'Airstream Ranch' must go, county board says

TAMPA – A Dover RV dealer’s display of half-buried Airstream trailers violates county rules and must be removed within 30 days, the Hillsborough County Code Enforcement board ruled today.

Frank Bates has 30 days to remove the trailers or face $100 a day in fines. The  display violates zoning and signage restrictions as well as rules against debris and improper storage, the code board decided.

Bates, the owner of Bates RV, said he plans to keep the display – dubbed “Airstream Ranch” – in place for now while he considers his options.

Bates’ expert witnesses at today’s hearing included Wallace Wilson, director of the University of South Florida’s School of Art and Art History and Larry Thompson, president of the Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota.

The Airstreams are a work of art similar to “Cadillac Ranch,” the famous collection of half-buried cars in Amarillo, Texas, they told the board.

Bates planted the 7 ½ shiny, tubular trailers along McIntosh Road in Dover. The Airstreams, 16 to 34 feet long and 14 to 51 years old, are visible from Interstate 4 on land adjacent to Bates’ dealership.

When the display was erected in early January, Bates said he envisioned it as a way to mark the iconic trailer’s 75h anniversary and a permanent work of art similar Cadillac Ranch.

But some neighbors and county officials saw things differently. Residents of nearby Castlewood Road questioned whether the display was too close to homes and worried about traffic from gawkers. County officials took issue with what they said was an improper use of the land and an accumulation of trailers.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

Photo: Matthew Pfleiderer, right, of Lakeland, and Michael Hill of Lithia pressure wash Frank Bates' version of the famous "Cadillac Ranch" in Dover on January 4, 2007. Seven and a half Airstream trailers were planted  in a field near Exit 14 of Interstate 4. (KATHLEEN FLYNN | Times)

Comments

[kristen]

I've passed it a few times...I think it's really unique. Of course they would want to get rid of something that isn't a billboard or a broke down car on I-4...we wouldn't want anyone having any creativity now would we?

[Art]

It's art, man. Let it be. All we are saying is, "Give Art A Chance."

[pj]

its art, and freedom of speech

[Lizz]

I have to pass by that "art" all the time, and use the term "art" loosley. It is not nice to look at and really speaks to the trailer lifestyle that come along with that part of the county. Thank goodness they have to remove it.

[Clark]

Well of course it needs to be removed. We wouldn't want to suddenly develop a rotation for tacky roadside displays now, would we?

[Dee]

Airstream Ranch looks a lot better than the other trailers along I-4 where a bunch of mexican flag waving illegal aliens and tax burdening agitators live. How about the code board do something about that?

Lets get this straight, the code board and neighbors are concerned about traffic and an improper use of the land? These same folks then allow a bunch of illegal aliens to live around there sending their kids to school and going to the free clinic for health care and somehow believe that they get to these places without causing traffic. As far as the property owner using his land in a proper way is that a politically correct way of saying you have to do something that employs illegal aliens and makes developers happy in order to be in compliance?

[Clark]

CORRECTION: Well of course it needs to be removed. We wouldn't want to suddenly develop a reputation for tacky roadside displays now, would we?

[Ryan]

This is not art -- it's an educational tool that teaches people what happens during a hurricane. Perhaps we should keep it after all.

I say leave it. It looks like a modern day version of Stonehenge. In the name of tourism (bucks from out of state) leave it be!

They sure don't build trailers like that anymore. If mine were flipped vertically, it would disintegrate into a pile of rubble.

[Martin]

God forbid someone would put something unique on their land. How about we get rid of the display and put up something we all really need like a Bennigans or a strip mall?

[peak]

LEAVE IT!

Bates should be given an award in this artless place.

Now if it had something to do with the Bucs it could probably stay.....

Looks like one of them Area 51 top secret government projects we all pay for. LOL!

[Kris]

Hillsboro county commisioners consistently shows their ignorance of the importance of culture in society. Stick with the strip malls and pavement and let all the people that understand art and its importance to Sarasota and St Pete. I love the installation and have seen reference to it on many airstream and vintage camper sites. Of course I guess the county doesn't want to appeal to camper toting tourists forking out cash on their holiday either ....

[kris]

PS. I would recommend readers go to flickr.com and run a search for airstream ranch and see how different artists view the code violation

[Jb]

if its there land they should be able to do what they want,the dinosauras alongside I4 should go,along with that plane and all the billboards,are we now communist?

[Babalu]

So much for Land of the Free.

While we're at it, let's ban other things that I find tacky: droopy drawers, chain link fences, the confederate flag. The list is much longer, but that would be a good start.

[BETH]

well of course the city officials want it taken down.its art! its too creative for it to function in their minds.

Black top it and if it moves tax it!

[Lauren]

And the gigantic tacky dinosaurs a few miles down the road aren't violating any kind of "zoning or signage" laws? For crying out loud.... they're not hurting anyone/anything, they're on private property, and they're pretty cool to look at. Leave the guy alone and get another vendetta to pursue.

[Lauren]

Ohh, and while you're on the subject of debris and improper storage, have you driven through Plant City lately? Seriously. Those Airstreams are about as far from trash as it gets.

[Debbie]

Let's keep the trailer trash along I-4 that really does look like trailer trash and get rid of art.

And I agree with Dee's comment, after all my husband is an unemployeed carpenter because of that situation. They're working american's aren't. No wonder the country is in the state it is in, who is paying the taxes while those they don't are using all the services we pay for.

So, this is the american way, let's just change the whole consitiution to be what the politician's want and forget the amterican way. After all it's slowly dwindling away if the republicians keep getting their way. No more free speach, and only picket where they tell you. Our fore fathers are rolling over in their graves!!!!!

[Debbie]

Let's keep the trailer trash along I-4 that really does look like trailer trash and get rid of art.

And I agree with Dee's comment, after all my husband is an unemployeed carpenter because of that situation. They're working american's aren't. No wonder the country is in the state it is in, who is paying the taxes while those they don't are using all the services we pay for.

So, this is the american way, let's just change the whole consitiution to be what the politician's want and forget the amterican way. After all it's slowly dwindling away if the republicians keep getting their way. No more free speach, and only picket where they tell you. Our fore fathers are rolling over in their graves!!!!!

[Edward]

Sounds like dude lives in Westchase...

[rowdy]

Dee and Debby have a big problem. Their necks are red.

[Jason]

I have to side with the hippies on this one. I've seen it and it think it's actually pretty neat. I believe art is in the eye of the beholder. Hey, at least it's not the world's largest pink flamingo.

[bill]

For God's sake, let theses folks advertise with their airstreams. One of these days, a hurricane will take them down anyway. Meanwhile, gawkers need a good excuse to clog the roadways. So what?

Come on! other than the dinosaurs - it breaks the ugliness that is now the I-4 corridor. Keep it. It’s Americana.

[Paul]

Good 'ol Hillsborough County Government. Gotta be the most bass ackwards bunch of backwater nut bags in the entire country.

[Dawn]

Very nice photograph of the Airstreams.

A complete violation of freedom of speech. Artistic expression is just as valid as the spoken word.

Let this stay - it's a very cool piece of art.

Isn't there some pro bono attorney out there who could litigate on behalf of this guys freedom of speech? Where's the ACLU when you need them?

[Jb]

How about Lunsford's lawyers

[bob]

Reminds me of the art display in downtown Sarasota featuring about half a dozen car on end leaning against each other.

[Jonathan Woss]

I Live on Castlewood so i would appreciate if the people speculating about the street would just keep to there business. I have been recently accepted into Ringling College of Art and Design and I am apalled at the thought pf my own President supporting this "art" which is in fact nothing but advertisement. It is nothing but advertisement which he passed by with an art permit. even though the idea is "original" his intent is nothing but selffish and careless.

[Neo]

As an architect, I take friends out there just to see what might be considered one of the best of Florida's kitch architecture / art. Consider Dairy Queens made to look like Ice Cream Cones, or Orange Juice stands that look like giant oranges. Pink Flamingos in front yards, gravel instead of grass, and Weeki Wachee "Home of Live Mermaids". C'mon Hillsborough County, enjoy Florida instead of making us look like "Anywhere USA"!

[Jesus]

Don't worry, you will do better with sound thought and effort.

[Simon]

Dee and Debbie,
Illegal aliens do pay taxes. It's not like they show up at an establishment, convince the boss into giving them a job and also to pay them under the table. Most employers will not do that because they can be held accountable. The illegals get hold of a social security card and all the taxes, FICA and SSA deductions are taken out, just like your paycheck, except this money ends up in a "no-match" slush fund. It accounts for billions of dollars.

[Paul]

As long as they recycle the aluminum.

[framitz]

This MIGHT be considered art if it was well done, but it's a sloppy mess and qualifies for nothing more than TRASH.

hmmm, Trailer Trash, heheheh

If someone lived in them,we'd declare them an eyesore and health hazard and the same people who want them gone now would say we can't chase these people out of the only home they've ever known. Can't win.

[Sal Dali]

The trailers are going to be replaced with a giant sculpture of a Hillsborough county Sheriff's officer throwing a man out of a wheelchair and breaking a stripper's arm.