Visiting the Buddy Holly Crash Site

Traveling With Rich & Julie

On February 3, 1959, a plane crashed in a field north of Clear Lake, Iowa. I was not born yet. American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” J. P. Richardson all died along with their pilot Roger Peterson.

This event later became known as “The Day the Music Died” after singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 song “American Pie.”

The most famous song I know of Buddy Holly is “That’ll Be the Day.” He was born in Texas and died at the young age of 22. The crash devastated the Rock and Roll community.

On August 3rd, Rich and I left our campsite at the Grant River Recreation Area in Wisconsin and headed west across Iowa. Sometimes when I am planning a route, I find the coolest, strange, and unusual places to visit as we pass through.

We were headed to Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota, and the Buddy Holly Crash Site came up on my Google Maps. Right beside it is the Don McLean American Pie Parking Lot. As soon as I saw it I clicked on the website and contacted the owners through email. They were quick to respond when I asked if there was room for us to get in with our 38 foot RV towing a car.

There is plenty of room for an RV towing a car, but be aware it is over a mile down a narrow gravel road just to get to the parking lot and crash site. The owners were wonderful and allowed us to park overnight for free.

The iconic glasses of Buddy Holly mark the entrance to a trail that is near a quarter of a mile back to the memorial spot. Many visitors leave a pair of sunglasses at the entrance. I wonder how many pairs of sunglasses the family has collected over the years.

Walking the path, you can see a bare spot of weeds and dirt in the field to your left where the plane landed. An empty spot in the field where crops no longer grow. It was cold, snowy, and icy on the night of the crash, and the plane skidded 558 feet across the field ejecting everyone on board from the plane.

We were surprised to see cars pulling in and out of the small parking lot all day long. It was a steady stream of people from all across the country wanting to pay their respects just like us, and to remember an icon of Rock and Roll. Some people just park on the side of the dirt road. At one time I think I counted 8 vehicles.

Almost 65 years later, and crops still don’t grow there.

The memorial at the end of the path is worth the hike. This is the spot where Buddy Holly’s body landed after being thrown from the plane. We met people from Canada, Kansas, and Louisiana as we hiked the trail. Some people leave flowers or trinkets or more sunglasses at the memorial site.

The small memorial to the right is for the pilot. If you aren’t familiar with Buddy Holly’s music, or Don McLean, take some time to listen to the songs and refresh your memory or find some new favorites.

The owners of the parking lot are trying to create a nice place for people visiting the site to park. Parking is free. If you are ever in the area, this is one spot you should take the time to see. And take time to talk to the owners of the parking lot, and to the people you pass along the path. We meet some of the best people in the country by just saying hello.

Thanks for coming on the journey with us as we travel around America and see the sites.