Bottle Tree Ranch

One of the more unique sights along Route 66 is the Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, California. Elmer Long began putting old bottles on custom-made metal Christmas tree stands in his front yard back in 1987. He told me that back in the 1950s when he was a kid, he used to collect old bottles with his dad, but after he passed away, Elmer began putting the bottles on display as a tribute to his father. There are thousands of blue, green, brown, and clear glass bottles adorning Elmer's 2 1/2 acre lot, and he says collecting bottles and showcasing them for the world to see is his passion. Elmer told me people from across the country and around the world now ship him glass bottles, and his goal is to put up every bottle he receives. Cheers, Elmer!