Texas town pays for visitors

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Finally, there’s a reason to go to Amarillo. Stay in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast in this town from March 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009, and you could walk away $1,000 richer. Just send a copy of your receipt to the Amarillo Convention and Visitors Council to have your name entered into the drawing. Of course, longer stays better your odds. Spend two nights in town, and your name is entered into the drawing twice – three nights, three times. The maximum is 10 entries for 10 nights.

While you’re in town, check out Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian, Wonderland Amusement Park and Big Texan Steak Ranch. Well, at least you have a shot at the price money.

Throughout the summer, there will be 10 drawings, each for $1,000. If you win, you can put the money toward an interesting trip next year.

Art car in Texas under fire. Is it art or junk?

by Jamie Rhein on

The issue of old cars becoming art is not a new one. A few years back, driving along Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, I looked out for the 10 Cadillacs half-buried, nose first in a row off the highway. I saw them as funky and fun. The piece was titled Cadillac Ranch.

If you’ve ever driven through this part of Texas, you may understand how anything that breaks up the flat scenery is welcome. At least, that’s my opinion. Some have felt over the years that those cars are nothing but junk–an eyesore. Evidently, they’ve become more junky since I saw them. (see article)

There is another art car issue in Texas. This one is very recent. Another car, this one painted by Austin-based artists as a protest to pollution, is involved in a tug of war between the artists and those who say that a car that won’t run is junk. Those people want the car moved. The car, now a cactus planter, is art, the artists say and they want it to stay where it is on I-35 outside Planet K in San Marcos.

According to this article in the Austin News, a judge is to decide if the car should stay or go. Perhaps, the artists need to come up with a spiffy name and attractive signage similar to what one might see in a world class museum. It worked for Wilbur, the pig in Charlotte’s Web. He was saved from the chopping block by Charlotte’s web- weaving handiwork. “Super Pig” could be translated to “Super Car.” PR can work wonders. Even a weird funky item is enough to draw tourists into an area.

I have looked to see if I can find out the ruling, but came up with nothing.