I visited these Texas towns: Los Ybanez, Lamesa & Big Springs. For a hint at what the next video will be, follow me on Instagram: / joeysroadtrip Travel Vlog 298
Joe, the Everyman quality of your story telling and narration is what makes your videos so enjoyable. Thank you for continuing your journey. I look forward to the coming years content.
I grew up in Lamesa, graduated high school in 1988. Great place to grow up. The big mural is “The Wall” and one day every year the Seniors get to paint it. I’ve seen many movies at the Sky-Vue and it was so sad when the snack bar burned down. It was a running drive-in until then, and you could go in a separate driveway to get your chihuahuas even without the movie. Good memories!!
The snack bar burning down is what shut down the drive in? Get the locals together and rebuild it! I'm in Fort Worth but ill come help, we could get Joe and Nic to be the celebrity ribbon cutters for the grand reopening.
I find it amazing that we see all these abandoned houses in some real disaster but yet the churches all look brand new and kept up. Kind of tells me something about them. Have a great day and safe travels
it seems like Americana is dying. Thank you for making a log of what's left of it. These videos will be rewatched by people 40 years from now and later.
As an Air Force Instructor Pilot at Webb AFB there in Big Spring from 1968-1972 your tour brought back a few memories. As the Vietnam war ended the base closed and the runways are storage area for oil rigs and the BOQs are now a correctional facility. The Settles was the "go too" brothel of those days. Ha. A previous poster mentioned the filming of the early scenes of the Midnight Cowboy which was being filmed during my tour there and the film crews hung out at the Settles. I was back touring the base again 25 yrs ago but your video showed some areas of Big Spring that my wife and I never visited. Thanks for the always interesting video.
I was at Webb from 70 to 72. Lots of fun times in that city but I was hoping to see more of the finer areas of the city and not the northside garbage dump of Big Spring. There was just too many interesting parts of the city that was not shown. Anyway, thanks for telling about the filming of The Midnight Cowboy. Adios!
The thing about dogs roaming loose in these small towns, neighborhoods. In places where there are few, if any municipal laws on the books covering roaming dogs, I think some people just got lazy over the years. And instead of going out and walking their pooches just let their dogs out to roam and poop in other people's yards and property.
Big Spring is an old Texas & Pacific railroad town with the foot print of the old roundhouse and turntable pit clearly visible on Google maps. Another great tour, thanks much!
While you are tooling around rural Texas, it would be really interesting if you did a video on the hill country between Abilene and Austin. (Coleman, Cross Plains, Rising Star, Sidney, Comanche, etc. etc.) This area has intrigued me. You and Nic could stay in Brownwood, which is the only decent sized town in the general area.
I have just discovered your channel. I am catching up on all your videos. I find them interesting and fascinating.. I live on the other side of the world from you. ( I live in New Zealand) I know the USA is huge with many people living there. There is only 5 million people in my country, spread out over a lot of land .I would love to understand why these towns are dying and why they cannot be brought back to life. You have very many people homeless and without jobs etc. What better place to raise a family than in one of those towns. Start producing your own stuff just like you used to. American could bring those towns back to life. Am I being too simplistic? Thank you for the videos
We have a drug scourge from china, mexico, central america and who know where else. We have a woke generation that thinks after high school they can retire! I wish l could migrate to New Zealand, to be really honest with you.
I was impressed by the lovely brick streets in the core of Lamesa. I have noticed this in other small Texas towns but, come to think of it, not in other states.
A great video, so interesting and relaxing. I love the old drive-in theatre ! There aren't many left in Australia now, very sad ! The Settles Hotel has been beautifully renovated, and still has that old-world charm ! Wonderful old towns ! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic, enjoyable as always !😊💖
I live in Big Spring and am very disappointed that you didn’t show the many beautiful homes and areas of our town. The neglected area of town was what you showed. 😢 I’m not saying don’t show the bad but show a balance of both. Thanks for listening.
I was thinking the same thing. I grew up in Lamesa and spent A LOT of time in Big Spring and was so disappointed with what all he DIDN’T show! Go down Gregg St. for goodness sakes! Mention how Interstate 20 runs right through it. Comanche trails park. The Big Spring Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Are those giant long horns still in that other museum?!
When I was a college student at Tech in the 90's the First United Methodist Church in Big Spring paid me and several other students to come down and play their Christmas presentation in early December and put us up in a hotel for a couple of nights for rehearsals. The sanctuary is quite beautiful and was built in 1925.
I enjoy these little towns so much that today I went out and explored 2 sort of near me. I could just hear your narrations in my head. The best part…. I saw a few houses with full front yards and could hear you say ‘whooo, that’s a lot of stuff’. 😂
I realize it would be impossible in many places, but something to consider might be contacting local historians, maybe local newspapers, for information to provide a historical narrative and provide some insight on what economic activities that once fueled these towns. Thanks for the content.
Growing up in MA, my parents took us to the drive-in. We would play on the same type playground and one drive-in had a small train to ride. That was fun for a kid! And one of Dad's favorite singers was Buddy Holly so I grew up listening to him. Great video. Thank you. Love Texas too!!
Dear Joe and Nic I've watched and enjoyed so many of your videos I too grew up on Westerns and the Buffalo Bill annuals handed down by my aunts. I especially enjoy the videos in Texas. I realize that Texas is one place in the USA that I never visited but have always wanted to . I'm from UK and have spent the last year recovering from major surgeries and have against my will had to retire from work. I love your videos they are so peaceful and relaxing helped no doubt by your cool and calm narration which is also very informative. Also I love your observations on cats, dogs and horses on your travels. I have to try some of this Texas food one day I always look forward to your restaurant visits. Keep up the good work and stay safe both of you. 😊
Awesome channel, awesome videos....I spent probably two months doing compressor engine testing all around Big Spring, probably around 2012/2013, and lived out of the LaQuinta right off the highway in Big Spring...on the weekends I'd explore, everywhere! Lots of old abandoned (or nearly so) towns from Abilene and Pecos (spent months and months in Pecos, heading up to the Orla area almost everyday). I did exactly what you do, drove around, and took pictures of all the old towns and sites...lots of WWII Airbases dotting the area...Abilene, Big Spring, Kermit, Pecos...all USAAF training bases in WWII....something like 350 days of clear weather a year made it perfect for it. Cool channel! Oh, back in 2013 or so when I was there, that section of Main Street where you showed the train going by, it literally looked like they locked the doors and just left never to come back...I remember a computer store, it looked like a time capsule inside...
Thanks for posting. This is the area of Texas in which I grew up; the town I grew up in most of my life on my grandparents' farm was located in Tahoka, Texas which is North of these towns. I have not been back for over 35 years now. Brought back a lot of good memories. 🙂
Thanks for this great video. I grew up a little southwest of here in Royalty in the late 50s and early 60s. When i went through in 2022 it was a ghost town, although there were a couple of houses that appeared to be occupied. The house I lived in was nothing but the remains of the floor.
Joe you do such a great job. thanks. Drove thru Big Springs and Lamesa on only many trips from Hobbs back home to parents in Texas in mid 60's. Great memories
Another great video Joe & Nic stayed in Big Spring back in the 80s on a stop over, journeying from Dallas to El Paso, do not remember it being that run down in those days, kind regards from the UK
Great video Joe. I enjoyed your tour of these old Texas towns. Very interesting. Of course, I always like it when you and Nick sample some culinary delights at the end of a video. Looking forward to New Mexico. Safe travels my friend.
They're surprisingly heavy. I tried to pick one up as a younger studlier man. I wanted to press it over my head so my special lady friend could take a picture. Almost gave myself a hernia!
FYI. If you want to try a "Chihuahua" sandwich, you can go to Stars and Stripes Drive In Theatre in Lubbock, TX. The Fried Corn Fritters are awesome, too!
Great road trip again. All that history and dinners looked delicious! Driving thru the dusty places, got me to get up and get some water!! Nice job guys. Nicole your hair still looks awesome! Stay safe guys!
Very historical and.very interesting towns you shown us. thank you very much for this great efforts.i am very fond of to see this kind of ghost. towns. once again I am very grateful to you for this kind of informative videos. thanks.
On my motorcycle trip from Minneapolis to Big Bend Park in Texas last year I stayed in Big Springs. I usually like to stay in "Classic" motels but riding around downtown and the main drag was a little sketchy even for me. I ended up off the freeway in a motel that was no bargain either but I emerged rested and bedbug free which I guess is all you can hope for.
You ever make it way up north again. You should check out Duluth, MN. And drive up along the North Shore. Come in summer months though better prettier than winter. Love all you videos and getting to see places that aren't visited or long forgotten to most.
Big Spring is my hometown! I have been patiently waiting for you to get there. Thank you for reviewing all the towns. Big Spring is the county seat for Howard County not Dawson. Fun fact: The beginning of Midnight Cowboy was filmed there. You were on the street I grew up on. Nice to see on here. I was just there in December for a wedding at the Settles.
Big spring is a unique town in your state for sure. Just love the water pond area & of course that nostalgic hotel. It's very distinctive and appealing building. Interesting past.
The wife and I were impressed with the spring it looked very nice. Amazing that Los Ybanez started out as a Liquor Store only in Texas could that happen. Enjoyed the video keep them coming.
My family and I would often go to the spring back in the 80s and it was so full and gorgeous. The deck was made of wood and you could sit underneath to fish. You could also trek the parameter of the spring but there was a hidden trail that would lead you to another body of water that you really weren’t suppose to swim in. One time my daddy and I followed it and watch people “cliff dive”. Treasured memory for me.
LaMesa was the home town of a long time TV news anchorman In my hometown Milwaukee named Jerry Taff- WISN. LOL! I spent many nights at the 15 Outdoor Theatre back in the early 1970’s. We’d always park way in the back. If I went with my buddies, it was a great place to party without being bothered. If I went with a girlfriend, it was a great place to… well you know the rest
LaMesa also was home a small record label in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s called Bo-Kay. They produced some fine rock, country and western swing 45’s before moving operations to Ft. Worth in the early ‘60’s
and at last here I am on the hill, overlooking El Paso I can see Rosa's cantina below My love is strong and it pushes me onward Down off the hill to Felina I go
This is fun. Drive in theaters were a part of my childhhod. My Dad always left before the end so we wouldn't get stuck in the exit traffic (hahaha).We never got to see the ends. I love deserted towns btw. I don't think the town sees themselves in a negative light. I think they love it. It seems quiet and peaceful except on Saturday night when the population of 7 moseys over to the liquor store.
Thank you both for another fascinating video. I like your continued tour of Texas towns and cities immensely. Love that Nicole has kept her red hair, suits you well Nicole.
Just as a side note. Found it interesting that they incorporated just so they could obtain a liquor license. Rumor has it that the city of Impact, just north of Abilene kind of did the same thing. Another rumor is that the owner of the store sold out the first weekend and when I lived there he was still doing very well. A friend of mine commented that Abilene was the only city he knew of that was religious by nature but still had 10,000 alcoholics, complements of Impact.
I had a friend in grade school who's dad owned a drive in theater. When he found out that DC was about to go to daylight savings time he sold it. He said who wants to go to the drivein at 9pm at night and stay for a double feature yes that was in the mid 1960's old codger I am. The driveins went downhill from then on.
Actually I think that circular plot of land was a 1930's CCC camp. My dad was in the CCC's near Lamesa. If you look close at the "houses" they resemble barracks. I have a picture of my dad standing out in the open area in front of one of those buildings.
This sure brought back memories. Drive in Theater, hamburger joints, tumbleweeds. Growing up in Amarillo, saw a lot of that. Leo's Grandburger was the best! Looked just like the one you showed. These towns did look like the old western days. Loved it 💕
I find it interesting that all "grand" buildings are occupied by politicians and judges--currently and historically. That says a lot. That says it all.
