Airstream Ranch - Art or Junk
"Airstream Ranch" supposedly an artwork on Interstate 4, near Dover,
Florida, consists of Eight Airstream Campers buried head down with slight
tilt. Since its creation, it is mired in legal battle between the owner and the
city authorities.
Frank Bates, a dealer in recreational vehicles, in 2007
buried Eight Airstream
campers in a field, to commemorate 75th anniversary of Airstream Campers and called it "Airstream
Ranch". He was inspired by Cadillac Park (wikipedia),
Amarillo, Texas.
Bates claimed that his work was a piece of art, while the city officials felt
that burying junk vehicles in this manner was illegal and violated the city code
for proper disposal of old vehicles. As the semi-buried campers are visible from
the nearby Interstate 4 they also felt that the so called art work amounted to
surrogate advertising of Bates' business located nearby.
Bates was served a notice and a fine of USD 100.00 per day till he removed the
buried vehicles, which he refused to pay. The matter finally went to the court
and in 2010 Bates got a reprieve from the court who decided that his act was legal.
The court however didn't decide whether it is a piece of Art or Junk.
The Airstream Ranch has however gained popularity and many visitors support his
work while some of his neighbours feel that it is a nuisance.
Image from Flickr is by blisschan
Image from Flickr is by soupstance
Image from Flickr is by kthypryn
View location in Google Street View (Historical imagery November 2016)
Main source of info and more info: theledger.com / tampabay.com
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