There were two picnic groves, New River Ranch in Rising Sun, MD, and Sunset Park in nearby West Grove, PA, where the biggest names in country and roots music had played, ex., Eddie Arnold, Minnie Pearl, George Jones, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Hank Williams, Sr., Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Jerry Garcia visited Sunset Park and picked up a lot of things that went into Grateful Dead music. I had read about these places years ago, and they were in fact an impetus for starting Cyber Plaque, to mark these great sites on the Web, but I lost the article and could not remember the locations. George Jones died a few days ago (first entry on Cyber Plaque was 4/28/13, and it got erased accidentally), and there was an obituary in this weekend's Wall Street Journal that mentioned both places. That led me to the article where I first heard of them, at http://www.bluegrasswest.com/ideas/sunsetpark.htm, a Philadelphia Weekly article of 10/31/01. There is quite a bit on the Web about the two parks and the tapes of performances at them that are being mined and archived. I believe that New River was hopping in the 50's and early 60's, and Sunset was open into the 90s. If I have the addresses wrong or this information is inaccurate, please comment below with corrections. The address above for New River is the closest I can find.
| Publication date | Jun 24, 2018 |
| Neighborhood |
There were two picnic groves, New River Ranch in Rising Sun, MD, and Sunset Park in nearby West Grove, PA, where the biggest names in country and roots music had played, ex., Eddie Arnold, Minnie Pearl, George Jones, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Hank Williams, Sr., Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Jerry Garcia visited Sunset Park and picked up a lot of things that went into Grateful Dead music. I had read about these places years ago, and they were in fact an impetus for starting Cyber Plaque, to mark these great sites on the Web, but I lost the article and could not remember the locations. George Jones died a few days ago (first entry on Cyber Plaque was 4/28/13, and it got erased accidentally), and there was an obituary in this weekend's Wall Street Journal that mentioned both places. That led me to the article where I first heard of them, at http://www.bluegrasswest.com/ideas/sunsetpark.htm, a Philadelphia Weekly article of 10/31/01. There is quite a bit on the Web about the two parks and the tapes of performances at them that are being mined and archived. I believe that New River was hopping in the 50's and early 60's, and Sunset was open into the 90s. If I have the addresses wrong or this information is inaccurate, please comment below with corrections. The address above for New River is the closest I can find.
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Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : Theresa, there is quite a bit on the Web to start your research. Google, and look up on youtube, various combinations of New River Ranch Sunset Park with recordings, and also look up Leon Kagarise, the archivist. Good luck and let us know how you make out. --- Frank at Cyber Plaque.
Date : 2015-06-20
Email : jdavidbruce@msn.com
Comments : New River Ranch was on the Octoraro Creek on Rte 1, behind what is now a lot with used cars. You can still tell where the entrance road used to be, just east of the used cars.
Date : 2016-02-15
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : Thank you so much, roscoe! Ive changed the address to reflect what your information and Google satellite and street view suggest to me is the right address. Im always willing to tweak an address as more information comes in. [Editor]
Date : 2016-02-15
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : //archives.exploreharford.com/gallery.php?photo=413. That would put New River Ranch just east of Banks Recyclers, but that does not sound right based on the described location for the falls at the site. I think it was probably closer to 3 miles north of the Conowingo Dam.
Date : 2016-02-15
Email : jhhowell@aol.com
Comments : As a child I sat on George Jones lap, he was baby sitting behind stage awaiting his set. The performers often had babysitting duties back stage.
Date : 2016-03-02
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : //www.newspapers.com/image/301213435/?terms=%22new%2Briver%2Branch%22%2B%22rising%2Bsun%22, which is the Cecil Whig, p. D2, 6/16/17.
Date : 2017-06-20
Email : ilv2so6@aol.com
Comments : My father played at both parks most likely in the early 60s. His name was Bob Walsh and he played the steel guitar. I would love to find more information about recordings etc that may have been made. I have photos of him performing at the park. Is there more information available about the park etc? Theresa
Date : 2015-06-17