Marfa, TX

Located about seven miles west of Marfa, this “Giant” Marfa Mural is a series of larger-than-life plywood cutouts that pays tribute to James Dean’s final flick, Giant. The work of John Cerney from Salinas, California, the cutouts depict the characters that James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson played in the 1956 movie. There’s also a large cutout of the mansion that was featured in the flick, which was filmed on the property where the installation stands. Sadly Dean was killed in a car accident before the film was released.

The figures are easier to spot traveling west, but you can still see the silhouettes in enough time to pull over on an eastbound journey. There’s no organized parking, but there’s a level dirt spot in front of the fenced-in figures, with plenty of room to get out and take a closer look. There’s also a small solar panel that powers a country music track — by Michael Nesmith of Monkees fame — that plays on a continuous loop. A must-stop photo op for sure; and it’s about 30 miles east of the Marfa Prada. (link to Marfa Prada entry