Lanierland Music Park was a country music venue in the town of Cumming, Forsyth County, Georgia.[1] The venue was opened in 1970 and hosted notable musical acts until 2006.[2] The venue's land was then converted to Lanierland Park,[3] a Forsyth County Parks and Recreation facility for community use.

History

Founding and Ownership

Lanierland Music Park was founded in 1970 by Forsyth County-natives C.E."Crant" Samples and M.L. "Shorty" Hamby as an 1800-person music venue under a tent.[4] The venue opened with Hank Williams Jr. performing two sold out shows. In order to extend capital and grow the venue, eventually new owners Leon Jones, Robert Jones and Tommy Bagwell were added to the team. As the venue grew, ownership dwindled to Leon Jones and his wife, Brenda, as well as Tommy Bagwell.[5]

Venue and Seating

In 1973 the tent was replaced by a large, metal, open-air pavilion with folding chairs. Though the overhang changed, the sawdust floors remained until the venue's closing, providing a unique acoustical experience. At the time of it's closing, the venue boasted a 100-foot stage and seating for 4,346.[4]

A Unique Concert-Going Experience

The open-air pavilion provided a unique experience for performers, further bolstered by the personalized approach of the venue owners. Brenda Jones' mother, known as Mama Lois,[6] provided performers with a home-cooked southern meal prior[7] to each performance.

Notable Acts[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Sign of the old times: Forsyth County gives relic of old music venue new life". www.forsythnews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  2. ↑ Woolsey, Mark. "Forsyth County breaks ground on park". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  3. ↑ "Lanierland Park". parks.forsythco.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Geshwiler, J. E. "Crantford Samples, 82: Co-founded Lanierland Music Park". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  5. 1 2 3 "Family shares memories of Lanierland Music Park on the 50th anniversary of opening". www.forsythnews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  6. ↑ Judd, Naomi (1994). Love Can Build a Bridge. Fawcett Crest. p. 289. ISBN 9780449222744.
  7. 1 2 Eldredge, Richard L. (2022-10-04). "'Oh, Honey, I Ain't No Icon': Remembering Country Queen Loretta Lynn, 1932-2022". Eldredge Atlanta. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  8. ↑ "Lanierland Music Park". Concert Archives.org. 2023.
  9. 1 2 Nielsen Publishing Group (June 1985). ""Boxscore Top Grossing Concerts"". Billboard (published June 1, 1985). p. 45. ISSN 0006-2510.


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