Buck Lake Ranch: Nashville of the North
A Video Documentary and Companion Book
Harry Smythe liked to say that he had discovered "goilorn" in northern Indiana. That's a lucrative combination of gold, oil and corn -- all on 80 acres of rolling farm and timber country outside of Angola in rural Steuben County.
It was here on the shores of tiny Buck Lake that Harry and his wife Eleanor began an unlikely empire in the aftermath of World War II. That's when they opened Buck Lake Ranch, a premier family entertainment complex that each week drew working class fathers, mothers, children and grandparents from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and beyond.
The park paid handsome dividends to the Smythes and along the way earned a prominent place in American music history.
Almost everyone who was anyone in country music during the 1940s through the 1970s performed on Buck Lake's rustic stage at least once -- and most many times. So did a stellar lineup of early rock-and-roll pioneers, comedians, television and movie stars, gospel singers, and jazz and big band musicians. Even a couple of former heavyweight boxing champs showed up to referee popular wrestling matches at the park.
Buck Lake Ranch: Nashville of the North traces the history of this popular venue from its opening in 1947 through its 60th anniversary in 2007. Included are comments by Bill Anderson, Jimmy Dickens, Loretta Lynn, Ray Price, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart and others whose memories of Buck Lake Ranch are rooted in first-hand experiences.
While the glory days of outdoor country music parks may have passed with the urbanization of America, Buck Lake Ranch stands as a testament to the nation's musical heritage. And that's a great comfort to those who have known and loved her over the years.
(To view a short excerpt from this video, click here).
(To hear a public radio report on this video documentary, click here to go to the Audio Reports page).
