<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the balance
sheet of CNL American Properties Fund, Inc. at December 31, 1997, and its
statement of income for the year then ended and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Form 10-K of CNL American Properties Fund, Inc. for
the year ended December 31, 1997.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                      49,595,001<F2>
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  735,760
<ALLOWANCES>                                    99,964
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                     207,733,851
<DEPRECIATION>                               2,395,665
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             339,077,762
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       361,930
<OTHER-SE>                                 321,276,171
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               339,077,762
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            19,457,933
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,862,024
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             15,564,456
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         15,564,456
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                15,564,456
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F2>Cash balances includes $2,008,224 of a certificate of deposit as of December
31, 1997.
<F1>Due to the nature of its industry, CNL American Properties Fund, Inc. has an
unclassified balance sheet, therefore, no values are shown above for current
assets and current liabilities.
</FN>