single-time thinking about some of the crap my brother and I pulled. 🙂
Eye of the beholder. 🙂
Tonya says
December 2, 2013 at 12:11 amStephanie, Thank you so much for commenting and giving me another perspective. Thankfully, the trip did end on a high note and I know that at some point- down the road- my kids will be grateful for every stop that I forced them to experience. On the up side, I only cried once and I did have hair left when we pulled back in to our own driveway. That means it couldn’t be all bad, right? 🙂
Julie says
November 28, 2013 at 11:50 amHow cool! I’m *from* Texas and I’ve never stopped there. 🙂
Tonya says
December 2, 2013 at 12:13 amTexas has so many fun stops! And Amarillo has several stops, including the free 72 ounce steak at Big Tex’s- if you can eat it in an hour. My son wanted to try, but we didn’t pass through at dinner time.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
November 27, 2013 at 9:50 amI’ve been wanting to visit this place, too. I guess I better hurry up before all my kids are grumbly teens or before it’s removed.
Tonya says
December 2, 2013 at 12:16 amlol- Yes, Michele, visit as soon as you get the chance! 🙂
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
November 26, 2013 at 11:08 pmOh geez, not exactly like you envisoned, huh? One day you’ll look back and laugh?
Tonya says
December 2, 2013 at 12:17 amUmmm..yes…one day I look forward to laughing about this stop with my kids. But not now. 🙂
Wendy Grosse says
December 25, 2016 at 2:25 pmHello Tonya. I am wendy from Huntinton beach CA. I enoyed reading about your road trip from Ohio to CA. I am doing this trip in Oct 2017. Going to a wedding in Napoleon Oct 28. Flying then renting a small rv..our trip will be quite different..no kids, and not in a hurry to get back to so cal. My big agenda, is to hit Grand Canyon, as my travel partner has never experienced..xoxo
Tonya says
January 13, 2017 at 3:20 pmThat sounds like a wonderful road trip, Wendy! And October should be beautiful weather all the way around. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll make it back to the Grand Canyon this year. There is the cutest town nearby called Williams, Arizona. We only had time to drive through, but I’m hoping I’ll have time to stop and explore next time. It had little shops and diners and was so cute. Enjoy your trip and if you have any questions, I’m happy to help where I can.