[burkstur101]

I attended my first Rooney Fest in '89....the year of the infamous Wet T-Shirt Contest !!! I was hooked and went every year thereafter until the end. Growing up in Northern Jersey, it was an easy trip, but then soon transferred to Arizona for to finish school, which made it difficult, but definately not impossible to attend. 9 years in a row and loved every minute of it. I was apart of the obnoxious clan at the top of the hill....old Yellow and White tent. 25-30 kegs of beer....30+ drunkin men and a few women and countless other goodies. I organized my group year after year and drove up to get in line on the Wednesday before it opened. You see, I wasn't lucky enough to know "Dave" personally, so I had to be creative in ensuring the same key spot year after joyous year. Far too many good and interesting stories. We spent many of nights on the ole platform watching the likes of the Red Hots and the Susquehanna Hat Co.

There's an open group on Facebook just for us Rooney veterans. Go on and tell a few stories. I'm sure anyone that's been there would appreciate it.

[TGrebe]

Hey Burk,

Nubs here. What's going on man! Where you at these days? In in NC. Hit me up with a PM and we can catch up. I still need to scan in some Rooney pics and I know you must be in some of them.

Cheers!

[burkstur101]

NUBS!!! Long time my friend. I know you remember the Wet T contest back in '89. We had so much fun before it got out of control...including some of the folks in our campsite.

I'm back in NJ. Lived in Phoenix, Tempe to be exact, for a bunch of years throughout the 90's, but have been back in NJ since '97. I see you've joined the Rooney Fest fan club on Facebook. I'm hoping to spread the good word and vibe of the old Rooney days....just like this forum.

Hope all is well with you and do look forward to catching up soon.

Burke

[spikethealigator]

I went on facebook and tried to find the Rooney site for veterans and cant seem to locate it. I went to Rooney for 10 years and still go up there to this day. There is a lot of things that go on on the mtn. None of them are the Rooney of course but still a great time. I would love to visit the facebook site if u can give an old Roonerier a DETAILED way of getting there. Im very illiterate in the computer world. lol. Thank you and remember
ROONEY TILL YOUR DOG DONT KNOW YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TGrebe]

Hey Spike,

Try this - linky

[spikethealigator]

Hey TGrebe, I tried the link you gave me and I still cant find the rooney site lol. I gues I need more help. The link takes you to dancing fire tribe in NC. I looked down the page but couldnt find anything on Rooney. Am I just not seein it or do I have to type something in when I get there?

[TGrebe]

Sorry Spike. I'm new to Facebook, I guess I sent a link to some of my other groups. I found the Rooneyfest group by typing Rooneyfest in the search box in Facebook. You probably need to have a registered user ID on Facebook also.

[spikethealigator]

ill try that thanks

[frogger5]

Hi! I am one of Virgils children and had enjoyed going to Rooney for many years with the Silver Bullet. If anyone has any pictures of him on the hill it would be great to see them.

[mwj]

Wow...Used to live in Binghamton, New York. I played at the Rooney Fest in '83 & '84. Band called The Rubber Band. What a time. What a place. Also knew Dave, but lost touch many calendars ago. Does anyone know what has become of the Rooney Fest????

[Byteman]

Hi mwj

There aren't any more Rooney Fests where they were held but there is a scaled down version at a place near Deposit called the Red Barn. I have some links to the website for this smaller fest, held the same weekend that Rooney was, the links are in a post I made way back maybe the first 10 posts in this thread.

Your band was good- and, if you would like to talk to Dave B I will give you his phone number in a PM.

For the last several years a lot of the Rooneyers have held a much much smaller event known as the Pig Roast. It's in July and we can post the dates for 2009 here in this thread, or you can call Dave later this summer.

Read back through this thread- must be you hadn't when you replied....well, good luck and hope to see you around.

The Pig Roast had some live music the last 2 years and I hope this keeps up....

It's a family type picnic, not much like Rooneying except it's just as bad when it rains.

[offthewagon2day]

I lived in Downsville NY and a bunch of us friends use to go. I think it was the last 4 or 5 years they had it. I have a shirt from 1996 I think. what a blast. never forget it, but at the same time cant remember a whole lot about it, but good people, good music and alot of mud. if you were looking at the stage, to the right there were outhouses and a road that went up into the woods. we use to camp up there on the right. the people next to us always had a tree swing. the closest thing Ive found to it is the FINGERLAKES GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL in trumansburg ny. Its nowhere near as rughneck camping and surviving as the rooney but im not up for that kind of camping anymore anyway. But i do miss the early morning breakfast call "SALT TATERS". alot of rooniers come this festival. check it out. ROOOOOOOOONEY

[offthewagon2day]

HYPNOTIC CLAMBAKE still rocks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HappyFeetSue]

Hey offthewagon2day! I am so glad you posted! I have been telling people about that swing for years! And they all look at me funny. I knew it as the "only ride on the mountain". The last year, someone came into our camp and said, "Anyone want to ride on the Rooney Swing?" I followed the group into the woods, past outhouse row. Yes, there was a swing. I remember it being one of these "air chairs" and it was hung with rope, and it was WAY fun! Do you happen to have any pic's of it, by chance?
Thanks for re-assuring me I didn't dream that.....
Peace and Rooney Mud,
Happy Feet Sue

[I Rooney'd]

First was 1979, (was it #3?) Bet I made 6 or more over the years.
Mike Roberts was lead singer for Sweet Potootie.

Foot stompin, Hog yell'in, good time country blue grass....
Oh, the mud...best part. Then a dip in a stream before the ride home.

Always camped under the trees, behind the stage to the left (Stage right).

Pictures? You've got to be kidding....there is No Evidence of those frolicking days.

I remember Dave (Baskerville?)...loved that stovepipe floppy leather hat!

Sorry to have heard about the crowd issues in later years. It was a whole load of fun.... Nice to see Rooney made it to the net...long live the memories.