7 Things in Lubbock That Raised Us (Even When Our Parents Weren’t Around)

Our parents tried their best, but let’s be honest — half of us were raised by Lubbock itself. The city babysat us, entertained us, and taught us how to stretch a $5 bill into a full night of fun. From mall food courts to Sonic parking lots, these are the things that shaped who we are — for better or for worse.

The South Plains Mall

We spent entire weekends there with no money, just vibes. You’d hit Hot Topic for your personality, Spencer’s for your rebellion, and Chick-fil-A for your emotional support nuggets. If you got dropped off at the mall at noon and picked up at 9 p.m., congratulations — that was your daycare.

Joyland Amusement Park

It taught us three important lessons: long lines build character, funnel cakes heal emotional wounds, and never trust the tilt-a-whirl after a corn dog. Joyland was where friendships, crushes, and stomachaches were born — all in the same day. Ask me about the time I tossed my cookies on the Octopus ride. Ah, memories.

94.5 KFMX

Every Lubbock kid’s unofficial life soundtrack. The RockShow woke us up, the music got us through heartbreak, and the DJs somehow knew what we were doing even when our parents didn’t. FMX didn’t just play music — it helped raise a generation of weird, loud, wonderful West Texans, and it never stopped. Don't forget to tune it. It'll make your kids WAY cooler.

Gas Stations 

When your parents weren’t looking, this is where you learned about independence — and questionable nutrition. You could survive off Hot Cheetos, chimis, and a Dr Pepper for days. Bonus points if you bought scratch-offs for your mom “because she said so.”

Science Spectrum Field Trips

We lost ourselves in the giant bubble exhibit, and I'm not going to lie, it's just as awesome today. The Science Spectrum made learning feel fun, even when all you really wanted was to buy slime and dehydrated astronaut ice cream bars.

Read More: The Truth About Growing Up In Lubbock, Texas

Empty Parking Lots

Our first classrooms for driving, flirting, and figuring life out. Every teenager in Lubbock learned to parallel park next to a Walmart cart return. And if you didn’t do donuts behind a church at least once, were you even raised here?

West Texas Sunsets

Our unofficial curfew. When that orange-pink sky hit, we knew it was time to head home (or at least pretend we were on our way). The sunsets raised us gently — with just enough drama to make us appreciate beauty before the dust kicked back up.

Lubbock isn’t just where we grew up — it’s how we grew up. This city taught us patience, humor, resilience, and the fine art of making our own fun. Our parents gave us roots, but Lubbock gave us personality, and most certainly, a little sass.

Keep scrolling for more Lubbock nostalgia in the galleries below...