Russ Houck’s Wrestling Camp

[PSU_Lion_Fan]

Has anyone on this board ever been to Russ’ Maple Lake Wrestling Camp outside of Forksville, PA? The other day, my best friend and I were talking about good ole days and Russ’ name came up. Back in the 70’s, my friend’s dad, who was a custom home builder, built a new home for Russ at his camp. My friend and his younger brother worked for their dad. My friend’s older brother was a PA state champion, an AA wrestler at Lehigh, and went on to wrestle internationally. My friend’s dad became good friends with Houck and he allowed my friends to stay at the camp in deer season. Through my friendship, I was invited and hunted there for several years. We stayed in a cabin called “Red’s Retreat”, named after famed wrestling coach Red Campbell. We had hundreds of acres of prime posted land all to ourselves. Back then I didn’t follow wrestling as I do now. I never heard of Red Campbell. I knew Russ Houck was an Olympic wrestling coach as well as coach for Bloomsburg University. Back then, Maple Lake Camp was wrestling’s Olympic training center of the time. Chris Peterson, Dan Gable, and many other Olympic greats trained there. I think that connection was the beginning of my wrestling obsession.

 

[PSU_Lion_Fan]

Maple Lake Originally known as Russ Houk’s Wrestling Camp. This is the 45th year of Camp Maple Lake’s hosting wrestling camps. The camp started in 1962 and became the U.S. Olympic and Pan-American Games Training Camp from 1964-1973. The Camp was also the host training Center for the Canadian World and Olympic Teams. The camp was started by wrestling legend Russ Houk. Russ was the U.S. Olympic Team Manager and had World and Olympic Greats there such as Dan Gable, Chris Taylor, Rick Sanders, John & Ben Peterson, Stan Dziedzic, Wade Schalles, Gray Simons, Don Behm, Wayne Wells and more. Many of the Camp’s structures were built by some of these greats. Come be part of history!

 

[nittinsc]

Not there, but I went to Frank Vulcano's camp at California Pa along with Pat Pecora and a few other teammates. Cal is another school that I'd like to see reinstate wrestling. For the younger board members, here's a little about Vulcano.

https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/20179

 

[mhs103]

In 1962 or possibly 1963, I attended Russ Houk's Camp with several of my Jr. High teammates. I recall the cost being $50. If my memory is correct the PIAA did not permit single sport camps at that time. Therefore, Russ offered limited instruction in running, weight lifting and judo just to satisfy the PIAA. Red Campbell was one of the counsellors along with members of the Bloomsburg college team. Red was known to rise early and catch frogs in the pond and enjoy frog legs for lunch. The only downside to the Camp was the intestinal virus, with the usual consequences, that spread through the staff and campers. Notwithstanding the virus, Camp was a great time.

When the Camp was an Olympic training site, many of the wrestlers mentioned in the thread above could be seen at the Hillsgrove Inn. I will always remember Chris Taylor rocking out to country tunes being played on the bar's juke box.

 

[PSU_Lion_Fan]

In 1962 or possibly 1963, I attended Russ Houk's Camp with several of my Jr. High teammates. I recall the cost being $50. If my memory is correct the PIAA did not permit single sport camps at that time. Therefore, Russ offered limited instruction in running, weight lifting and judo just to satisfy the PIAA. Red Campbell was one of the counsellors along with members of the Bloomsburg college team. Red was known to rise early and catch frogs in the pond and enjoy frog legs for lunch. The only downside to the Camp was the intestinal virus, with the usual consequences, that spread through the staff and campers. Notwithstanding the virus, Camp was a great time.

When the Camp was an Olympic training site, many of the wrestlers mentioned in the thread above could be seen at the Hillsgrove Inn. I will always remember Chris Taylor rocking out to country tunes being played on the bar's juke box.

Hills Grove Inn, Forksville Inn, and the High Knob Inn were all favorite watering holes. High Knob was a rough place. Bullet holes everywhere.

 

[PAwrestling]

We went to a week of camp there every summer when I was a kid. My Dad was a wrestling technician once a year. Our whole team from elementary to junior high to Varsity went for that week. Us boys mostly looked forward to it because the camp was shared by a cheerleader camp during that week lol.

 

[nitlion6]

We went to a week of camp there every summer when I was a kid. My Dad was a wrestling technician once a year. Our whole team from elementary to junior high to Varsity went for that week. Us boys mostly looked forward to it because the camp was shared by a cheerleader camp during that week lol.

Sitting around a camp or bar listening to Red Campbell stories has always been a great time. A week at camp with a camp full of cheerleaders would have been an even better time.

 

[bbedford62]

I grew up 4 miles away Camp Maple Lake. I went to the camp several years and in high school worked there as a kitchen hand and general grounds crew.

I have a lot of great memories there. I got to meet a number of great wrestles there Chris Taylor, Ben Peterson Dan Gable and a number of others.

I got to work out with a bunch good college wrestles.

A friend of my from grade school owed it a few years ago and was trying to make a summer camp out of the place

I really enjoyed that camp

 

[Tightwaist]

Finally decided to register for BWI. Wrestled high school in the mid 60's. Some anonymous donor gave my coach money to send me to Mr. Houk's camp for a week in 1965. My most lasting memory isn't the wrestling. I didn't like eating vegetables at the time. I sat next to Red one meal and he loaded up on tomatoes. Well, him being a famous instructor I tried a slice of tomato and for life going forward I've also loaded up on tomatoes. Thanks Red!

 

[tomsc]

I didn't know that Russ Houk's camp was still going on. I went there with my brother in 1964 after my 8th grade year.

 

[PSUAllTheWay]

Usually went to the Clarion or Waynesboro camps growing up but a bunch of us from my HS went to Russ Houck in 8th grade. I got autographs from Ben Peterson, John Peterson, and Chris Taylor that I still have. Getting instruction from Olympians was inspirational to say the least! Also have an awesome picture of me and Chris Taylor that my Dad took when he came to pick me up. I should dig it up and post here ... you guys would probably enjoy it.

 

[bbedford62]

Did they have the cabin competitions when you where there and the low cabin got the Red Fish Award.

no participation trophy there

 

[mhs103]

The only competition I recall is the greased pig keep away contest played with a vaseline covered watermelon in the lake. Not sure if there was a trophy.

Russ's camp was located near Estella in Sullivan County which has only one high school. Anyone recall Dave "Tombstone" Schultz one of the County's wrestling coaches back in the day?

 

[nittinsc]

All of this stuff helps illustrate what a rich wrestling history PA has.

 

[midniteride]

Been so long ago that I really don't trust my memory but believe that in the summer of 1964 I (and 2 others from my high school team) spent a week at Camp Olympic in the Poconos. I'm not sure sure if it was Russ's but would appreciate any confirmation or info about it.

 

[tomsc]

Been so long ago that I really don't trust my memory but believe that in the summer of 1964 I (and 2 others from my high school team) spent a week at Camp Olympic in the Poconos. I'm not sure sure if it was Russ's but would appreciate any confirmation or info about it.

As I mentioned earlier, I went to Houck's camp in summer 1964 and am pretty sure that it was in the Williamsport area then.

 

[bbedford62]

368 Beinlich Rd
Forksville, PA 18616
United States


Here is the address of where they camp when I worked.

just north of Estella PA

 

[midniteride]

As I mentioned earlier, I went to Houck's camp in summer 1964 and am pretty sure that it was in the Williamsport area then.

Was it called "Camp Olympic"?
I still have the patch that they gave out with that name on it (some where ) but I've moved 11 times since then and it could be buried anywhere.

 

[tomsc]

Was it called "Camp Olympic"?
I still have the patch that they gave out with that name on it (some where ) but I've moved 11 times since then and it could be buried anywhere.

Honestly, I can't remember what the camp was called other than "Russ Houck's Wrestling Camp". If we got patches, I've forgotten that too. Amazing I can still remember that I went to his camp!

 

[mikbard]

I was at Russ Houk’s Wrestling Camp in the summer of 1964. My childhood friend that convinced me to try wrestling ask me to go with him. Excellent wrestling camp. I learned so much. I also met a guy that I hit it off with immediately. We became lifelong friends. He became a Division III National Champion. We still go to the Division 1 National Championships annually. Quick story. We snuck out of our cabin one evening and took the dinner/wake up bell and hid it in the woods. Fortunately we kept the fact to ourselves as Russ and his staff were quite upset and offered numerous incentives to rat out the perps. Great memory

 

[midniteride]

I was at Russ Houk’s Wrestling Camp in the summer of 1964. My childhood friend that convinced me to try wrestling ask me to go with him. Excellent wrestling camp. I learned so much. I also met a guy that I hit it off with immediately. We became lifelong friends. He became a Division III National Champion. We still go to the Division 1 National Championships annually. Quick story. We snuck out of our cabin one evening and took the dinner/wake up bell and hid it in the woods. Fortunately we kept the fact to ourselves as Russ and his staff were quite upset and offered numerous incentives to rat out the perps. Great memory

It was a revelation to me as I knew literally nothing about the sport when I was recruited out of the hallway my sophomore year to fill a spot on the team. I thought that being a good football player was enough to make me successful on the mat (along with the sales pitch that the team captain gave me to induce me into joining). After getting hammered a few times by guys I knew I could kick the crap out of I realized that I needed to learn a lot more before the next season as I had fallen in love with the sport. Thoroughly enjoyed the camp and did learn a lot. Unfortunately the following football season was a disaster that included 3 concussions and ended up with the first of 4 knee surgeries.