I Hear Banjos #14225

The Story

This rusty old car covered by a pine needle blanket is a permanent resident in this vehicular old folk’s home. It’s a very old junkyard first started in the 1930s. Through time, a large forest has grown up here to cover all the ancient cars and trucks in pine needles and leaves. Nature composts thick layers of leaves into dirt right on the vehicles. In fact, the roofs and hoods of some cars are rusting through from the constant moisture.

This is a legacy junkyard, meaning ownership has passed from father to son. As seen in the picture, the retired owner has some playful fun with his horde of rusty old cars. Done with a bit of whimsy and humor, there are transmissions lining the path, shiny hubcaps and rings are nailed to the trees, and a few silly signs have been tacked up. I have no idea what the background building is for other than storage, but it’s newer than the cars.

This busted and rusted 1954 Oldsmobile is just one of over 4000 vintage vehicles out to pasture here. It’s one of the best and most interesting junkyards I’ve photographed, an amazing collection with a surprise around every corner. Makes like Studebaker, Packard, and Kaiser can be found amongst the usual Fords and Chevys. Name an old car brand, it’s in here.

Chronologically, old cars from the thirties sit where the original business began. Interestingly, the vehicles get younger into the 1970s toward the back edge of the property. It takes hours to walk through the paths through this cluttered place of rusty old cars sitting in the forest that’s grown up around them. With such a visual landscape, I made pictures here for four days and there was more to go. Yes, I’ve got a thing for junk art and enjoy some automotive history with it too.

This one-of-a-kind junkyard in the trees is no longer open selling auto parts. As time moves on, there isn’t much call anymore for parts for a 1954 Oldsmobile or a 1939 Hudson. Nowadays, it continues as an unusual tourist attraction and a mecca for photographers of all stripes creating junk art. So here it all sits, a place where a person can look back through automotive history while walking in the woods. In hindsight, it could be called an open-air car museum if you like.

Care for a few more pictures of cars and trucks sitting in these Georgia woods? Have a look at No Passing Zone #14188. Another is the very unusual but very cool black and white Branch Office #14212.

Location: rural Bartow County, Georgia. Picture and story © Andrew Dierks