The Blowout

Not long after taking over the business, we realized we needed to do something around the end of July or first of August to encourage people to come to the lake and to reward our annual dock customers. So, in 1979 the "Blowouts" began on the first Saturday in August. The first one was pretty primitive. We stacked up some concrete blocks and put a wire rack on the top. I can't remember if we started out with pork steaks (which is what we cooked for many years) or if we did hot dogs the first couple of years. Of course there was beer, and everyone brought a side. Johnna remembers the first year well, as she was pregnant with Jabet.

Food line at one of the early Blowouts.

Left to right: Johnna, me and Joe McMahon with his back to the camera.

Left to right: I can make out,Bob Simms, Tom Cline, Brian Dunsmuir (sitting in blue and white striped shirt in background), me kneeling, Johnna and Norm Robinson in the white shirt walking toward the camera.

Each year the party seemed to get better. We added live music. We started using Chris Geroff's big cooker. A couple times we even brought in the Budweiser beer truck.

Anyone recognize that cowboy standing there? It's Bill Adams.

My mom always loved the Blowout, or as she always called it, the "Bash."

Left to right: me, Elmer Bax and Mom. Don Atchison and Tony Allbright sitting to the right.

The cooks were always volunteers. We had some great ones. No matter how hot it was, they came through. I'm sure I'm missing some, so please excuse my memory and comment if you remember more of them. They included Ernie Bloom, Jim Price, John Luna, Gene Gunkel, Bill Bauer, Nub Rackley, Ted Gutweiler and many more.

From left: Jim Price and John Luna cooking on Chris Geroff's grill.

Gene Gunkel grilling next to one of our early make-shift grills.

Another one of our early grills.

In 2005, we decided to move the party to the water, where it belonged. We simplified the menu - we started doing pulled pork sandwiches, chips and drinks - so that our guests didn't have to worry about bringing a dish and instead just anchor out and enjoy the day.

Our "floating opera."

Just one of the strings of boats you'll see on Blowout day.

Bobbing is what we do best!

This past August we surprised everyone with margaritas. They were a hit.

The Blowout has always been a customer appreciation party for our annual stall customers and their families. Over the years the word has spread, and it has grown a bit to include more folks, and that's okay. The more the merrier. Blowout 2015 is scheduled for August 1st.

Written by Cap'n T. Morgan