Old Places, Familiar Paths
We all do it. You’re giving directions and out of nowhere, out pops a reference that hasn’t existed in decades — but somehow, everybody still knows exactly what you mean. We asked y’all to name the places in Lawrence County that are no longer around, but still live on as unofficial GPS markers… and boy, did you deliver.
Here are some of the top “ghost landmarks” folks around here still use to get you where you’re going:
🚨 Draper’s Market
This one ran away with it. Whether you were getting a cold drink, a sandwich, or just meeting folks, Draper’s is clearly seared into LC’s internal navigation system. One commenter joked, “You could tear it down, pave it over, and put up a spaceship—folks would still call it Draper’s.”
🎡 Langtown Skating Rink
Though the skates have long stopped rolling, memories of sock hops and slow songs at Langtown live on. Multiple folks admitted they still say “turn left where the skating rink used to be.”
🌈 The Rainbow
Whether it was The Rainbow Lounge, The Rainbow Grocery, or just “The Rainbow,” this colorful spot’s legacy still helps locals figure out which way to go.
🛠️ Terry’s Florist, Terry’s Gym, Hollis Terry’s Service Station
The Terry trifecta! If you don’t know where something is, ask a longtime resident and they might tell you it’s “just past where Terry’s used to be.”
🥩 The Apple Tree & O’Bryan’s Steakhouse
Gone are the sizzling plates, but not the memory. Both eateries were a staple for Sunday dinners and still get mentioned when folks are mapping out their route.
🏈 Caddo Ball Field
Even though it’s not gone completely, its glory days have passed — but it still gets brought up when you're talking about places “near there.”
🧃 Classical Fruits, Coffee Pot Grocery, Buck Lowery’s, Pit Stop, Morgan’s, Walker’s, Buttram’s, JD’s, Mayes, Roy Wayne’s, Ricky Johnson’s
Let’s just say LC had a lot of memorable mom-and-pop spots. Whether it was groceries, gas, or gossip, these stores were the beating heart of their corners of the county.
🔥 Scotty’s Hamburgers
Not only did it serve up a mean burger, but it’s still helping folks find their way. Even Scotty himself chimed in on this one!
🧭 Creative Navigators
Some folks go above and beyond with their directions. Greg Gentry offered, “At the red light, turn right at Moulton and keep driving.” Vague? Yes. But somehow… accurate.
The verdict:
Lawrence County might be changing, but our mental maps haven’t caught up — and that’s kind of beautiful. These places may be gone, but they’re stitched into our memories, our stories, and yep… our directions.
📍What place do you still use to give directions, even though it’s long gone? Drop it below — and don’t forget to say whether you go “past it” or “turn right where it used to be.”