The former "Willie's Place" truckstop at Carls' Corner, Texas, which closed after financial troubles, has become the 64th location in the Petro chain.


The Carl's Corner Petro underwent a $1.5 million improvement plan, including:

* A completely renovated, 198-seat Iron Skillet restaurant, including 30 outdoor patio seats;

* A new driver's lounge with a 55-inch flat screen high definition television and 16 leather La-Z-Boy seats;

* Seven completely remodeled showers;

* Two sets of renovated ladies and mens restrooms;

* A refreshed, 2,600-foot travel store;

* Over 100 truck parking spaces; and

* A new laundry room.

Additional amenities, including a Dunkin' Donuts, are expected to be added inside the building soon.

Willie's Place was sold at auction to Petro parent company TravelCenters of America in early March, following a foreclosure suit.

The truckstop and entertainment complex, situated on 15 acres off of I-35, was named after legendary country singer Willie Nelson. It officially opened in early 2009, featuring 12 fueling lanes for tractor-trailers plus a wide-load island; two restaurants; a convenience store; a saloon; a gift shop; and a 500-seat theater for live music performances. According to published reports, it had never turned a profit. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the bankruptcy court allowed a creditor to foreclose on the operation.

President Carl Cornelius founded the town of Carl's Corner in the late 1980s to house Carl's Corner Truck Stop, and co-founded Willie Nelson Biodiesel Co. in 2004 with longtime friend Nelson to distribute BioWillie fuel.