> > Reinvented < <Survives as the Blairstown Airport
Lake Susquehanna
Blairstown, New Jersey
Hines:
Just off Hwy. 8, 28 mi North of Easton on Lake Susquehanna. Open all year, every day 8am to 2am. Their specialties include onion soup, antipasto, ragouts, roast prime ribs of beef and charcoal broiled steaks. Breakfast $1.00 Lunch $1.50 Dinner $2.25. Liquor is served.
Adventures In Good Eating exists for, as well as, because of the internet. I may never get to see in person many of the establishments I research, especially as I move on to other states. Yet, I am often able to pull some bits of evidence together from postcards sold on Ebay, old local newspapers archived in pdf, GoogleBooks and some personal memoirs. It takes a little bit of time, a huge love of history, and a passion for seeing that these stories live on.
When I began this project, I quickly realized that at least half, if not more, of the establishments would be gone by now... ghosts lost to development & bigger business; forever fossilized in wedding photos—names forgotten, addresses unknown. 1 out of 10 or so turn out to be utter dead ends. Some restaurants that were popular benchmarks in their community have disappeared with nearly no trace of ever having employed, fed, entertained or been the life work of some hardworking family.
Such was initially the case of Rocco's Villa Sunset. When I first posted the listing, all I found was a cocktail swizzle stick on Ebay and a fleeting mention in a Ski Guide to NJ from the 40s or 50s. This was especially sad... from Hine's notation that Rocco's was open till 2am, 7 days a week and the colorful name, I imagine this was an extraordinary destination.
Apparently the Fates smile on Rocco still, as shortly after my post his grandson James Gleason discovered it and reached out to me. He generously providing everything that follows: the facts, the photos, the legacy... for which I am enormously grateful. Please enjoy reading the incredible story of Mr. Rocco Bunino and his Villa Sunset —you sure don't find fellows like this much any more!
Rocco Bunino was born in Turin, Italy. He married Dorothy Haupt in 1935 and together they had 2 lovely daughters, Roxanne & June. Throughout his life, Mr. Bunino wore many hats. He set off as a young man to serve on the NJ Central railroad as a fireman – clearly not the fearful type. Later, he would rise in the beverage industries for such epic companies as Pabst brewing in Milwaukee. But one point in between he also founded and operated Rocco's Villa Sunset for 33 years.
In 1920 he decided that the one business which could best employ his diverse talents was the resort business. So he opened the Villa Sunset on some farm property he managed to buy at a smart price. This was on Lake Susquehanna, Blairstown, New Jersey. It became one of the most heavily patronized in the area, eventually boasting a private airport for guests who came in by plane!
Continually improving, Mr. Bunino expanded the airport as an aviation school and service station. He negotiated for decommissioned planes from the government after WWII for flying lessons. And the fun didn't stop in cold weather—many trails were cleared for winter skiing, an increasingly popular sport. Hotel and Restaurant facilities served vacationers year-round (as well as Mr. Hines) Rocco eventually moved on from this vast enterprise. In 1953 he and his wife sold the Villa and moved onto Milwaukee. It changed its name to The Sunset Lodge and the property will be familiar to folks today as the Blairstown Airport on Lake Susquehanna off Lambert Road.Rocco was a truly extraordinary man who lived the lives of 5 men. Every article Mr. Gleason sent me was a like a full bio unto itself—but they all mentioned the Sunset Villa, an accomplishment Rocco was clearly proud of. One article highlights his success in establishing the Greater Milwaukee (Golf) Open, organizing over 2,000 volunteers—and he was 87 at the time! During his years at the Villa, he also served as mayor of Blairstown, headed the Rotary Club, and was president of the Board of Education. And I thought Duncan Hines lead a full life!
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4 comments:
I have photos of Rocco's. He was my grandfather. Never blogged before so not sure how to forward images of resort to you.
I would love to see pictures of Rocco's Villa Sunset also. I am particularly interested in seeing anything having to do with the old ski hill that was there.
A friend of a friend wrote this email:
Out at Roccos there was an old apple tree on the property that on occasion dripped a magic elixir that tasted very much like apple brandy.It was like something at Lourdes, or one of those pictures that weep Jesus tears or whatever. Anyhow this event occurred occasionally out the at Roccos Villa Sunset on Lake Susquehanna. I saw the tree but I never saw it in action.Apparently this "miracle" had occurred for many years. I think grandpa had something to do with it. I had moved here and one day I get a letter from dad, and it had a picture in it that came from the Blairstown Press. The "miracle" tree had been either hit by lightning or cracked with age. Anyhow it had split open and ta-ta they found inside a container that the tree had grown around over the years.That had apparently been filled with apple brandy.I bet grandpa filled it with hard cider.I do not have the picture, and the need to try and find it. The Press is no longer in business Any ideas how to get that picture??.
Please post a comment if you have know anything about the tree or its "elixir." JDL
Curiousyellow. Yes on the apple jack tree. I have a scanned article that I can send to you that shows the tree after it was hit by lighting. The resort was purchased by a retired judge from my grandfather and it is a picture of the judge and the broken open tree with the hidden wooden keg for the apple jack. I heard that many people use to take a walk through the orchard with my grandfather during prohibition including the governor who enjoyed the miracle of the weeping apple jack tree with my grandfather.
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