Stevie Ray Vaughan StatueThe Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue standing along the shores of Lady Bird Lake is Austin's classy way of paying tribute to the legendary guitarist and Austin bluesman who died in a tragic helicopter accident following a concert in Wisconsin on August 27, 1990.
It's not as cultish as Jim Morrison's grave, but the statue does collect occasional sprigs of flowers and such. Maybe because it's just right there out in the open along the always busy hike and bike trail. In fact, I can't think of a better tribute than to place the memory of Stevie Ray Vaughan right in the heart of the everyday experience of Austinites and visitors. There are statues of Stephen F. Austin around town, but those require special trips to the Texas State Capitol or the Texas State Cemetery. In contrast, the statue of Stevie Ray is like running into an old friend when you're just out and about doing your thing. And that's the way it should be.
Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue - Video and MapDirections for the Stevie Ray Statue: The statue is pretty easy to find. Adjacent to Auditorium Shores, the statue is right along the hike and bike trail on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, maybe a quarter or half mile west of the South First Street bridge (visible in the background on the video above). You really can't miss him though – he's 8 feet tall, wearing a bronze poncho, and standing in front of a fabulous backdrop of the Austin skyline. Or just ask a local.
For more Stevie Ray Vaughan videos, check out the Songs About Texas page and the Antones Austin page.
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