Clear Lake, Iowa -
Buddy Holly Crash Site

The spot where the beloved rocker with the geek glasses and hiccup-y voice met an early end.

Address:: Buddy Holly Place, Clear Lake, IA
Directions:: US Hwy 18 to N. 8th St. Drive north of town for around 4.5 miles. When the paved road (which has become Grouse Ave.) turns left (west), go right (east) on gravel road (310th St.), then immediately left (north) on Gull Ave. Follow for one-half mile, just past the grain bins, to a T-intersection of a gravel road from the right and first fence row on left (west). The fence begins at the street sign for "Gull Ave." and "315th St." Walk along the fence row west for just under a half-mile.

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Visitor Tips and News About Buddy Holly Crash Site

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Buddy Holly Crash Site

The glasses were again intact! The directions provided on the site were fantastic. [Bruce, 06/30/2010]

Buddy Holly Crash Site

I am on tour with a band called Sugar Red Drive and the Tour Mgr Jay and I decided to take the band to see the Buddy Holly crash site on our way to Des Moines (Our first time as well). After looking up all the information we needed, we arrived at the the entrance to the trail and were astonished to see the sculpture of the Buddy Holly glasses is no longer there. We were there at 5 am in the morning and I don't think they put it away at night....Shame if someone took it, but a must see if you're in the area. [Gregg Morris, 07/28/2009]

[RA: Renee reports the glasses were there at the end of July.]

Buddy Holly Crash site

The directions provided on the website were spot on. I visited the shrine with my cousin and good friend over the 4th of July weekend. The site is fairly easy to find with large steel black rimmed glasses mounted near the road to mark the walk path. The owners of the land which the memorial resides on have created a cleared path which is marked by little ground flags. This path runs parallel to the fence line. Make sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes as the memorial is approx 1/4 mile from the road. From previous postings on this site I expected to see a memorial for the pilot of the crash Roger Petersen but did not once we go to the place. This is a small but moving shrine to four lives cut way to short. [Chris Withers, 07/16/2009]

Buddy Holly Crash Site

Just look for the huge glasses that mark the trail head! [Matthew, 07/11/2009]

Buddy Holly Crash Site

We went to the 61st anniversary gala ball at the Surf Ballroom. It was a lot of fun listening to the Grass Roots perform.

The next day we went to visit the crash site. A new steel artwork sculpture (of a pair of black sunglasses) set onto a concrete pier base marks the entrance to the path to the sight. There are orange landscape flags marking the path. You cannot miss it. I was happy to see that so much was still present at the memorial. We took some pictures, paused for a few minutes and as we were leaving we left our own card. [Eric Trippe, 07/06/2009]

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