Just west of Amarillo, Texas, a peculiar sight awaits those venturing off the beaten path of I-40: the Slug Bug Ranch. This roadside attraction, a playful nod to the iconic Cadillac Ranch, offers a unique slice of Americana, albeit one tinged with the dust of time and the whispers of forgotten ventures. While Cadillac Ranch stands as a monument to automotive artistry, Slug Bug Ranch, also known as the Bug Farm, carved its own niche with a more whimsical and accessible charm, centered around the beloved “Slug Bug Car,” better known as the Volkswagen Beetle.
The story of Slug Bug Ranch is interwoven with the Crutchfield family, who established the Longhorn Trading Post and Rattlesnake Ranch back in 1967. For decades, they served travelers along the highway, offering a taste of Texan hospitality and goods. However, in 2002, seeking to revitalize their business and perhaps capture some of the magic of the nearby Cadillac Ranch, the Crutchfields embarked on a quirky endeavor.
Legend has it that facing competition from a newly opened Love’s Travel Stop, Tommy Crutchfield decided to create his own roadside spectacle. Inspired by the towering Cadillacs, he chose a more down-to-earth icon: the Volkswagen Beetle, the quintessential “slug bug car.” Five of these classic cars were procured and half-buried nose-down in the Texas soil, mimicking the Cadillac Ranch but with a distinctly playful twist. Painted bright yellow, these “slug bug cars” became an instant draw, beckoning travelers to stop and explore. A sign invited visitors to “Sign a Bug,” turning the cars into collaborative canvases of roadside graffiti art.
For a while, Slug Bug Ranch thrived, attracting tourists eager to witness this offbeat homage to the “slug bug car” and its famous cousin, Cadillac Ranch. However, despite its initial success in drawing visitors, the magic wasn’t enough to sustain the original family business. The Longhorn Trading Post and Rattlesnake Ranch closed their doors not long after the Slug Bug Ranch was established.
Adding a layer of local intrigue, the current landowner, Ettie Crutchfield, Tommy’s wife, offers a different perspective on the closure. She refutes the popular narrative of business failure due to competition. Instead, she attributes the shuttering to personal family matters, suggesting the decision was unrelated to the success or failure of the roadside attraction itself. Furthermore, she clarifies that it was not Tommy, but his brother Ricky, who was responsible for planting the iconic “slug bug cars.”
Today, the land remains within the Crutchfield family, but the buildings that once housed the trading post stand as vandalized relics, bearing the marks of time and neglect. The fate of the “slug bug cars” themselves is also uncertain, their continued presence unconfirmed. Slug Bug Ranch now exists in a state of intriguing decay, a testament to a fleeting moment of roadside ingenuity.
A Fading Landmark of the “Slug Bug Car” Era
While not a ghost town in the traditional sense, Slug Bug Ranch embodies the eerie charm of a forgotten place. For those fascinated by abandoned Americana and the quirky allure of roadside attractions, it holds a certain appeal. The site whispers stories of entrepreneurial spirit, the changing fortunes of roadside businesses, and the enduring fascination with the “slug bug car.”
Located on the southern edge of the Crutchfield property, easily accessible from the road, the area surrounding the “slug bug cars” bears the scars of neglect. Broken glass, scattered debris, and potholes mark the landscape. Adding to the Wild West ambiance, the area, once known as Rattlesnake Ranch, may still be home to its namesake creatures. Snakes have reportedly been spotted around the site, even within the hollow shells of the “slug bug cars” themselves, adding an element of caution to any visit.
Slug Bug Ranch, in its current state, serves as a poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of roadside attractions and the ever-evolving landscape of American travel. It stands as a quirky monument to the “slug bug car,” a testament to a family’s attempt to capture the spirit of Cadillac Ranch, and a unique, if fading, stop for those seeking the unusual along the highways of Texas.
