Sometimes you have to flip the script.
Over the past three years, Vettes of Atlanta Magazine has published over 1,200 photos of shiny, pristine Corvettes in all their muscular glory. So maybe, just maybe, it’s time to go in the other direction.
To embrace the other side. . . the rusty side.
With our trusty GPS directing the way, we headed northbound from Atlanta to 3098 Highway 411 NE in White, Ga.
It’s the home of the much-ballyhooed Old Car City, USA.
There was only one thing we could count on with certainty from the onset of this excursion. We wouldn’t be bringing home anything new to park in our garage when the sun went down.
34-Acres Of History
To say Old Car City USA is the world’s largest known classic car junkyard doesn’t begin to tell half the story. In fact, Old Car City began in 1931 as a general store operated by Dean Lewis’s family.
During the late 40s, the general store switched gears from a general store to an auto salvage yard. Dean would eventually acquire the family business in 1970 and spend the next decades acquiring junked and wrecked American-made vehicles without intending to scrap them.
Most of the cars & trucks are 1972 or older, with some Packards, Edsels, Fords, and Chevrolets going as far back as the 1920s. Altogether, over 4,000 midcentury automobiles cover the roughly six miles of walking trails in this 34-acre forest-covered compound.
Among Dean’s personal favorites is a 1944 coupe, though he admits a fondness for Lincolns.
Early on, Dean had a different vision for this business. Rather than profit off the destruction of cars, he wanted to preserve their legacies.
So he created this natural sanctuary where automotive art could coexist with nature and, in doing so, preserve their history together.
Something For Everyone
The endearing charm of Old Car City, USA, flows from the creative mind of its owner and self-appointed “Mayor,” Walter Dean Lewis. Humorous signs dot the many walking trails, as do classic cars creatively stacked and artwork constructed of automotive memorabilia.
Each bend of the trail brings something new to capture your attention. Sometimes it’s a hand-painted sign that makes you chuckle. Other times it’s an artistic creation that blends natural foliage with pop culture.
Either way, curiosity compels you to look around the next corner to see what Dean Lewis has to offer. Yes, this is a true photographer’s paradise, but Old Car City USA also entertains casual automotive fans of all ages.
Dean’s lifetime of eccentric creativity and Americana is on full display when you walk through the door. Also, be sure to take the stairs up to his collection of paintings and over 5,000 stylized Styrofoam cups.
For over 30 years, after his morning coffee, he has drawn original pen and ink creations on the empty Styrofoam cup. Some cups are small, some large, but they are everywhere, as you can imagine, after three decades.
Also housed inside the main office are some cars of note, including the last car Elvis Presley purchased. The 1977 Lincoln Mark V purchased by Elvis was for his friend and hairstylist Larry Geller.
There is even an authentic Elvis concert jacket rounding out the display.
Art – Nature – History
Are you looking for an afternoon adventure that combines art, nature, and automotive history? Then, old Car City USA should be on your shortlist.
You seldom get a chance to have fun and combine those three aspects into one event. Moreover, it is a fond trip down memory lane with easy walking along miles of nature-reclaimed cars in all their rusted glory.
First and foremost, this is a perfect opportunity to release your inner photographer. Imagine sunlight gently filtering through the trees onto rusting classic cars with peeling paint covered in moss and pine needles.
Yes, this is a photographer’s paradise.
Do your photographic tastes favor antique toys, bicycles, school buses, and tractors? Yes, they have those and a propeller airplane for good measure.
Just be sure to wear comfortable closed-toe shoes, don’t forget the insect repellent, and remember you’ll be walking on paths in the woods.
You might consider the Wes-Man’s Restaurant across the street from Old Car City USA after a long day walking the grounds. Southern food and vintage décor help complete the experience.
After a fun afternoon of exploring Old Car City USA, we answered the question, “Is Old Car City USA For You?” For us, it definitely is!
Contact Information
Website: Old Car City USA
Address: 3098 Highway 411 NE, in White, Ga.
Telephone: 770-383-6141
Cost: CASH ONLY – If you’re taking photos, all ages, $30.
13 years old and older not taking photos is $20. Military with ID are half-priced. Ages six and younger are free.
Operating Hours: Tue – Sat: 9 am – 4 pm. Sun – Mon: Closed
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