08/08/2024
11th Annual Grand Lake Birthday Bash set for this Weekend!
The birthday celebration to mark the completion of the construction of The Pensacola Dam in 1940 is set for August 10th 11th in Lawhead Hollow. It will be the 84th birthday for the historic Pensacola Dam that changed the face of northeastern Oklahoma and introduced economic, recreational and flood control opportunities never seen before. The event will once again be hosted in the cove where some of the biggest rocks stars in the business frequent Grand Lake in years gone by.
Though the big music event is scheduled for Saturday, August 10th, event organizer Joe Harwood is encouraging an open-to-the-public over-night raft-out the night before the music on Saturday. Plans call for raft-out participants to bring a covered dish with brats and dogs provided by Harwood and his fellow sponsors. Saturday morning will be launched with breakfast burritos and Bloody Mary’s. As they say, “Come early, stay late and claim a premiere position for your craft as you’re entertained by the Barrett Lewis Band from 1-5pm.”
Call it what you will…Hippie Hollow, Russell Cove or the official name on most maps, Lawhead Hollow, this location has a lot of music history thanks to the late, great rock star Leon Russell. In a July 30th, 1972 story in the Tulsa World, Russell revealed how he had purchased an eight acre parcel of Grand Lake land for $75,000 and his plans to construct a compound complete with a 3,500 lake home, the finest recording studio in the southwest and maybe even in the country and the refurbishing of two other structures; one which had a concrete minnow tank and served as a bait house and the original cabin. The property was originally owned byTulsan Gilbert Reaves who owned Empire Sheet Metal. In its glory days, it operated as a fishing motel. Long-time resident on Lawhead Hollow, Barbara Haver, reports, "Each rental unit had a slip to moor a boat, a hot plate for cooking and a bed."
The idea to move the Woodstock on the Water event there and celebrate not only the dam's birthday, but the presence of a rock star on Grand Lake actually was initiated by Grove resident Pete Chuchwell. Churchwell, a former member of the GRDA Board of Directors and a lifelong Grand Laker, had the initial idea of changing the name of the cove to acknowledge the Russell presence. Event organizer Joe Harwood thought it was a great idea to host the event there and honor Russell all at the same time.
Tulsa Chiropractor Rick Huskey, who now owns the property, is a huge Russell fan and a drummer when not practicing his day job, was all in and the plans started to take shape. Huskey, a musician, suggested the bands play from his deck adjacent to Hippie Hollow Cove. Out of respect for Dr. Huskey, access will be by water only with security on hand to make sure that happens.
Harwood said, “Each and every "Grand Lake" birthday is really a monumental achievement that is worthy of recognition. There are so many facets to the face of Grand Lake that I think a lot can be overlooked or forgotten altogether. Forgotten altogether is my main concern. Grand Lake has changed the lives of thousands of people (of which I am one) and is destined to change thousands more.”
He added, “Sometimes I worry about us overlooking just how much we have to offer and our lack of excitement in promoting ourselves. At Grand Lake, it’s my observation that we make so little out of so much. Everywhere else seems to make so much out of so little! Happy birthday Grand Lake! And the broad spectrum of people that have made us what we are!”
The music event will be from 1-5pm on Saturday, August 10th and should be a huge event for Grand Lake. Join in to party in the cove where the likes of Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Phoebe Snow, J.J. Cale, Willis Alan Ramsey, Freddy King, the Gap Band, George Harrison and more frequented to relax and record right here on Grand Lake. And don’t neglect to tip your hat to the sponsors who are making the event …..Grand Lake Boat & RV Storage, Grand River Dam Authority, Cherokee Yacht Club, McKibben & Company Realty, Youngblood Floor Company, Arrowhead Yacht Club, Grand Lake Association, NEO Electric and Bolt Fiber Optics.
See Ya’ Around the Pond!!
Grand Times on Grand Lake with Rusty Fleming
