The Place where the Music died.....
October 24, 2009
Entrance to the path leading to the Memorial site
Finally, on the last day we were staying in Clear Lake, I began to feel much better. Well, good enough at least to venture out for some light exploring of the area before driving to Fargo and crashing like the dead into another unknown bed.
The sun had finally came out after a few days of hiding and I had decided to find the Memorial set up for the great Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper just north of Clear Lake.
It was easy to find. Take N 8th Ave North for almost 5 miles. The road will at some point become Grouse Ave. When Grouse makes a sharp curve to the west you turn east onto 310th St, A gravel road.
The ground was sopping wet still from all the rain, but the path has several grassy spots to walk on preventing some slippage in the mud.
The walk was rather peaceful and there was no one else at the site when I was visiting. Possibly because it was a chilly October day :P. The memorial was a cluttered with random objects left behind by previous visitors paying their respect to American Rock Legends. Many people left business cards, pennies, a few driver licenses, music cds, concert tickets and some jewelry. I chose to leave my artist business card with a small message written on the back. It as all I had. This past year marked the 50th Anniversary :(.
The visit was peaceful and I wish I had someone there with me to pay respects with. Its the kind of thing that one wants to reflect on with another soul..
I also went by the Surf Ballroom located in Downtown Clear Lake. They were closed for tours during the winter months so I couldn't go inside but I could see that the concert venue was still in use with a few music shows planned for this month.
R.I.P Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper. Hope your still making music where ever you may be!
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Clean Super 8!
I stayed here when I was still feeling kind of sick and I can say its not a bad place to stay when sick! The room was clean, the air conditioner/heater worked very well and there was a microwave and fridge to store and heat up food! And the bed was comfortable!
The hotel is located at exit 193 off of Interstate 35 right next to a gas station and a taco johns.
I didn't go because I was sick and the weather was terrible! But the memorial for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the "Big Bopper" crash site is locate nearby.
Pets are welcome for a small fee.
will post pics when I upload them.
The hotel is located at exit 193 off of Interstate 35 right next to a gas station and a taco johns.
I didn't go because I was sick and the weather was terrible! But the memorial for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the "Big Bopper" crash site is locate nearby.
Pets are welcome for a small fee.
will post pics when I upload them.
The place where the Music died.
This is a must see for all music lovers and people traveling through the region!
The memorial marking the site of the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper 50 years ago is located maybe 5/6 miles north of Clear Lake.
The memorial is located on private property so when visiting please be sure to show respect to the farmers, residents and locals as well.
I parked on the right side of the road just past 315th St so that I would be out of the way of the farmers.
The memorial marking the site of the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper 50 years ago is located maybe 5/6 miles north of Clear Lake.
The memorial is located on private property so when visiting please be sure to show respect to the farmers, residents and locals as well.
I parked on the right side of the road just past 315th St so that I would be out of the way of the farmers.
