My parents live in Amarillo, TX.  Nobody knows why.

What I love about Amarillo is the most fascinating, weird little quirk.  There just so happens to be wacky signs all over the city.

According to the locals, Stanley Marsh’s dad was super-duper rich and his son, (the aforementioned Stanley Marsh), was a little touched in the head.  So to keep his son from squandering the money, his father put a clause in the will stating that Marsh could only spend it on the arts.  Marsh’s idea of the arts was to put signs in people’s yards all over the city.

Of course the newspaper articles and wikipedia tell a different story.  You can look that up for yourself if you’re interested.

The other story one of the locals told me, (she came out while I was taking a picture of the sign in her yard), is that it used to be, if you pulled the sign up, took it to Marsh, and gave it directly to him, he would pay you $600 bucks on the spot.  However, she said no one could find him any more.

She was the only person who told me that particular story.

Other than the signs, I find the most intriguing thing to be that he also has enormous art, so big you have to be in a plane to really see the whole piece, hidden away on his property where no one can find it or see it.

Here are some of the signs I speak of.

I RUN WITH NOBODY

LIFE'S LIKE THAT SOMETIMES

WOLVES LAIR

I GOT THE SAD BLUE BLUES

BUTTER BLONDES

MADHOUSES, SKIDROWS, GRAVEYARDS

 

This sign looked fine three years ago. It actually says "I LET MY FREAK FLAG FLY."

This sign looked fine three years ago. It actually says "I LET MY FREAK FLAG FLY."

LEAVE ME TO DREAM

THAT'S WHAT I SAID

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

FOR ALL THE GOOD REASONS

WAR LIKE FRENZY

WHISKEY RIVER DON'T RUN DRY

SIR-LOIN

TOMORROW BELONGS TO ME

EWE

SOMETIMES EVEN PARANOIDS HAVE REAL ENEMIES

FLOWER

 

This one says "EL QE NO VIVE PARA SERVIR NO SIRVE PARA VIVIR" which according to my Dad translates to "HE WHO HAS NO PURPOSE SERVES NO PURPOSE."

This sign says “EL QE NO VIVE PARA SERVIR NO SIRVE PARA VIVIR” which, according to my Dad, translates to “HE WHO HAS NO PURPOSE SERVES NO PURPOSE.”

It's hard to see, but this sign says "BREAK A FEW EGGS."

It's hard to see, but this sign says "BREAK A FEW EGGS."

 I HAD ONE SWEETHEART

AFTER LOVE SIGN READING IS THE MOST EXHILARATING SPORT OF ALL

If you’re having trouble reading it, the sign says “AFTER LOVE SIGN READING IS THE MOST EXHILARATING SPORT OF ALL.”  Of course, I laughed a lot when I saw it.

As far as I can tell the sign says "SKIP BACK TUNA"

As far as I can tell the sign says "SKIP BACK TUNA"

 

 

This one used to be even more beautiful and it says "A DAMSEL WITH A DULCIMER IN A VISION ONCE I SAW."

This one used to be even more beautiful and it says “A DAMSEL WITH A DULCIMER IN A VISION ONCE I SAW.”

There were two other signs I saw, that I didn’t have a chance to take a picture of.  One said “WE USED TO GO SHOPLIFTING TOGETHER”  and my favorite one says “I ALWAYS FANCIED THE ONE ABOUT THE ITALIAN WITH NO HEAD.”

There are of course many more signs then the ones here.

Oh yeah, Marsh is also the main sponsor for Cadillac Ranch.  Here’s a link to an article about him:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/TX-CadillacRanch2.html

Here’s the link for wikipedia’s entry on the guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Marsh_3

I love those signs so much.  They just thrill me like little treasures discovered throughout an ordinary day.  I never know when I’ll happen upon one.  They generally make me think and they feed my biggest addiction of all – I’m addicted to the written word.

I give it an adding to the richness of life factor of 9.

The End

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