Why Does It Seem So Hard To Get Rid Of Abandoned Vehicles?

You've seen them. I've seen them. On the side of the road, or in a parking lot. While it may not seem like a full on invasion, there are those vehicles that just seem to sit for a very long time.

Why does it seem so hard to get rid of abandoned vehicles?

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Getting Rid Of An Abandoned Vehicle Apparently Takes Time

First, the answers aren't cut and dry. The rules vary slightly depending on where you are. Yay for city ordinances.

That being said, almost everywhere you look, owners of the vehicle have to be properly notified. Notifying the owners can take some time.

For instance, several years ago Canyon's efforts to deal with abandoned vehicles made headlines. The amount of time the vehicle had to wait before feeling the loving embrace of a tow truck? 72 hours. Six whole days.

Digging all over the web for some answers regarding Amarillo, all I kept being directed to was the place to file a complaint. The link I clicked on just opened my email application.

As far as the state of Texas goes, there's an allowance for a period of time in which the owner of the vehicle must be notified, or at least some effort has to be made to notify them.

There's A Piece Of Me That's Grateful It Isn't Cut, Dry, And Easy

Should my car ever break down on the side of the road, and I have to leave it for whatever reason, I'm glad to know that my car won't wind up in an impound lot at the first sign of no one being around.

Even worse, I would hate for it to be scrapped and turned into some kind of hipster coffee maker made of 100% recycled materials.

While the property may seem abandoned, you do have to think about those that are traveling through who may have broken down on the side of the road or had to leave their vehicle parked for whatever reason.

While seeing the same vehicle ditched on the side of the road day after day may ever-so-slightly impact your view of the sunset, hopefully that person is on their way back to get their wheels.

Ranchotel: The Forgotten Landmark of Old Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas

The Ranchotel, located at 2501 W. 6th St., is a product of Route 66's heyday.

When Americans first began long-distance automotive travel, they typically stayed in hotels or camped beside the road. In response, clever entrepreneurs began to build what were called tourist courts. The Ranchotel is one of these.

It was built in 1940 and until recently, it was considered one of the best preserved examples of Route 66's tourist facilities. It was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and was well maintained until 2020.

Even now, in spite of the building's fading beauty, there is still the nostalgic air held by many a historic landmark.

The Price Of Progress: Historic Potter County Courthouse Demolished

As the city leads the way in progress and grows, there is always a cost. Some of our historical buildings have fallen to the wayside. After years of decay and neglect, the only feasible answer tends to be demolition.

And that's what the fate of the old Potter County courthouse seems to be. Demolition of the historic building began February 15, 2023.

Whether the building would have been better served by restoration is an argument for another day. But in any case, it's always sad to see a piece of history be torn down.

The Derelict Beauty of Amarillo's Abandoned Buildings

What is it about abandoned buildings tempts our imagination? Perhaps it's the fact that all of these places were once alive at one point of time. All of these buildings were once a part of everyday life.

But as they are now, they are empty and barren. All we have left of these abandoned properties in Amarillo are memories left to the echoes of time.