Archive for the ‘Carl’s Corner’ Category

Willie’s Place, Carl’s Corner Texas

Thursday, March 9th, 2023
wp

Willie’s Place Theater, at Carl’s Corner, Texas closed in 2011, but will always be one of fan’s favorites place to see Willie Nelson & Family perform.  When the Carl’s Corner truck stop changed hands, the Willie Nelson Theater and Willie Nelson themed truck stop were closed.  It was in operation for about three years, I think, it’s most recent version, anyway.  Truckers, tourists, and Willie Nelson fans loved it.

But the real joy about the place was Willie’s Place theater, and getting to see Willie Nelson and Family perform there.


Willie Nelson, Carl’s Corner, TX (photo by Janis Tillerson)

It was the greatest place;  it had great sound, it was cozy.  There wasn’t a bad seat in the house.  We sat at small tables set pushed up close to the stage, but you could stand at the bar and still make eye contact with Willie.   It was a low stage, and Willie generously spent time after every show talking with fans, signing autographs, hugging people, posing for photos.

Here’s Janis from Texas, hard at work hanging pictures at Carl’s Corner, Texas.  Janis personally framed thousands of pictures of Willie Nelson and Family and Friends and Fans, and hung them on the walls at Willie’s Place Theater.  The photos were sold off the walls when the Truck Stop closed.

pics
carls 10-9-10 018

The place was a destination; when Willie did a show there we would all get there as early as we could so we could hang out with friends, eat at the Blue Skies Cafe, wander around and enjoy all the pictures on the wall, and display cases full of memorabilia.

carls 10-9-10 019

Janis Tillerson spent the three years Willie’s Place was open gathering pictures from fans, framing them, and hanging them on the wall.  She filled display cases with collections like the Tee-Shirt from the First Farm aid, albums, a miniature Trigger guitar, photos of fans with Willie.

janisdec9
DSC_0018

Willie Nelson fans at Carl’s Corner, Texas, gather before the show.

Willie’s Place, on Sirius/XM Radio, broadcast from it’s studio in the Willie Nelson theater, and if they were on the air you could watch Dallas do his show.

There were three grand openings of Willie’s Place Theater at Carl’s Corner, that I know of.  There might have been more.  One year, there was a stage set up in the parking lot, and Lukas Nelson and 40 Points (his band before Promise of the Real) performed for the fans outside.  Willie surprised everyone by joining Lukas and the band for a few songs, before going inside to do his set with his Family band.   There was a pre fourth of July concert at Carl’s that year, too.    One of the grand openings featured a Barbeque Cook-off,

east

The news articles report that Willie Nelson biodiesel plant, located beside the truck stock, is not effected by the foreclosure actions, and will remain in his control, with other partners.

So I’ve been mourning the loss of the theater, but now I just have to smile about the good times we had there and all the great music we heard.   It was one of those moments in time, great memories for those of us lucky to have been there.  So, goodbye; we’re gonna miss you.

moniquewp3 by you.
bay1
bscafe by you.
carl4091 by you.

Willie’s Place, Carl’s Corner Texas

Sunday, November 29th, 2020
wp

Willie’s Place Theater, at Carl’s Corner, Texas closed in 2011, but will always be one of fan’s favorites place to see Willie Nelson & Family perform.  When the Carl’s Corner truck stop changed hands, the Willie Nelson Theater and Willie Nelson themed truck stop were closed.  It was in operation for about three years, I think, it’s most recent version, anyway.  Truckers, tourists, and Willie Nelson fans loved it.

But the real joy about the place was Willie’s Place theater, and getting to see Willie Nelson and Family perform there.


Willie Nelson, Carl’s Corner, TX (photo by Janis Tillerson)

It was the greatest place;  it had great sound, it was cozy.  There wasn’t a bad seat in the house.  We sat at small tables set pushed up close to the stage, but you could stand at the bar and still make eye contact with Willie.   It was a low stage, and Willie generously spent time after every show talking with fans, signing autographs, hugging people, posing for photos.

Here’s Janis from Texas, hard at work hanging pictures at Carl’s Corner, Texas.  Janis personally framed thousands of pictures of Willie Nelson and Family and Friends and Fans, and hung them on the walls at Willie’s Place Theater.  The photos were sold off the walls when the Truck Stop closed.

pics
carls 10-9-10 018

The place was a destination; when Willie did a show there we would all get there as early as we could so we could hang out with friends, eat at the Blue Skies Cafe, wander around and enjoy all the pictures on the wall, and display cases full of memorabilia.

carls 10-9-10 019

Janis Tillerson spent the three years Willie’s Place was open gathering pictures from fans, framing them, and hanging them on the wall.  She filled display cases with collections like the Tee-Shirt from the First Farm aid, albums, a miniature Trigger guitar, photos of fans with Willie.

janisdec9
DSC_0018

Willie Nelson fans at Carl’s Corner, Texas, gather before the show.

Willie’s Place, on Sirius/XM Radio, broadcast from it’s studio in the Willie Nelson theater, and if they were on the air you could watch Dallas do his show.

There were three grand openings of Willie’s Place Theater at Carl’s Corner, that I know of.  There might have been more.  One year, there was a stage set up in the parking lot, and Lukas Nelson and 40 Points (his band before Promise of the Real) performed for the fans outside.  Willie surprised everyone by joining Lukas and the band for a few songs, before going inside to do his set with his Family band.   There was a pre fourth of July concert at Carl’s that year, too.    One of the grand openings featured a Barbeque Cook-off,

east

The news articles report that Willie Nelson biodiesel plant, located beside the truck stock, is not effected by the foreclosure actions, and will remain in his control, with other partners.

So I’ve been mourning the loss of the theater, but now I just have to smile about the good times we had there and all the great music we heard.   It was one of those moments in time, great memories for those of us lucky to have been there.  So, goodbye; we’re gonna miss you.

moniquewp3 by you.
bay1
bscafe by you.
carl4091 by you.

Willie Nelson and Family, “Always on My Mind” (Carl’s Corner, TX) (Dec. 16, 2009)

Saturday, June 15th, 2019

Willie Nelson and Family, “Always on My Mind” (Carl’s Corner, TX) (Dec. 16, 2009)

Sunday, October 21st, 2018

Willie Nelson and Family at Carl’s Corner, “Mountain Dew”

Sunday, February 25th, 2018

Willie Nelson and Family, “Pancho and Lefty” (Carl’s Corner, TX) (2005)

Wednesday, February 7th, 2018

Willie Nelson, “Still is Still Moving to Me” (Carl’s Corner, 2005)

Monday, February 5th, 2018

Willie Nelson and Family, “Always on My Mind” (Carl’s Corner, TX) (Dec. 16, 2009)

Wednesday, November 8th, 2017

Willie Nelson, “Drinking Champagne (feeling no pain)”

Friday, November 3rd, 2017

Remembering Willie’s Place, Carl’s Corner Texas

Thursday, August 3rd, 2017

wp

 

Willie’s Place Theater, at Carl’s Corner, Texas closed in 2011, but will always be one of fan’s favorites place to see Willie Nelson & Family perform.  When the Carl’s Corner truck stop changed hands, the Willie Nelson Theater and Willie Nelson themed truck stop were closed.  It was in operation for about three years, I think, it’s most recent version, anyway.  Truckers, tourists, and Willie Nelson fans loved it.

But the real joy about the place was Willie’s Place theater, and getting to see Willie Nelson and Family perform there.

 

janis7
Willie Nelson, Carl’s Corner, TX (photo by Janis Tillerson)

It was the greatest place;  it had great sound, it was cozy.  There wasn’t a bad seat in the house.  We sat at small tables set pushed up close to the stage, but you could stand at the bar and still make eye contact with Willie.   It was a low stage, and Willie generously spent time after every show talking with fans, signing autographs, hugging people, posing for photos.

Here’s Janis from Texas, hard at work hanging pictures at Carl’s Corner, Texas.  Janis personally framed thousands of pictures of Willie Nelson and Family and Friends and Fans, and hung them on the walls at Willie’s Place Theater.  The photos were sold off the walls when the Truck Stop closed.

pics

carls 10-9-10 018

The place was a destination; when Willie did a show there we would all get there as early as we could so we could hang out with friends, eat at the Blue Skies Cafe, wander around and enjoy all the pictures on the wall, and display cases full of memorabilia.

carls 10-9-10 019

Janis Tillerson spent the three years Willie’s Place was open gathering pictures from fans, framing them, and hanging them on the wall.  She filled display cases with collections like the Tee-Shirt from the First Farm aid, albums, a miniature Trigger guitar, photos of fans with Willie.

janisdec9

DSC_0018

Willie Nelson fans at Carl’s Corner, Texas, gather before the show.

Willie’s Place, on Sirius/XM Radio, broadcast from it’s studio in the Willie Nelson theater, and if they were on the air you could watch Dallas do his show.


Dallas Wayne and Willie Nelson
Sirius/XM Studio, Carl’s Corner, Texas

A few times, fans got to watch Willie being interviewed by Dallas Wayne or Bill Mack.

There were three grand openings of Willie’s Place Theater at Carl’s Corner, that I know of.  There might have been more.  One year, there was a stage set up in the parking lot, and Lukas Nelson and 40 Points (his band before Promise of the Real) performed for the fans outside.  Willie surprised everyone by joining Lukas and the band for a few songs, before going inside to do his set with his Family band.   There was a pre fourth of July concert at Carl’s that year, too.    One of the grand openings featured a Barbeque Cook-off,

New owners will take control on February 1st, next week.

carl1

Thanks to Jan, from Texas (RailRoadLady) for sharing this pic.

east

The news articles report that Willie Nelson biodiesel plant, located beside the truck stock, is not effected by the foreclosure actions, and will remain in his control, with other partners.

So I’ve been mourning the loss of the theater, but now I just have to smile about the good times we had there and all the great music we heard.   It was one of those moments in time, great memories for those of us lucky to have been there.  So, goodbye; we’re gonna miss you.

moniquewp3 by you.

Monique from The Hague, visited Texas with husband Mark, and took  this pic.

bay1

bscafe by you.

carl4091 by you.

Here’s Carl’s Corner in 1984

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Property, business opportunies offered at Carl’s Corners.

  • home sites
  • 5-acre tracks for mobile homes (complete financing available)
  • commercial, industrial sites
  • farm land
  • Former Wacoan, famous artist Bob Wade is entertaining idea of building a minature golf course
  • Developers, investors of Carl’s Corners will entertain motel and amusement facility developers offers

American Country
April 1984

Carl’s Corner Set to Open on 960 acre site;  developers providing complete financing

Development proceeds at a rapid pace at the Carl’s Corners project just north of Hillsboro.

Carl’s Corners promises to be a gigantic show place consisting of a mammoth truck stop with a huge multipurpose center with many auxiliary businesses.

Located along I-35E FM2959, Carl’s Corner is being developed by Carl Cornelius of Hillsboro and several other Dallas investors — one of whom is Monk White.

American Country will be bringing details about Carl’s Corners and its personnel in the months to come.  No date for initial opening of the first phase of this development has been announced.

The Restaurant, dining building at Carl’s Corner are complete, according to Carl Cornelius, (pictured in the top photo, with Darrril Wright and LeVan Gordon).  Cornelius went on to say that carpenter and carpenter helpers are needed for other projects.  And, Cornelius siad applications are now being taken for the operation of restaurant, multipurpose center, and truck stop.

Carl’s Corners truck stop (in bottom photo), located at one of the most visible sites in Texas, promises to become a number one stop along I-35E — referred to Mainstreet, Texas.  This truck stop will reputedly rival the internationally famous truck stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming because of the many facilities offered.

carlpump

Willie Nelson and Bill Mack, “Drinking Champagne” (Live from Carl’s Corner)

Wednesday, April 12th, 2017

Bee Spears, Lukas Nelson, Mickey Raphael (Carl’s Corner, TX)(11/9/2010)

Thursday, October 27th, 2016
  • DSC_0285

Happy Shoeshine Friday! Willie Nelson, “Shoeshine Man” (Carl’s Corner, Texas) (Dec 16, 2009)

Friday, February 19th, 2016

Willie Nelson – “Shoeshine Man” from Luck Films on Vimeo.
“Shoeshine Man”

This is the most recent video of footage taken by Luck Films at the Willie Nelson & Family & Friends concert at Willie’s Place Theater on December 16, 2009.

Willie Nelson eye candy

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

Willie Nelson at Carl’s Corner, Texas (7/3/05)
photo:  Greg Mudd

Willie’s Place, Carl’s Corner, TX

Friday, November 15th, 2013

willieplace7
Photo Credit:  Bart Fields