From: Ward_Travis@TRANSARC.COM
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead
Subject: Scouting Report: Star Lake
Date: 14 Apr 92 18:07:46 GMT

Hey now: was out at the airport Sunday and decided to wheel on down to
Star Lake for a look-see. Turned out that I really got ionto writing
this up and so now there's this silly four-page dead-dossier on a
pretty little two-horse town in the coal country.

Directions are primarily from Pittsburgh.

Location: 25 mi SW of Pittsburgh PA
          15 mi  ? of Steubenville OH
           7 mi  E of WEIRton WV

          Located at intersection of Rt 30 and Rt 18 in Florence, PA
	  Access from I-79: I79 to Rts. 60, 22, 30 (westerly)
                            Rt 30 to Rt 18 (southerly)
	  It's about 15 miles after you leave Rt 60 (W of I279)

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.

          State game hunting lands are at the edge of town, so
          be aware if you find yourself walking in the woods :-!!

          The lucky ones who get tickets for this show should
	  rely on the more thorough lodging listing which will be
	  provided with your tickets!

          I have no idea as to whether or not camping will be
          permitted at Star Lake itself.

Vehicle Access: four paved lanes ALL the way from Pittsburgh;
                Rt 18 dwindles to two lanes if you are approaching
                Rt 30 from the south (not recommended).

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.

	  NO GAS for about eight miles from the venue (Weirton
          to the west, Oakdale etc. to the east; didn't scope
          north of Florence).

Food: Florence is the notable Home of the Gusburger. Convenience
      store (Stop n Go) and the above-mentioned hamburger haven
      were the only food in evidence. We're talking VERY limited
      stores at the venue itself. Don't plan on finding any 10-lb bags
      of dry lentils here. Don't plan on speeding through the local
      <chain-fast-food-company>'s -- it ain't there. So, SHOP BEFORE
      YOU STOP !

Environs: SMALL town. I'm sure I am doing the right thing here by
	  saying don't plan on getting away with much in Florence.
          There's no place to stash the van, there's no obvious
          campgrounds, and there is active farming there so the nearby
	  fields are gonna be off-limits. Florence is a quiet
          cross-roads and I trust us heads to leave it that way.
          Unless Star Lake permits camping, plan on staying in
	  Weirton, Steubenville (OH), or perhaps there's something in
          Imperial or Oakdale. I didn't sniff out those other crossroads
	  around the venue.

	  No rest stops anywhere on Rt 30 -- gas stations only as
	  already mentioned. Don't plan on sleeping on the shoulders.

          <<<<< 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.
        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.

        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

What to do if you get shut out: go to Pittsburgh! Entertainment
schedules for the local pubs not yet available. Montreal and Seattle
play the Bucs at Three Rivers Sun, Mon, and Tues nights. 


-wt
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead