Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
28 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
28 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
28 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
28 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Palm Springs Volkswagen Spider Sculpture
AO Edited

Volkswagen Spider Sculpture

This giant spider sculpture made from the iconic car is one giant visual pun.

Palm Springs, California

Added By
Shell
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The view from outside the fence.   shell42 / Atlas Obscura User
The view from outside the fence.   shell42 / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
circa 2009, in black and white   Avoiding Regret
  enshtayy / Atlas Obscura User
  chasepopt / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  lindseycooper01 / Atlas Obscura User
  lindseycooper01 / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
Lookout tower (spot the web and spider) + shipwreck. The VW spider is out of frame to the right.   placesiam / Atlas Obscura User
Art covers the entire property–this is the entrance gate. There’s even a web in the upper left corner of the gate.   placesiam / Atlas Obscura User
Fantastic Hole In The Wall signage behind the spider   placesiam / Atlas Obscura User
Spider in March 2020   placesiam / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
The Aragog of Palm Springs   Yodagirl / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located on the site of a former auto repair shop stands a giant metal spider, the body of which is a Volkswagen Beetle. Although the warehouse it seems to guard is private property, the large work of art is visible from the street and tall enough to be seen from the other side of a fence.

The property itself is known as "Hole In The Wall" (formerly Hole In The Wall Welding Shop) and has an overall atmosphere of desert eccentricity, adorned with cacti, metal spider webs, and a gate decorated with the local horizon.

The 28-foot-tall sculpture was built by Palm Springs local Robert Miner.  Miner ran his auto repair shop from the early 1970s through the 1990s.  Afterwards, his family moved onto the property.  Miner passed away in 2008, but his eye-catching art lives on.

The property consists of two Quonset hut-type buildings, a treehouse/lookout tower (bedecked with spider/web motifs), and numerous other treasures.

While the gate is usually closed, it's easy to see this metalwork and get pictures from the outside. The sculpture is fairly close to other Palm Springs attractions.

Related Tags

Sculptures Metal Cars Outsider Art

Know Before You Go

It's easiest to park in the nearby Jack-In-The-Box parking lot. Keep in mind that this is private property, so don't trespass or linger too long.

Community Contributors

Added By

shell42

Edited By

placesiam, Avoiding Regret, Collector of Experiences, Findingbalance18...

  • placesiam
  • Avoiding Regret
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Findingbalance18
  • enshtayy
  • lindseycooper01
  • chasepopt
  • Yodagirl
  • deannatrusty

Published

March 1, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/1881
  • https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/09/27/vw-bug-spider-sculpture-palm-springs/87184532/
  • https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/09/27/vw-bug-spider-sculpture-palm-springs/87184532/
  • https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/09/27/vw-bug-spider-sculpture-palm-springs/87184532/
  • https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/09/27/vw-bug-spider-sculpture-palm-springs/87184532/
  • https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/09/27/vw-bug-spider-sculpture-palm-springs/87184532/
Volkswagen Spider Sculpture
6545 Garnet Ave
Palm Springs, California, 92262
United States
33.901766, -116.546152
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Shiprock, Palm Springs

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Lee R. Baxandall Bridge

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Trixie Motel

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Palm Springs

Palm Springs

California

Places 15

Nearby Places

Shiprock, Palm Springs

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Lee R. Baxandall Bridge

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Trixie Motel

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Palm Springs

Palm Springs

California

Places 15

Related Stories and Lists

12 Sculptures Made From Recycled Materials

List

By Jonathan Carey

14 Places to See a Transportation Transformation

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Staré Město, Czechia

    Kovozoo (Metal Zoo)

    Hundreds of "animals" created from scrap metal, alongside a collection of other oddities.

  • Tire Dragon!

    Littlestown, Pennsylvania

    Tire Sculptures of Breighner’s Tire Center

    Intricate, eye-catching, award-winning rubber sculptures liven up this Pennsylvania town.

  • Cleveland, Ohio

    Tim Willis' Junkyard Playground

    Old car parts and assorted materials get turned into one man's mechanical treasures on the side streets of Cleveland.

  • The Superstructure in the backyard resembles the entrance to a cathedral.

    Decatur, Georgia

    Mechanical Riverfront Kingdom on Druid Hill

    An unusual art exhibition in a suburban yard is designed to awaken the souls of those flowing by.

  • Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

    Ben Harris Metal Sculptures

    This futuristic folk sculpture park sits along a peaceful stretch of rural North Carolina roadway.

  • VW Beetle Spider.

    Erie, Pennsylvania

    Schaefer's Auto Art

    A quirky collection of outsider art made from automobile parts.

  • Panhandle, Texas

    VW Slug Bug Ranch

    A small car graveyard sits in the shadow of the famous Cadillac Ranch.

  • Stonehaven, Scotland

    Stonehaven Boardwalk Sculptures

    A series of mysterious metal artwork adorn this harbor walkway.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.