To All Longbranch Buckskinners and Longbranch Lone Riders:
I have pondered on this editorial for some time as the year 2002 turned out to be a very difficult year both personally and publically.
Changes began in February and ran through October. Each change impacted both clubs
amd the annual rendezvous. Tim, the owner of Gold City Gun Shop, made a decision to move to a new location which would afford him more room, and space for his business. Shortly thereafter, the Club took over the building making it our new Cowboy Club House. Our Spring Frolic was successful, yet participation of the Buckskinners and Black Powder shooters continued to diminish.
It seems that interest in Black Powder shooting was not like in the past.This was not only in our club but in others around the state and other states which I had contacted.
Muzzleloaders are special to the folks that really enjoy shooting Black Powder, there is considerable work in keeping your muzzleloader clean and functional. But the effort always paid off, when all of a sudden along comes the "In-Line muzzleloader". I began to see the interest of the traditional muzzleloader wane as well as the participants.The comment made most often was,"Those old guns require to much work".
During the Spring of 2002, a number of events took place personally impacting me, most of important was my bride's health went sour which took more of my time from my hobbies, the club's and my friendships. Then we had the Longbranch Lone Riders decide to move to Riverbend Gun Club in Dawson County which had offered more space as the club continued to grow in membership.Thus the creation of the River Bend Rough Riders. After awhile, some members came to me showing interest of re-creating the Longbranch Lone Riders since we had the facility available so we invested into a lease taking the old gun shop creating our own club house and using the existing range for the SASS matches. Lo and behold, our club started to prosper to a point we had cowboys coming from all over for our monthly match.Things were looking great, I even made another order for more club badges. I continued to promote the forthcoming Rendezvous, known as Shining Times set for the 3rd weekend of October. We had a good summer of matches.
As fall approached suddenly things started to change again, we first got word that one of the cowboy clubs was changing their shoot day to our first saturday in the near future. Rumors were flying around the property had been sold. I had just gotten word that my employer was moving our department to Denver, Co., but did not offer any of the existing employees in Duluth any transfers, so I was to be un-employed by the middle of December.
The final blow came in early October, a wednesday to be exact that the owner of the property where we held our matches and the range advised "he did not want any more shooting on his property from that day forward." I explained we had a monthly match promoted and planned for the coming saturday, but he said again,"No Shooting on his property, but we could go ahead and hold our Rendezvous at the site, but no shooting of any guns, blackpowder or modern." I was forced to scramble to get the word to cowboys planning on attending but alas, not all cowboys have access to the internet. So that saturday, I was faced with the unpleasant chore of advising arriving cowboys we could not hold any match or shoot.
A quick meeting of membership that saturday resulted in the club basically coming to a halt, targets were stored and the Longbranch Lone Riders went into limbo for the time being. I have found out that alot of folks were aware of the changes that were made that wednesday evening way before I was ever told directly. Even the existing landlord of the club house which we leased informed me she was aware of the "no shooting allowed" back in the spring of 2002 and thought I had been told.
On the third weekend of October, the Longbranch Buckskinners held a very successful Rendezvous resulting in a record turnout, but worst of all after 12 years of our award winning event, I had the unfortunate task of telling my old friends, both traders and participants alike,we have lost the space to conduct what had become to the community and the State of Georgia a tradition which was highly publized. If this was our last event."It was the best of 12 years!!?"
For the last few months I have been searching for a new site for both shooting and other events,but as North Georgia is developing at a rapid pace, the locations are no longer available. Alot of liberal folks moving here whom do not enjoy shooting or the noise. But just recently we have located a potential location on top of a mountain leading into Dahlonega which we can hold our Annual Fall Event, Shining Times Rendezvous in October 2003. I have even discussed the fact of holding Cowboy matches or demonstrations at this location getting a nod for same. There are a few items of get on paper from the local government such as "shooting real guns" which we have been told it's okay, but if you know me I need it in writing.
SPECIAL ATTENTION
By now some of our friends, traders and participants as well as our guests have heard that
we (Longbranch Buckskinners,Inc) are not going to have our Fall Rendezvous. This community
is not going to support our efforts to continue our tradition of putting on these historical events.
Tim and I have searched in the surrounding counties but no one is interested. The property
which we thought was going to be available is not unless we come up with serious funds which
is not available as we are a non profit organization.
Under the circumstances which are beyond our control, we (Longbranch Buckskinners, Inc.)
will not consider any future events in the Dahlonega area. We have had 12 good years of
bringing history to the public, which had become a tradition to this community as well as the
many thousands of visitors from the surrounding cities, including Atlanta. The support of all
these folks and our traders did make each of our events a success.
I could write a book on the good people, good times and the enjoyment which this has brought
me over the years. During this time I have been gifted by many of things which I hold dear,
but the friendship of all of you which I hold dear in my heart will last forever. I thank each and
everyone of you.
I will be closing down "Longbranch Buckskinners, Inc." in the next 30 days which includes the
Buckskinners and Longbranch Lone Riders (SASS affiliated) and this website will slip into
cyberspace forever. I thank my partner, Tim, for his support over the years, he will tell you that
everyone said "WE COULD NOT DO IT". But we did!!!
Skip Cibulski aka Knife n foot #8343L
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