Click here to buy your ticket for the 2008 Lynyrd Skynyrd Crash Site Bus Tour

My wife and I traveled to visit my 95 year old Grandmother in DeRidder, Louisiana on April, 13 2007. That is another great story!!! After talking with my good friend Steve Martin in Mathews, North Carolina and studying the map I realized Gillsburg was only about an hour north of Interstate 12.

On our return trip we went straight up Interstate 55 from Interstate 12 at Hammond, Louisiana. I have always heard that the new owner did not allow anyone on his property that he had purchased from Johnny Mote. Mr. Mote was the owner of the land at the time of the October 20, 1977 plane crash.

We arrived at Gillsburg, which is a crossroads with a few houses and an old café that had not been open in years. About two miles beyond that point I spotted a farmer traveling down his driveway towards the road. I stopped him and inquired about the crash site. He said it was all grown up and the present owner would not let anyone near the crash site. He gave us directions and we were off on the hunt. Fortunately I had a rental car, because the dirt road we traveled down was not well maintained as well as not being the correct way to the site. We turned around and headed beyond where he told us to turn and finally came upon “Gene’s Grocery”. Imagine that.

Debra Moore was behind the counter and told me that no one was allowed on the property. Seated at a small booth in the store was Jimmy Stewart, a long time resident of Gillsburg who assisted in removing five victims from the horrible scene. I got a cup of coffee and almost left without paying. As we talked, the phone rang and at first I was not paying a lot of attention. I over heard Debra saying that “I have a couple here who would like to see property where the crash occurred”. The lady on the other end of the phone was the owner of the property.

The next thing I know we are at the owners home. Mr. Nyugen was trying to crank a merry tiller. I introduced myself and told him why I was there. Evidently he knew nothing about the earlier phone conversation. He told me nothing was there, thirty years had passed etc. I could see he was not interested in what I was.

About this time I saw his wife through the kitchen window and we both waved at each other. She immediately came out spoke quickly to her husband in their native tongue and Wow what a change in venue. Like I have always said, “Thank God for Women”. The next thing I know we are being given a personal escort to the site.

They were very nice and told us to stay as long as we wanted.

Barbara and I walked all around. We both noticed how peaceful and tranquil the place was. I had not realized they had only missed the field by less than 50 feet. This entire area only changed by nature. It was a time to wonder, a time to question, a time to ponder. It was something I never will forget….. I can tell you I had mixed emotions that can only be understood by Lynyrd Skynyrd fans. I will let the pictures tell the rest of our experience and of course you know the rest of the story……..

-Billy Webb

This is the field the pilot was trying to land the plane. The far right corner about 50 feet into the woods is where the plane came to rest.	This shot is right at the edge of the field
This is all that is left of the monument that was built for the concert with Artimus Pyle and Travis Tritt	This is the spot where the plane came to rest on that fateful flight of October 20, 1977
The spot where Lynyrd Skynyrd plane came to rest almost 30 years later.  This area is unchanged except by nature.	This shot facing the west was almost completely covered.
The trees still bear the many tributes fans have carved in them over the years.	Many people have made the journey to this spot over the years to pay their respects.
A very peaceful place now, in deep contrast to the horrible tragedy that occurred on October 20, 1977.	Fly on Free Bird!!!!!!!
Gene’s Grocery is about 1 Mile from the October 20, 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd Band crash site.

Click here to buy your ticket for the 2008 Lynyrd Skynyrd Crash Site Bus Tour

This is Claude Hamner’s country store. This was part of the inspiration of "The Ballad of Curtis Loew".

"Searching for soda bottles to make myself some dough" in the song is a direct reference to Gene Odom.

This is the bar referred to as "The Jug" in Gimme Three Steps.

This is the oak tree made reference to in the song "That Smell" from the Lynyrd Skynyrd Street Survivors album.

Ronnie normally wore the “Hi Roller” from Texas Hatters from Buda, Tx. However, when the album cover photo shoot was being done at Universal Studios in Ca, for the “Street Survivors” album, his black “Hi Roller” had not arrived. He needed a hat for the photo shoot. He had given me his last one after the summer tour had ended. (more…)

Heaven Awaits in Two Days - this image shows the Confederate flag in the audience, brought by Bobby Sanders. See the lower left circle in front of Ronnie Van Zant. This photograph was taken at the Lakeland auditorium in Lakeland Florida, just two days before the plane crash that killed many of the Lynyrd Skynyrd band members.

What’s Ronnie Pointing At?

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