Waylon Jennings Is Still Alive in Littlefield, TX
A few days ago I found myself driving from Taos, New Mexico to Austin, TX; a junket I dubbed the “Waylon Jennings Historic Tour”. One of Waylon’s first big songs was “Taos, New Mexico” from the album Love of The Common People during his country folk days. Of course Austin is where Waylon reinvented himself as a country music Outlaw at the Armadillo World Headquarters and The Dripping Springs Reunion among other places. And if you draw a line between Austin and Taos, you darn near intersect right down the middle the towns of Lubbock (where Waylon got his start with Buddy Holly) and Waylon’s hometown of Littlefield, TX.
Pulling into Littlefield, there’s a sign announcing it as Waylon’s hometown out on the highway, but with no research or knowledge, I decided to pull into town to look for any other homages to the Flying “W”. As I drove in on Farm to Market road 54, I noticed the name change to “Waylon Jennings Blvd”, and when I reached the heart of town, at the corner of Waylon Jennings and Hall Ave., I found what I was looking for in the form of “Waymore’s”.
Waymore’s is a drive-thru liquor store converted from an old gas station, with the repair bay open on both sides. It is also a Waylon Jennings museum, opened by Waylon’s younger brother James Jennings a couple of years after Waylon’s death in 2002. Amongst the shelves of hard liquor are Waylon artifacts and memorabilia, most notably the platinum record from the first ever certified platinum album in country music, Wanted, The Outlaws, Waylon’s first guitar (and accompanying photo), the original poster for the movie Nashville Rebel starring Waylon Jennings from the Littlefield movie house, a black Southwestern-style wool coat custom made for Johnny Cash, and reams of photos, album covers, and other Waylon memorabilia from his extended family and associated acts.
Unfortunately James Jennings was not around, but his wife and Waylon’s sister-in-law Helen Jennings was, and acted as my personal curator. Apparently if you can catch James, sometimes he’s known to pull out a guitar and play you a Waylon song, or take you in his truck on a personal Waylon-themed tour of Littlefield.
Right down the road from Waymore’s, just past the Ace Hardware is the “Waylon Jennings Free RV Park”. Now when was the last time you heard of a free RV park? Waylon’s bootprints cast in a concrete block the shape of Texas christens the campground. I also found the strand of trees on Austin Ave. where according to Helen Jennings the boyhood home of Waylon once stood.
Littlefield is a dusty, sleepy, somewhat depressed-feeling town of the dry American plains, but it is great to see them embrace and preserve the heritage of their most-famous son. You may not be able to hear Waylon on the radio anymore, buy his legacy is still alive in Littlefield.
May 25, 2011 @ 1:38 pm
Great Stuff. nothing better than a roadtrip like this.. thanks for sharing. I need to make the trek up there and check out this liquor store myself.
May 25, 2011 @ 2:30 pm
Hoss.
May 25, 2011 @ 2:50 pm
Great article, was really interesting!
May 25, 2011 @ 3:04 pm
pretty awesome..odd that it is in a liquor store, since waylon wasn’t much of a drinker..but, still very very cool.
May 25, 2011 @ 5:05 pm
Bad Fuckin Ass!
May 25, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
Cool! Thanks for sharing
May 25, 2011 @ 6:31 pm
Triggerman…you have shown us the way to the true Mecca of country music…we must all make our pilgramige now! Really cool man.
May 25, 2011 @ 7:07 pm
If I recall what I read, he used to pick cotton and was a DJ. Waylon’s life was highly colorful and he had a kingsized heart.
Great blog Triggerman.
January 23, 2012 @ 2:13 pm
Denise, Waylon had a radio show in Littlefield. I have a reel to reel recording of one.
May 25, 2011 @ 7:35 pm
Good timing on this Triggerman. I needed a shot of Waylon! Great photos.
May 25, 2011 @ 9:14 pm
Waymore’s name should be this prevalent everywhere . Nothin but American spirit through perseverance comes from that goddamn name.
May 26, 2011 @ 6:56 am
Thanks for sharing Trig! I’ll have to check it out if I’m ever that way. I’m a big music history buff too and have come across some really cool off the beaten path sites also. Actually driving from Champaign, IL to Kentucky Lake this weekend then next weekend heading to Galveston, TX for a week. I’m curious what I might come across.
May 26, 2011 @ 4:15 pm
Sweet pics man!
The last time I heard of a free RV park? Walmart parking lots?
June 24, 2023 @ 6:27 pm
Walmart no longer let’s RVers stay overnight. A few bad eggs trashing their parking lots, acting like fools messed it up for everyone.
May 26, 2011 @ 10:09 pm
Great article dude. So good to see this stuff. Been there a lot, but it’s been about 5 years since I was there… Love the shots of “Waymore’s”. Awesome that you covered this!
May 26, 2011 @ 10:30 pm
From one of the bulletin boards at Waymore’s
May 29, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
Oh baby! Awwwww.
May 29, 2011 @ 8:52 pm
Those are great photos of the happy family! I just want to know when Santa Clause kidnapped my dog?
December 27, 2011 @ 4:42 am
Shooter, I was raised in Littlefield and have several things that have Waylon. A reel to reel tape of one of his radio shows and he plays a record for his mother. A jingle he made for Pat’s Record Store in Littlefield. 1953 school year book where they spelled his name Wayland. Tommy Jennings is also in the book. I remember when Tommy had Gas Station on main street in Littlefield. There was a guitar in the station that had to be tuned with a pair of pliers. I used to put Waylon’s mother’s songs to music. She had a song about her late husband called “Last Rose On The Vine” that was really good.
December 20, 2012 @ 1:43 pm
Please digitize that! It would be incredible to hear it.
September 15, 2014 @ 3:53 am
It is such a blessing that Waylon’s siblings thought about his future and especially his fans around the United States and the world. Thank you James Jennings and family members.
September 5, 2015 @ 9:53 pm
Hello Mr.Tubbs…I just happened upon this site and when I read your comment I couldn’t help but smile. 🙂 I am the daughter of Shirley Moore-Anderson. Granddaughter of Forrest And Jude Moore. When we used to come to visit Littlefield from Albuquerque, papa and granny would have folks over and play and the music sticks with me still! When Waylon had his 4th of July concerts he would come over and be at some of this because papa could no longer get around…but boy could he play! It always amazed me how he could have his harmonica strapped around his head, his guitar hanging around strapped on, and then pick up his fiddle and play. When him and Waylom would start singing ” A man named Work…a friend of mine… ” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry…it was like heaven! When papa passed, my mom came out to Littlefield to help granny go through things and found some old reel to reels. She ended up giving them to my aunt Mona ( I think). I never got to listen to them to see what was on them but I hope she held on to them. My adorable granny Jude passed not long after. One of my greatest treasures is a cassette tape I made of one of those visits with that song and many others…including granny and papa singin “Under a Weeping Willow Tree”. My father passed away in 2010 after him and my mom were married 55+ years. She now lives back in Littlefield and I have moved here to be with her. We live in papa and grannys old house on 15 right across from Waylon RV park and I have the pleasure of seeing James and Helen on a regular basis. ;-). If you know my mother and your ever out this way, you should stop by and say hello. I’m sure it would tickle her pink as she doesn’t get out much and as far as I know she has not connected with any old friends in the entire 13 years she has been back. I have been here over 2 and never seen her talk to anyone except at the store. Lol. Anyway, I would love for you to hear the cassette…maybe someday I will get on the ball and switch it to CD before I wear it out!
May 27, 2011 @ 6:16 am
Littlefield looks like Paradise Valley / Mesa AZ quite a bit, Im thinkin Waylon did’t feel too far from home.
May 31, 2011 @ 12:47 pm
stopped in last year while down there on business…cool little spot, payin’ tribute and seeing “the MANS” stuff is always a good way to pass a few hrs
June 4, 2011 @ 8:00 am
I wish I would have known you were driving through here! I coulda bought you some local grub or something. Did you drive through Espanola?
June 5, 2011 @ 10:24 pm
The second photo in the video is of The Country Cavaleers. It was taken in 1970, on the day we introduced the outlaw image to Waylon at his house. He really dug our look. Take a listen to the true story in the Youtube Video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UtNbGAb5AY
November 22, 2011 @ 8:51 am
i have a waylon logo on my arm in orange for the dukes lol live in hobbs nm still havent made it to littlefield yet been all over tx just havent gotten there yet
November 23, 2011 @ 10:00 am
waylon 4 ever
April 2, 2012 @ 6:37 pm
I grew up in Littlefield. I still remember Waylon coming back and doing free concerts for us. He was an outstanding man. He once bought me icecream 🙂
April 6, 2012 @ 6:38 am
Hi Nowlin, are you THE Nowlin Tubbs? Former bass player for Gatemouth Brown and musician/singer extraordinare? If so, pretty damn cool.
April 15, 2012 @ 4:06 pm
Jerry, that’s me!
October 16, 2012 @ 9:39 am
Hi I’m doing some filming in Littlefield and would like to speak with you for the piece I am doing is there a way to contact you?
February 28, 2021 @ 12:03 am
I might have something you’d be really interested in,if you want to get back to me.i promise you won’t be disappointed.Hokey Sloan he can be found on YouTube
April 15, 2012 @ 11:05 pm
It’d make more sense if Waymore’s was a pharmacy instead of a liquor store…
June 17, 2012 @ 1:37 am
Great photos and story, thanks for sharing the Waylon road trip!
June 17, 2012 @ 6:52 am
GREAT ARTICLE!!!
September 28, 2012 @ 7:21 pm
Whoop Whoop !
December 31, 2012 @ 8:29 pm
Cant wait to come Visit your store .Once we cross that old red river hoss.
February 10, 2013 @ 8:00 pm
I stopped/stayed here last year on my way to Killeen from Las Vegas. I use to work for a lady at Nevada State Bank who’s ex husband was in the music biz. She said she use to babysit Shooter was he was a young boy. I’m headed that way again next week and will definitely take a spin through the town. Can’t wait!!
July 21, 2013 @ 9:27 pm
All I can say about Mr.Waylon Jennings is God bless & Amen that’s how I feel.
Best Regards,Mr.David Faas Duluth,Minnesota
October 11, 2013 @ 8:56 pm
An interesting story. I too grew up in Littlefield and my mom sold her eggs at Jennings’ feed store next to Lymon’s Grocery. If you were lucky you could sometimes catch Waylon and his brother Tommy sitting on sack of feed, singing. At one time we were without a school bus driver and Waylon filled in for about 3 weeks or so. He was the only driver who sang as he drove. One of the younger girls kept begging for Waylon to sing a song for her on his next program. Sure enough, he sang, “I
Didn’t Know God Made Honky-Tonk Angels.” We all loved it.
September 5, 2015 @ 9:29 pm
My papa was a school bus driver Forrest Moore. Just wondering if you knew him or my granny Jude, she worked in the cafeteria. You mama and daddy may have known my mama Shirley Moore. 🙂
March 12, 2017 @ 12:34 pm
Hi, Kristen and Kim,
You probably don’t remember me. I’m Ben Noble’s daughter, Linda. Of course I remember all my relatives. I loved Jude and Forrest, as well as all the others. Some of the Withrow family still reside in Littlefield. There’s a FB page, You know you’re in Littlefield when…….. I’ve posted some old pictures that you might find interesting.
November 6, 2013 @ 11:33 pm
I’m a truckdriver from Dallas and I knew Waylon was from Littlefield so I stopped by today on my way from Portales,N.M. to Houston. I bought a Coke and spent about 45 minutes looking at all the Waylon Memoribilia. Thanks Darla I really enjoyed my time there. Waylon was and still is my #2 all time favorite next to Conway Twitty. Thanks for all the great songs and God Bless You Hoss !
September 12, 2016 @ 7:02 pm
I miss Waylon. Not only did he have the best voice in the world, he stood for something, & that something is almost non existent these days, even from his few cohorts who are still around. I just don’t believe Waylon would have caved to political correctness & trendy liberalism like everyone else who do not care that our freedom is circling the drain. He was the real deal.
January 11, 2017 @ 9:55 pm
Drove through Littlefield on my way to see my brother in Midland. Noticed Waylon Jennings Avenue and Waymores. The first concert I went to was Waylon Jennings in Odessa, Texas back in the 70’s. Have been a fan for a lot of years. He was my favorite and always will be. Gonna stop at Waymores on the way back to Golden, Colorado. Will be great.
March 12, 2017 @ 2:58 pm
Knew a little about Waylon because of his brother, James. We went to school together I 60s!
June 25, 2020 @ 2:56 pm
Nice article Thanks 🙂
December 19, 2021 @ 10:49 am
What was the chain of the old gas station?
June 14, 2023 @ 5:14 pm
This isn’t terribly far from Clovis, NM, where Buddy Holly recorded many of his songs at the Norman Petty studio, which is still open to the public though tours must be arranged in advanced.
https://www.norvajakmusic.com/studiotour.html
Waylon played bass on some of Buddy’s songs, and the tour guide I had there a couple years ago had great stories about all of them.
June 27, 2023 @ 9:41 am
Very cool ????
November 19, 2024 @ 6:46 am
Waylon’s music has changed and even shaped my life in great ways and I have developed a passion for it (his music that is)
As a now almost 28 year old who religiously listens to all the outlaws and favoring Waylon over all others for many reasons, I do enjoy keeping his legacy alive by wearing Waylon branded clothing, pasting Waylon decals on so many things I own,… and some I don’t, and spending a good amount of my time listening to every single song produced by Waylon and other songs by different artists that include Waylon,.. and I sure do enjoy watching videos of him perform. At all ages in time ol Hoss was so darned cool.. would have loved to meet him. Just, born too late and in the wrong era I truly believe…
He ain’t no ordinary dude.
Just wanted to hop on here and share some love, he sang a lot of songs, chased a lot of women, became a legend, and died. It’s up to people like us to keep his legacy alive.
I do appreciate the patience, support, and love Jessie had/has for that man through all those years. Shooter if you ever see this, you’ve got a real good man’s blood running through you. Enjoy this life.
Cant wait to visit Littlefield. I’m about 5 hours NE in a little town outside OKC. Born and raised an OKIE, became a Coloradian about a nickel ago and run all them highways around and in between here and Littlefield often. I should have done this type of research years ago being as much of a fan as I am. Several other places I’ve got to visit, Mesa, Luckenbach..
Author, I appreciate you for posting all this for us to see. Pretty cool seeing Waylon (probably) grew up on an avenue named after my last name. Never knew that.
Anyway, in a world full of people who mostly don’t have a clue who Waylon Jennings is anymore nor listen to any sort of *real* Outlaw country…..
I’ll never stop listening.
-CWA