You can always tell who’s from Lubbock and who’s just visiting by how they give directions. Outsiders use street names and mile markers. Locals? We use a mix of extinct landmarks, personal memories, and pure chaos. I mean, who needs all the fuss of the GPS when your cousin knows how to get there and will direct you on the phone while eating a sandwich? Fail-safe, every time.
If you’ve ever told someone to “turn left where the Hastings used to be,” congratulations. You’re fluent in Lubbock navigation.
1. Landmarks That Don’t Exist Anymore
We don’t care if the business has been gone since 2007. To us, it’s still the landmark. Directions like “head toward where Gardski’s used to be” or “turn right past the old mall entrance” make perfect sense to everyone here. Outsiders just stare blankly while we point toward ghosts. It’s our special thing.
2. The Myth of the “15-Minute Drive”
Ask any Lubbock local how long it takes to get somewhere, and the answer is always the same: “Oh, about 15 minutes.” Doesn’t matter if it’s two blocks away or all the way to Ransom Canyon. We’ve committed to the lie. 15 minutes, or nothing at all.
3. When “Down the Loop” Means Exactly That
“Down the Loop” is both everywhere and nowhere. It’s east, west, north, south — just pick a direction and start looping. Eventually, you’ll either find your destination or end up at Sonic, which is honestly still a win.
4. “Across Town” Means Something Completely Different Here
In a big city, “across town” is a two-hour ordeal. In Lubbock, it’s a mild inconvenience and an excuse to grab a fountain drink for the road.
5. We Navigate by Food and Gas Stations
We don’t say “go north on Quaker.” We say, “go past the Allsup’s, turn where that weird Subway used to be, and if you hit the old smoke shop that never carded anyone, you’ve gone too far.” It’s not cartography — it’s cuisine-based survival.
6. Intersections That Define Eras
Everyone has their “intersection.” For some, it’s 50th and Slide — where they got their first ticket. For others, it’s 82nd and Indiana — where they wrapped their dad’s Mustang around a pole on a joy ride.
7. Directions That Include Feelings
Only in Lubbock will someone give you an emotional weather report as part of a route. “You’ll feel lost around the cotton fields, but keep going — you’ll see the windmill and know you’re close.” Sure…Thanks, Yoda.
The Truth About It All
The truth is, Lubbock’s not that hard to navigate. It’s just one big old grid system. But our directions still seem to tell a story. Every “used to be,” “turn by,” and “past the Sonic” is a little piece of our shared memories of yesteryear.
Sure, Google Maps can get you there faster, but it can’t tell you about the Dairy Queen that burned down when the 16-year-old fry cook knocked over a drink, the field party of ’02 behind it, or the time someone’s truck got stuck in a ditch avoiding a loose cow…