Abandoned Car Graveyard in Arkansas
Photographer Dax Ward stumbled upon a sprawling 20-acre estate in Arkansas that was home to a vast collection of abandoned vehicles, including classic cars, custom boats, vans, and trucks.
Upon closer inspection, Ward was shocked to find that the site was packed with rotting vehicles that had been left to decay for years. The collection included antique cars such as Cadillacs, Chevys, Buicks, and VWs, many of which had been taken over by rust.
The site’s history revealed that the owner, who had once taken great pride in his collection, had abandoned the property over 20 years ago following a messy divorce. The owner, who had previously owned a tow truck company, had amassed an enormous collection of valuable antique vehicles over the years.
However, the site is now a magnet for opportunistic thieves who have been stealing parts and vehicles, leaving the remaining cars stripped and worthless. Local law enforcement has caught intruders, but prosecution is often halted due to the owner’s disappearance.
Ward visited the location twice and was shown around by a neighbor who had not heard from the site’s owner in years. The neighbor expressed frustration at watching the beautiful cars and valuable antiques being stolen or picked clean over the years.
The once valuable collection now sits rotting, a testament to the devastating consequences of abandonment and theft. Ward’s photographs capture the haunting beauty of the abandoned vehicles, a reminder of the transience of value and the power of nature to reclaim what was once precious.
