From: cdpst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Christopher D. Piccolo)
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead
Subject: Re: Scouting Report: Star Lake
Summary: What he said....
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:05:53 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <gdulxmj0BwxfFDquEj@transarc.com> Ward_Travis@TRANSARC.COM writes:
>pretty little two-horse town in the coal country.

They added another horse? :-)
>
>Location: 25 mi SW of Pittsburgh PA

I made the trp in 45 minutes, leaving downtown at the height of rush hour.
>
>
>Lodging:  Damn thin. I found two TINY motels in Florence.
>          Looks like the reasonable thing to do is arrange
>	  lodging in Weirton WV (7 mi from show). Comfort Inn and
>          a HoJo at intersection of Rts 30 and 60 (15 mi. from show)
>          MANY hotels at the airport (19 mi. from show).
>          Raccoon Creek State Park is within a long walk
>	  from the show; didn't ask about camping/vehicles etc there.

There are campgrounds.  Lodges you can rent, tho from what i hear
they are fairly old and decrepit, and you can rent tent space for
about $10 a night(the price 3 years ago.  I dont know if there is a 
place for RV's or buses...i seem to remember the park closes at 10pm,
we went night fishing and parked at a gate and walked up to the lake.

>Warnings: ALMOST NO GAS IN FLORENCE.  Four pumps total (Citgo
>          within dancing distance of the venue). Get gas
>          BEFORE getting far on Rt 30!! Many stations along
>          Rt 30, some along the way in Imperial and Oakdale.

A little ways down rt 18 is the town of burgettstown, with gas stations and
a beer distributor(probably other things, i just remember what i've actually
used.)  Basically, when you leave the venue, make a right, you'll hit it.
>	  NO GAS for about eight miles from the venue (Weirton
>          to the west, Oakdale etc. to the east; didn't scope
>          north of Florence).

Burgettstown would be north of the venue in my estimate...

>Environs: SMALL town. 
>
>          <<<<< I'll start the discussion: is this place attractive to
>          the band because we just about *have* to leave the scene
>          after the show instead of making trouble? Can this
>          backfire? >>>>>
>
>Venue: Didn't go on-premises -- it was closed of course. Gravel
>	parking, and it looks SMALL for a summer Dead visitation.

I assume you went up to the gate.  That parking lot is about 100 to 150
yards from the venue to the woods.  However, the lot wraps about 3/4
of the way around the venue.  if you put the entrance at 12 oclock, the lot
stretches from about 6 oclock on the right(directly behind the stage)
to about 3 or 4 oclock on the left of the entrance.  It's not huge,
but it aint bad...it is 5$ to park, and there is no parking anywhere
else nearby however...
 



>        Again I feel it is important to encourage those among us who
>        end up ticketless to plan on staying clear. Traffic could be
>        tight and will surely back up onto Rt 30 as it is.

Traffic is always tight  out there, at least people are getting to
shows on time now, first few shows they had major problems, people
parking on the roadside and walking in(and getting their cars towed to
lord knows where..)
>
>        I've kept on asking people who have been about the sound,
>	and they all say it's great there. The lawn seats are as
>	good as the reserved seats (we know how that seems to be true
>	all the time:-) so make your own personal magic
>	to bring on good weather and we'll see some of those
>	stars at Star Lake. Unless those stars are dark :-)
>
>Possible gathering places: point state park, pittsburgh  (25 mi. to show)
>                           mall at intersection of Rt 60 and Rt 30
>			     (lots of yuppie fast food, movies,
>			     gas, perhaps even a supermarket??)
>                             (~18 mi. to show)
>			   weirton (not scoped) (7 mi. to show)
>                           pole 19

Racoon Park is pretty close and easy to get around in(one main road bisecting
it.) Features a lake, hiking trails, picnic areas (your basic state park
setup..) for a potential net.gathering.

>What to do if you get shut out: go to Pittsburgh! Entertainment

Why rub salt in the wound? :-)  I do know of a hot weekly blues jam,
just outside the city, but the club is about as big as Healy's 
platform at indoor shows... 

>-wt

Peace, 
Chris