Old Car City USA — Attraction in Cartersville

For a 15th straight year a group of us went out on our autumn Annual Auto Museum Adventure. We had intended to tour Florida this year but based on concerns tied to the recent hurricanes we opted to focus on Georgia instead. It was the second day of our travels when we paused for breakfast at "Wes-Man's Restaurant" directly across Highway 411 from "Old Car City". It was while we were enjoying our meal that we learned it was Dean Lewis, the owner and artistic genius behind Old Car City, who was tucked inside the booth across from us. And so it was Dean himself who walked us across the highway and welcomed us into his uniquely gifting realm, "Old Car City, USA". Visitors are immediately immersed in the quantity and creativity of Dean's varied and assorted modes of artistic expression. There are the subliminal messages in the 3D die-cast toy art on his walls, his gallery of motivational painted signs, his soda can and green bean can gallery, and of course his accumulation of 1000s of artistically decorated styrofoam cups. Now that he's drawn every pattern and color imaginable on a cup, Dean has started to create new magic with is sculpting of the styrofoam. Wow! One from our group had some trouble getting around so we were able to arrange for Dean's trusty assistant, Mike "Monkey Wrench" to drive us through the stunning trails of the Old Car City forest. Tim went in search of Cadillacs. I had my eyes peeled for Hudsons. All four of us were overwhelmed. On the surface it might seem easy to slip into a mindset of sorrow at the massive neglect of 4400+cars, but within seconds the peaceful tranquility found in the merger of nature and machine becomes beautiful in a unique and somehow magical sort of way. The fact that we were there just a couple of days before Halloween and that the place was decked out in Halloween decor was an extra perk, as if one needs even more haunts when the forest is filled with spiders the size of Chattanooga. The next day we were five miles up the road at the Savoy Auto Museum. One can't imagine a more stark contrast. I would maintain that both museums possess equal beauty of their own brand. Car lovers wouldn't want to miss either. Our thanks to Dean and Mike for making us feel especially welcome in their one of a kind vintage automotive...

Great place especially if you're a photographer. Some cars are just wrecked or torn apart, but if you're into photography and you focus on the details (emblems/logos, or lights, etc) then it can be a very nice experience. The better cars are towards the front, although if you go all the way to the back there are some gems there too (more towards the front though). Things do change over time, as I was here about 3 years ago (just went again recently) and a few things have been moved around or removed. They renovated the old OCC office, which is a bit of a shame because I liked it when it was as it was when they closed it -- now it's an office for their haunted tours addition, so the pile of aircleaners in the back and some of the cars that were on the top level are no longer there (like the orange/green Ford Fairlane -- that or it got moved somewhere else in the yard). But just a cool place to come back to here and there. The place is a "junk yard" though so keep that in mind (I do not recommend wearing open toed shoes or shorts especially if you walk between cars as there is a lot of stuff on the ground and easily can get cut if you don't wear pants and closed-toed shoes). There is some controversy over this place though as some people feel that some of the cars should be restored or other wise preserved instead of sitting out the elements, and for some of them, I agree (particularly the more rare ones like the DeSoto among others) so there is that too (locals seems to have mixed opinions on this place). Good news is this place generally isn't busy so if you're doing photography, you shouldn't have an issue with people getting in your way. Tickets are not needed, and it does cost more if you take pictures (have a camera) and/or a model. TIP : Be sure to stop by Wes-Man's restaurant across the street for a Burger (try the Old Car...

Wondering thur Rust & Rot

Overall it’s was a very fun experience, if u love old cars it’s a must! But it’s 35 acers supposedly 6 miles of trails some not even passable heavily wooded areas in places no maps given u pay the price go in & just wonder what seems endlessly thur the woods I used the cars as landmarks lol thought about leaving bread crumbs 2 navigate so we didn’t cover the same areas but u can get lost if so their r signs pointing 2 the exits. It took us all day 2 trips had 2 come out 2 get water bring water alot of water not 2 much only bathroom is @ the front of the property where u come in,bug spray & have some comfortable shoes alot of walking I divided the property into 2 half’s is so big! 2 me it was wasteful but an amazing site 4000 cars & trucks from the 30s,40s,50s,60s rotting away would have been nice 2 see some of them restored cause of alot them still have good usable parts complete interiors dash steering wheels if possible but some r 2 far gone got trees growing thur them neat how Mother Nature takes back @ the end everything goes back 2 the dirt! Property needs to be maintained some of the cars u can’t even see no more because the trees,bushes and everything has taken the vehicles over! Better lay out the trials design a map hell tag the trees! Would of been cool for if u had atv r utv r even golf carts 2 rent for the trails. Whole sections of vintage caddy’s big fins| Chevy,Ford,Dodge trucks seen a 5 window | Bel Airs| Hudson| De Soto| Plymouth’s u name it & yep u guess it all rotting away!! So many hood ornaments,emblems & badges some Ive never seen before & ive been 2 alot of swap meets & antique stores malls collecting. 2bad he doesn’t...