The Great Outhouse Blowout and Star Gazing Party 2009

Saturday September 12, 2009

We also have a Car, Truck, and Motorcycle show in addition to the usual schedule of festivities.

Enjoy the following link

    http://www.jldr.com/ohindex.shtml

For information about the performers at the 2007 Great Outhouses Blowout, click here.

Click here for a 2008 Schedule and more information.  Keep watching this link for information about the 2009 event.

What is the Great Outhouse Blowout?

 

This event started out as a dedication of Penn's Store's new outhouse in 1992. Why would anyone celebrate getting an outhouse? Because the store had never had one. The store had no running water or restroom facilities of any kind, just plenty of trees. The store still does not have running water, but it does have an outhouse. Some of us thought that was worth celebrating, especially the ladies that stay in the store all day.

The dedication was held in 1992. Several of our musical friends lent their talents to the days festivities. The shows were headlined by Chet Atkins and Billy Edd Wheeler. Billy Edd wrote the song "Little Brown Shack Out Back".  Billy Edd and his friends are coming back this year for a great reunion.  Don't miss the fun!!
 
A few years later we added outhouse racing. If you have never seen outhouses race, you are in for a treat. In fact, some of our competitors travel from far away places, even Canada. But our races are a little different than most. Our races are one-on-one drag races along a 100 yard road. The winners keep advancing until a final winner is crowned. 
 
The outhouses are not real outhouses. Although one year we did have a real outhouse compete. After the race, it was put to use by the Amish in the area. The racing outhouses are sleek, lightweight, and fast. Each year we see new designs. Everyone trying to get the best edge to win. Some of the racers have corporate sponsors that pay their entry fee, travel expenses, etc. But most teams are just groups that pool their money to build and race on their own.

AWARD WINNERS

The MOON & STARS Award honors one in the entertainment field or the Media field whose work has brought the outhouse to the public’s attention.  The 2008 winner is CLAY JACKSON of the Danville, Kentucky, newpaper Advocate Messenger.  His 2005 photo of the Outhouse 300 Race was picked up by the AP, and went around the world in the STARS & STRIPES. 

Jackson is originally from Georgia. He left there for Western Kentucky University in 1992. After graduating with a degree in photojournalism he made his way to Danville through Lexington.

His work has appeared in Delta Sky Magazine, Washington Post, New York Post; Christian Science Monitor; USA Today; Weekly Reader; "Week in Photos" on MSNBC.com; String Music, an SEC basketball book; NYC, work from the prestigious Eddie Adams photo workshop; and, of course, the Advocate-Messenger. He also has been honored with awards from the Kentucky Press Association and Kentucky News Photographers Association including an AP photo of the year and a Best Show from the Kentucky News Photographer Association.

In his spare time, as if there were any, he paints. He also shoots wedding photos in journalism style.

This is the photo made by honored photographer CLAY JACKSON of the OUTHOUSE 300 Race at the 2005 "GREAT OUTHOUSE BLOWOUT"  that was picked up by AP and went around the world in the STARS & STRIPES.  AND ... has won him the 2008 "MOON & STARS" Award.   Presentation will be made at this year's GOB ... Saturday, September 6, 2008 at Historic Penn's Store.

Shawn Beckwith - 2008 CMA Award Winner

Shawn Beckwith, project manager for The Durable Restoration Company in Orange Park, Florida discovered an old outhouse in Brevard County, Florida and rebuilt it in August 2008.  The four-holer was a facility used by the City Point Community Church and dates back to the Grover Cleveland era.  The original construction was completed in November 1885.  The church served as a school, public hall, polling station and World War II observation tower, as well as a house of worship.  The church is now owned by Brevard County government and is leased to the East Central Florida Aquatic Preserves. 

 For more information,  click on the outhouses below.

	Check out our 1998 Blowout!		Want to find out about entering your own outhouse?		We also have booth space for vendors. Interested?

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This page last updated 02/23/2009