Jam at the Ridge Campground

Greg Luetticke and David Luetticke, 
owners of Frost Ridge Campground
(file photo)

The Town of Le Roy has filed a lawsuit that, if successful, would put Frost Ridge Campground out of business.

Frost Ridge, according to the suit, is a cancer on the community.

The chief complaint in the suit is the summer concert series in the facility's natural amphitheater, but the complaint also says the campground violates the town's zoning law, and it has since 1967.

The defendant's uses and occupancy of the property, the suit states, "corrupt the general area so as to destroy the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of residents of the Town in the vicinity, having endangered, impaired and imperiled and threaten to endanger, impair, imperil the health of the public."

The campground, that paragraph continues, "(has) caused and will cause irreparable injury to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the town."

No evidence of such harm is stated in the complaint, which was filed May 2.

While the suit purports to represent all the residents of the town, the town's own Frost Ridge file -- a copy was obtained by The Batavian through a FOIL request -- lists only one neighboring couple as ever filing any written complaints about Frost Ridge.

"By reason of the foregoing, Plaintiff and residents and taxpayers of the Town will continue to suffer great and irreparable harm, damage and injury from the further continuance of the public nuisance, which cannot be caused to cease except by the injunctive order and in a court of equity," the suit states.

Frostridge, operating under various names over its long history, was opened as a winter ski resort in 1957 and has included campground sites since at least 1961, according to the town's documents.

It's currently owned by David Luetticke and Greg Luetticke, who purchased the business in 2008 and moved from San Diego to Le Roy to operate it.

In 2012, David and Greg started a summer concert series, but records show they weren't the first owners to host live music at the campground.

Last summer, David and Marney Cleere started complaining about the concerts and since then the Town has built a long paper trail of town board meetings, zoning board meetings, attorneys' letters, accusations and counter claims as the town has sought to block David and Greg from bringing some of the nation's biggest country stars to Le Roy.

A hearing on the suit is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Genesee County Supreme Court in front of Judge Robert C. Noonan.

The lawsuit takes direct aim at the concerts and an alleged plan by David and Greg to open a bar and grill called The Barn on the property.

It also accuses the previous owners of operating and expanding the property as a campground illegally.

"In June 1998, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) held a public hearing concerning the upcoming sale of the premises by Frost Ridge, Inc., to Molly Perry," the suit reads. "The ZBA determined, erroneously in the view of the current Town Board, that the use of the premises as a campground was a preexisting nonconforming use and thus could continue to be used as a campground after her purchase of the premises."

The property sits within a residential/agriculture zone that was established in 1967. The R/A zone in the Town of Le Roy typically allows only for single-family homes or various types of agriculture use, according to the suit.

The campground has undergone several expansions that violated even a nonconforming use allowance, if such a use were even permitted, which it doesn't, the suit states.

And now what David and Greg have done, and want to do, with their country music concerts and proposed restaurant and continued family camping fun is a cancer that must be eradicated, the suit alleges.

"The size and scope of the planned uses are unsuitable and inappropriate for the area, constituting a maligancy which cannot be allowed to metastasize any further," the suit reads.

The suit was written and filed by Le Roy attorney Reid A. Whiting.

In recent years, Frostridge has booked such name acts as Marty Stuart, the Little River Band, Restless Heart, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Connie Smith -- a 2012 inductee of Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame, Jerrod Neimann, Jo Dee Messina and Phil Vassar as well as rising stars like Blackjack Billy.

Last year's line-up included a homecoming show for Alexander native Krista Marie and her band The Farm.

The ampitheter can accommodate up to 5,000 people, making it a much smaller venue than Genesee County's only other notable concert venue, Darien Lake. But even so, while Darien Lake's concerts require a substantial law enforcment presense and dozens, if not more than 100 arrests, might be reported following a show, there hasn't been a single arrest reported at Frost Ridge related to a concert since 2011.

There is no immediate information available on the local economic impact of Frostridge, and David and Greg said they could not talk with the press on advice of their attorney. But from previous conversations with The Batavian over the past view years, we know they book thousands of guests every season as well as attract tens of thousands of tourists to Genesee County for their concerts.

Each season, they employ nearly 40 people for concerts and camping.

The town's file on Frost Ridge also contains an apparent notice from earlier this year of violations and an order to cease certain activities, listed by code number. It's signed by the town's code enforcment officer, Jeff Steinbrenner.

David Roach, attorney for Frost Ridge, responded March 17 and stated the notice was dubious in meaning, sweeping in scope, constituted discrimintory enforcment because only Frost Ridge is targeted and runs counter to findings in 1989 and 2013 by the town Zoning Board of Appeals that the campground was operating legally as a preexisting, nonconforming use.

Roach accuses the town of merely perpetuating a political agenda driven by the Cleeres.

"We are aware that one married couple, David and Marny Cleere, just last year expressed their displeasure for the first time with the ongoing 50-plus year tradition of live music at Frost Ridge," Roach wrote. 

He continues, "they in fact demand the town 'abate the violations of the Town Code,' in what seems like a frontal assault on Frost Ridge's very existance. If not entirely arbitrary and capricious, the town's intended action against Frost Ridge may be construed as furthering the Cleere's personal agenda, which has absolutely no legitimate bearing on Frost Ridge's compliance with the Zoning Code."

The suit also alledges that the campground's current use and configuration constitutes a serious fire hazard to the surrounding area, campground guests and the campground's owners.

The town's file on Frost Ridge contains a Jan. 9 letter from the Le Roy Fire Department finding five minor possible fire safety violations, including problems with signage, no site map and no letter in the department's file on how many permanent residents there are at the campground.

The campground sits on two parcels of a combined 31 acres with an assessed value approaching $130,000.

Marty Stuart performing at Frost Ridge, Sept. 2011.

Alexander native Krista Marie peforming at Frost Ridge, August 2013.

Blackjack Billy performing at Frost Ridge, June 2013.

Phil Vassar performing at Frost Ridge, July 28. During his performance, Vassar praised Frost Ridge. He praised the setting. He praised the hospitality. He praised the acoustics of the venue. "This is a special place," Vassar told the crowd after his fourth song. "We play a lot of places around the country and there's no place else like this."

Press release:

Western New York's newest family recreation and entertainment venue -- "The Ridge NY" -- hosts the 2014 Jam At The Ridge Concert Series. The series touts major recording artists along with regional and local favorites.

Starting at just $5 with children 12 and under FREE, some tickets have already sold out. Le Roy, NY/U.S.A. (less than an hour from Buffalo, Exit-47 from the Thruway) SAVE THESE DATES!

• May 31st -- Country Done Come To Town (2 to 10 p.m.)
• June 7th -- Josh Thompson (5 to 10 p.m.)
• June 21st -- John Michael Montgomery (5 to 10 p.m.)
• July 12th -- Preacher Stone (5 to 10 p.m.)
• July 26th -- Jason Michael Carroll with Zach Lockwood (5 to 10 p.m.)
• Aug. 9th -- Blackberry Smoke (5 to 10 p.m.)
• Aug. 23rd -- Phil Vassar (5 to 10 p.m.)
• Sept. 6th -- Marshall Tucker Band (5 to 10 p.m.)

***All concerts subject to change; please double-check the Web site for confirmation.

The Ridge NY has done an excellent job of keeping costs and prices low so that everyone may participate while bringing exceptional talent to Western New York. Limited camping is available for those who'd like to Camp With The Bands.

The Ridge management attributes this success to a family friendly environment with activities and events for ages 2 through 92. Tents to large RVs are welcome and cabins are available for those who don't have their own equipment. There is something for just about everyone. If you’re looking for fun, The Ridge NY is the place to be.

Contact:
The Ridge NY
 info@TheRidgeNY.com
www.TheRidgeNY.com <http://www.TheRidgeNY.com>

www.JamAtTheRidge.com <http://www.JamAtTheRidge.com>

585-768-4883

801 Conlon Road, Le Roy, NY, 14482, U.S.A.

A tree is on fire at Frost Ridge Campground, 8101 Conlon Road, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire is responding.

They call it Jam at the Ridge and on Saturday night, the two acts topping the bill fulfilled the promise of that title, cranking out hot tunes and kicking up some heels.

The headliner was Jerrod Neimann, who found a crowd ready to rock after The Farm put on a show that was as much party as concert.

And there was a lot to celebrate for The Farm, with Krista Marie, a native of Alexander, playing her first big-time show in Genesee County.

The amphitheater was packed with friends and family -- so many who lined up for autographs and pictures after the set that security guards were trying to hurry the line along before Niemann took the stage.

Previously: Hometown girl brings big time act to Frost Ridge

As a little girl Krista Marie Robusto would watch her mom in Rotary shows and think, "Oh, gosh, I want to do that someday."

About 10 years ago, Krista was the lead of the Batavia Rotary's production of the "Wizard of Oz."

Now, Krista Marie -- just Krista Marie to her fans -- is living in Nashville and hitched to a rising star.

Tonight, her band, The Farm, plays at Frost Ridge Campground in Le Roy.

Krista Marie, Nick Hoffman and Damien Horne were friends in Nashville, all working professionally -- Krista pursuing a solo career and Hoffman toured with Kenny Chesney and Horne with John Legend. The three young artists decided to try writing some songs together.

Soon, their songwriting projects evolved into putting some serious thought into forming a band.

"When we finally decided to be a group we looked at each other and said, 'OK, we've got to be all in,' " Krista said. "We said, 'we're going to be betting the farm.' That was the little bell that went off and we said, 'OK, betting the farm,' and that's it, The Farm."

The Farm was signed with Warner Brothers and they were off and running. The first song the trio wrote together, "Home, Sweet Home," became the band's first hit single.

The last three years have been filled with nearly nonstop touring, and though The Farm has played two gigs in Rochester, tonight is The Farm's first shows "inside the county lines," as Krista put it.

"I'm super excited," she said.

"Every time I come home I absolutely remember how lucky and how grateful I am to be from Western New York," Krista said. "The people are great. The food's amazing and it's just really awesome. I'm really, really proud to be a hometown girl from Upstate New York."

Krista grew up in Alexander and attended Alexander Central School through 10th grade before starting home school. Her mother and father owned and operated Pat's Meat Market in Batavia. They were both musicians and performers and Krista's father was an internationally acclaimed accordian player.

All of those influences -- along with the Rotary shows, singing in church, dance lessons at That Dancing Place -- all pointed her in the direction she wanted to go, which is performing country music.

"If you're from here you know how country we are," Krista said. "I grew up riding and in 4-H and my dad was a butcher. I grew up riding horses, got into four-wheelers and motorcycles, and we have beautiful farmland up here. It's as country as it gets. I live in Nashville, Tennesee now and I'm always bragging on what awesome country we've got up here."

Krista is feeling pretty good about the trajectory of her career -- a career that started playing country music locally with Richard Fink and Johnny Cummings, including a series of summer-long gigs at Darien Lake Theme Park (she hopes The Farm can play there as soon as next summer) that helped her earn the money to buy her first motorcycle.

She said she's very grateful for Genesee County making her into the hometown girl she still is, even on any stage anywhere in America.

"I grew up with the Rotary shows and I grew up singing in church and I grew up riding and showing horses at the Genesee County Fair," Krista said. "I raced mini-stocks at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, so all of this is who I've become and it's a big part of who I am today."

The Farm takes the stage at Frost Ridge at 7 p.m., opening for Jerrod Niemann.

Krista Marie and her mother, Barb Galliford, with a school bell that was once belonged to Krista's grandfather (it may have been a school bell for a school in Batavia originally). It was a gift to Krista today from her family. Barb said, "Of course I'm proud of her, and my thing is whatever you do, try to do it well and with all your heart, and she's done that."

Jam at The Ridge concert lineup! Join the family fun! Here is the lineup for our upcoming concerts.

• 8/9 - Jo Dee Messina (BUY TICKETS)
• 8/10 - Steel Magnolia (BUY TICKETS)
• 8/24 - Jerrod Niemann with Special Guests The Farm, Ash Bowers and Corey Wagar. (Krista Marie from The Farm is from Batavia!) (BUY TICKETS)
• 9/15 - Sammy Kershaw (BUY TICKETS)

For more information, reservations or to purchase tickets for upcoming events, please visit http://www.frostridge.com/index.html, then select [Concerts] or call us at 585-768-4883.

Frost Ridge, Where the Fun is!

One night you're playing the Grand Ole Opry. A few nights later, you're playing a campground. That's the life of a touring country star.

But Phil Vassar made it clear last night that he couldn't be happier playing Frostride in Le Roy.

He praised the setting. He praised the hospitality. He praised the acoustics of the venue.

"This is a special place," Vassar told the crowd after his fourth song. "We play a lot of places around the country and there's no place else like this."

On Tuesday, Vassar played at the Opry in Nashville and two days ago a 13,000-seat theater in Memphis on Thursday, but on Tuesday he said he was thrilled to be back at Frostridge, meeting with fans before the show and playing in the open air.

Vassar has 19 hit singles, including two number ones, "Just Another Day in Paradise" and "In a Real Love."

The opening acts included Rochester's Johnny Bauer, Jordan Diggory and Madeleine Snyder, a talented 15-year-old from Pittsford.

It was another smokin' night of music at Frostridge Campground on Saturday night as the summer concert series Jam at the Ridge saw its second installment.

The headliner tonight was Blackberry Smoke, a band that's been winning fans in the year since the group last visited Le Roy, but for me, the highlight of the night was Blackjack Billy, the second act on the bill.

Blackjack Billy's country rock is fun and infectious, and they're also incredibly nice guys, giving fans all the time they needed for autographs after the show.

The band has one single out, which I was told is being downloaded 5,000 times a day on iTunes. The song is The Booze Cruise. The band played four or five other original tunes in their 90-minute set, mostly pretty much in the same vein -- rockin' country.

The band is based in Nashville and is comprised of Noll Billings, lead vocals, Jeff Coplan, lead guitar, Rob Blackledge, rhythm guitar, Patrick Cornell, bass guitar, and Brad Cummings, drums.

Next up for Frostridge is Molly Hatchet, July 13.

Before the show, fans who purchased VIP passes were able to go back stage and meet members of Blackberry Smoke, get autographs and get a souveniar picture with the band.

Jim Maier, of Brockport, won the drawing for the autographed guitar.

First slide show, Blackjack Billy, second slide show, Blackberry Smoke.

;

The Grammy-nominated country music band "Restless Heart" performed at "Jam at the Ridge," a concert series at Le Roy's Frost Ridge Campground, around 8:30 tonight. Doranne Kelly, the band's road manager, arranged a photo shoot before the show.

Band members are, from left, Greg Jennings, Dave Innis, John Dittrich (who is from Batavia), Paul Gregg and Larry Stewart.

See the Aug. 14 article, "Grammy-nominated country band to perform in Le Roy -- one of its members is from Batavia" for previous coverage.

"It isn't often that someone makes it big in the music business, nor for the number of years that John Dittrich (second from left in picture) has."

So says Greg Luetticke, co-owner of Frost Ridge Campground in Le Roy, which will host the Grammy-nominated country music band "Restless Heart" at a concert on Friday, Aug. 17.

Dittrich, a native of Batavia and a 1970 Batavia High School graduate, has been with "Restless Heart" for more than 20 years as a drummer and vocalist. The other band members are, from left, Paul Gregg, Larry Stewart, Greg Jennings and Dave Innis.

"It's amazing to still be able to do what I do," Dittrich said.

He embarked on a profession in music in 1975, and has enjoyed a long and successful career that owes itself, in large part, to a Batavia City School District teacher.

"My most important influence and probably the guy I would credit with helping me in this direction was Neil Hartwick," Dittrich said.

Hartwick was the Batavia Middle School band director and the director of the jazz workshop at the high school.

"He brought in Ed Shaughnessy (of "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson") to do a concert," Dittrich said. "And when I found out that Mr. Hartwick had invited him specifically for me, that blew me away."

As a college student, Dittrich went to New York City once a month for two years to study under Shaughnessy.

"And he remembered me," he said.

As an original member of "Restless Heart," Dittrich was part of what he calls a "crossover" period in the history of country music.

"Our producer (Tim Dubois) had written some songs that were kind of in a gray area as far as the market was concerned," he said. "They were too pop for country, but not pop enough for pop."

Part of the band's success, Dittrich said, was due to the willingness of RCA Records to take a chance on them.

"There was a strong push in traditional country music at the time," he said. "But some groups did have more edgy music and enjoyed some success. RCA liked the direction of our music and they were willing to make the investment."

In addition to four Grammy nominations, "Restless Heart" has had six #1 hits and seven Country Music Association nominations. They have also been lucky to see 26 of their singles make the Billboard Country Charts. Their numerous crossover hits include the 1992 song "When She Cries."

A good 15-20 years have passed since Dittrich last returned to Genesee County. He said it will be "pretty nice" to be back for the concert, especially since some old friends and 10 family members will be in attendance.

"I hope somebody gives me a beef on weck!" he added.

The concert is part of the three-day "Jam at the Ridge." Gates will open at 4 p.m. Friday, with the concert itself starting at 4:30.

"Restless Heart" will go on at 8:30 p.m. for a performance of about 75-90 minutes. Singers Worthy Duncan and Johnny Bauer will open the show.

Here are the ticket prices:

Regular seating: $15 in advance, $20 at the gate.

Preferred seating: $22 in advance, $29 at the gate.

Preferred Plus seating: $42 in advance, $55 at the gate.

VIP seating: $79 in advance, $99 at the gate.

VIP seating includes front row seats, a private meet-and-greet dinner with "Restless Heart," a poster for autographing and a picture with the band.

Frost Ridge Campground is located at 8101 Conlon Road in Le Roy. For more information, call 768-4883 or go to www.frostridge.com.

Photo submitted by Greg Luetticke

Singer Aaron Tippin comes to Frost Ridge Campround on Saturday, June 9.

This hitmaker is more than that. He's also a pilot, farmer, winemaker, outdoorsman, competitive body builder and devoted family man. "Hillbilly Hercules" hails from South Carolina and came into the country music spotlight in 1990 with such hits as "You've got to Stand for Something" and "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong with the Radio."

His latest album, his 13th, is called "In Overdrive" and it's full of fresh takes on truck drivin' classics like "Six Days on the Road," "Prisoner of the Highway," and "East Bound and Down."

Before "The Hardest Working Man in Country Music" takes the stage, some of the best local bands will perform. Mayberry After Midnight, Bush Hogs, Double Cross and Closing Time will get the crowd moving and ready for Aaron Tippin.

If you want to camp with the bands or meet Aaron in person reserve early or get your VIP Tickets with a private meet-and-greet before they're all gone. Tickets start at $15 and this fundraising event will support the Veterans Administration in Batavia as well as a drop box for Toys For Tots (one of Aaron Tippin's charities). The Toys For Tots drop box will be manned by our Marine(s) whether folks stay for the concert or not.

Purchasing tickets with the PROMO CODE "TBVA" will provide a donation to the Batavia VA, give the purchaser the pre-sale discount price for tickets and enter
them in a drawing for a free upgrade to VIP passes for two.

Try out Frost Ridge's new professional dance floor and see the stage expansion that has even the artists talking. Only tent, overflow and offsite dry camping available remain for this jam. These, too, will sell out, so reserve before they're gone.

The campground and concert venue is located at 8101 Conlon Road in Le Roy. Phone is 768-4883. Email is info@frostridge.com