Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch – Oro Grande, California

We stopped at Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, California—and it did not disappoint.

Elmer and his father used to go camping together, and during their travels, they’d stop at dumpsters along the way. His father loved collecting glass bottles and over the years, he gathered quite a collection. After Elmer served in the military for four years, started his own family, and later returned home to help care for his father, his dad mentioned wanting to get rid of the bottle collection. That’s when Elmer had an idea—to display them instead.

He began welding steel and iron into whimsical “trees” and “cacti,” each one sprouting with colorful glass bottles. It wasn’t just bottles, though. Perched on top of these metal sculptures were all sorts of quirky and nostalgic items—tractor seats, old typewriters, rusted guns, tricycles, bicycles, coffee pots, and more. His creativity knew no bounds.

One of the most memorable pieces was a bug sculpture that used a bottle as the bug’s body. There was also a robot he’d fashioned from repurposed materials. He even made a bench from an old flatbed trailer, supported by two tire rims.

Scattered throughout the ranch were other unique treasures: a jeep with a homemade rake next to it, vintage electric pole conductors, a bathtub, a porcelain toilet —and yes, even the kitchen sink Everything was just sitting out there, perfectly in place.

The real magic, though, came when the sunlight hit the bottles. The way the colors danced in the sun made the whole place feel like a desert dream—rusty, artistic, nostalgic, and unforgettable. We had perfect weather, and the sunshine brought the glass to life. It was truly a perfect stop.