Man it’s hard to deny it after years of being away but there was just something special about that place. I look back on it fondly although at the time it was not anything worth being nostalgic about. I guess it takes years of distance to recall how amazing it was. The ice cold temps one day which turned into sweltering humidity the next which caused the tent to become a damp swamp of smoky wetness. It was like showering in smoke with your clothes on. And God forbid if it rained. The rooms that were of very questionable quality and the entire wing that was “closed” which were a rite of passage. The great mystery of what was gonna happen to your credit card information. The feeling that you were trapped in the Overlook Hotel from The Shining. The wild and completely unexplainable “owners apartment” thing that could be accessed from a secret door only to find throngs of people jammed into a time warp decorated room that resembled the scene from Rosemarys Baby. The carpet that squished when you walked in it leaving foot impressions where you walked. The annual Prom Night coinciding with the pipe show (can you imagine having your high school prom in that place!) The massive industrial fans in the hallways all night long. The pool I never was brave enough to swim in. The random and completely awesome jam sessions that used to spring up on occasion. Man I’m glad the CPS has a new home and there’s people digging it but unless you were there all those years you will NEVER KNOW. especially with the absolutely insane crowds and camaraderie that will always be a part of pipe lore.
