Buddy Holly Recreation Area

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

The Buddy Holly Recreation Area is a park located in Lubbock, Texas, named after the legendary rock and roll musician, Buddy Holly, who was born in Lubbock.


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Summary

It covers an area of 86 acres and offers a variety of recreational activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, and camping. The park has a lake with a boat ramp, fishing pier, and picnic areas.

Some of the specific points of interest to see in the Buddy Holly Recreation Area include the Buddy Holly Memorial, which is a statue of the musician, and the Lubbock Lake Landmark, which is an archaeological site that has evidence of human habitation in the area for over 12,000 years.

Interesting facts about the Buddy Holly Recreation Area include that it was once a ranch owned by the family of Waylon Jennings, another country music legend. The park also has a disc golf course and a walking trail that is accessible to people with disabilities.

The best time of year to visit the Buddy Holly Recreation Area is in the spring and fall when the weather is mild, and the park is less crowded. In the summer, the park can get very hot, and in the winter, the lake may freeze over, making boating and fishing impossible.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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