1950s WRITING HISTORY ONE DAY AT A TIME
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2011
Buck Lake: aka Nashville of the North BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcnews.net
BUCK LAKE — Buck Lake Ranch is known as the Nashville of the North. The legendary Steuben County campground has hosted oodles of famous rock and country music singers over the years including: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jan and Dean, Count Basie, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagner, Jimmy Dean, Roger Miller, George Jones, Alabama, The Judds and Hank Williams. Those are only a few of the hundreds of stars who have graced the Buck Lake Ranch stage over the years. Almost everyone who was anyone in country music during the 1940s through 1970s performed
on Buck Lake’s rustic stage, along with rock pioneers, comedians, TV and movie stars. A few former heavyweight boxing champions came to referee wrestling matches at the park. Buck Lake has long been known as a legendary place of action in Steuben County. It has attracted Christian, gospel and bluegrass artists. In addition, it’s a campground, fishing spot on scenic 23-acre Buck Lake, a place for hikers with trails sprawled over 70 acres, special events, a flea market and auctions. The ranch has been restored to look the same as it did in the 1950s and 1960s. Harry Smythe and his wife, Eleanor, started Buck Lake Ranch after
World War II in 1947. The family entertainment complex is a few miles west of Angola. In a YouTube video, Capt. Carl Unger, Buck Lake Ranch’s current owner, said he appreciated all of the stars appearing over the years there. “They had to be entertainers,” Unger said. Bill Anderson, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, said Buck Lake was his favorite place to perform his music. He said playing at parks like Buck Lake was a huge part of performing. In the video, it was also said Buck Lake Ranch was kept going by the family man as a destination that had a little bit of everything to appeal to all tastes.
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Buddy Holly and the Crickets perform at Buck Lake Ranch on July 4, 1958. Also performing with the legendary rocker on that date was Frankie Avalon. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
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