About
Update: The Slug Bug Ranch has been relocated to the site of the Big Texan RV Ranch in Amarillo.
Just a few miles east of Amarillo, Texas, and its celebrated Cadillac Ranch, travelers may stumble upon a much smaller and lesser-known installation created with five now-considerably-decayed Volkswagen beetles. The history of this site, located in the old Route 66 town of Conway, is unclear; however, its premise is exactly the same as the Caddy original: the cars are partially buried at approximately 45-degree angles, their noses facing downward into the dirt, left to disintegrate over time, with visitor participation encouraged (or at least not actively discouraged) in the form of spray painting. Landscape maintenance is minimal, perhaps because it is unclear who - if anyone - owns the Ranch. The nearest structure, formerly a shop of some sort, has been abandoned for years. It all may be on the property of Conway Inn & Restaurant (which is in any case the nearest landmark, and a good destination to feed your GPS in order to find the site since the Ranch itself has no specific address). Parking is not plentiful, but since the bugs don't have nearly the notoriety or draw of the Caddies, your car is likely to be the only one there that isn't part of the attraction itself. The VWs have been moved to The Big Texan, closer to Amarillo on I40.
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Know Before You Go
The Slug Bug Ranch is no longer in Conway. The buried Beetles were moved in 2024 to the Starlight Ranch Event Center in Amarillo, on the north side of I-40.
Spray painting the cars is encouraged, but paint is not always for sale on site, so it’s best to bring your own. Please don’t paint the plants, walkways, or signs.
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shatomica
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Keren Lynn
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notoriousFIG
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Published
September 30, 2015
Sources
- https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/slug-bug-ranch-moves-to-amarillo-promising-an-interactive-attraction-on-route-66-kashion-smith-visit-amarillo-bobby-lee-big-texan-starlight-ranch-sunrise-drive-buc-ees-road-ranger-quik-trip-toot-n-totum-eastgate-tiers-act
- http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/6767
- http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g28964-d2149722-Reviews-Slug_Bug_Ranch-Texas.html
- https://roadtrippers.com/us/panhandle-tx/points-of-interest/vw-slug-bug-ranch?lat=40.80972&lng=-96.67528&z=5