Fair Hills Hootenannies a longtime tradition

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. are especially fun for vacationers at Fair Hills Resort at Pelican Lake. That’s when the famous Hootenannies shift into high gear.

A Hootenanny is a gathering of musicians — in this case the hired Fair Hills staff — who sing songs, perform skits and provide lots of entertainment for the week-long guests. Memorable tunes have been a Hootenanny tradition for guests and staff at Fair Hills for more than 42 years.

The shows started in 1965, making the Fair Hills Hootenanny the longest running musical show in Minnesota.

Improvising is part of the fun, Fair Hills pianist Larry Swenson, said. For example, "Pelican Lake" is sung similar to the words of “Indian Lake,” which was originally sung by the Cowsills.

Words to the original song were adjusted to match Fair Hills.

“Pelican Lake is the scene you should make with your little ones. Keep it in mind, if you’re looking to find, a place in the summer sun. You can swim in the pool, you can snack in the cool, or you can rent a canoe. At Pelican Lake you’ll be able to make, the way vacationers do.”

Dave Kaldahl, the resort owner, has been in the show since it started on the beach — under a tree — with the guests sitting on haybales. The only accompaniment then were guitars and tub bass. Now the show is indoors with a stage and plenty of room for guests.

The show has a live band including piano, guitars (played by an Icelandic trio), and drums. Kaldahl’s oldest daughter, Beth Schupp, now is the resort manager and also performs in the show.

"2-1-8--8-4-7-7-6-3-8" is the telephone number of the resort and since 1975 it has been part of the opening of the show.

“Yes, even after all those years you can still call that very same number to make reservations for the big smorgasbord and hootenanny on Tuesday nights, or to plan your stay for a week,” Swenson said.

"The Monotone Lawnboy," "The Rooster Song," "Dadadadadada," "Pencils," "The Gunfighter," "Oh, Lord, It's Hard to Be Humble," “Dave's Sing A Long” and the "Wide Mouth Frog" are just a few of the hundreds of songs that are part of Fair Hills musical and entertainment heritage.

Guests from all around the area are welcome to attend the Tuesday evening Hootenannies that run through early August each summer. ”Just call that magic musical phone number to reserve your spot,” Swenson said.

Pianist Swenson, who performed with Up With People in the 1970s, started working at Fair Hills as a junior at Lake Park High School. He grew up just eight miles from Fair Hills Resort, graduated from Concordia College and has his own company called Noel International.

During the winter months he spends time in Minnesota, Mexico, China and Japan, conducting music and cultural diversity programs. Swenson entertains the children in the classes through cultural costumes, songs, dances, stories and games. He also has the children guess the functions of an assortment of normal household items from his travels to more than 60 countries.

For Swenson and other summer staff members at Fair Hills, the Hootenannies always involve fun times.|

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