- Location
- 5200 Saufley Field Rd
- Years
- 1967-2004
- Now
- St. Anne Catholic Church
In May 1964, Rev. John Licari organized a barbecue chicken dinner as a fundraiser for his small parish, St. Anne Catholic Church in Bellview. In subsequent years, it moved to an “Autumn Round-Up” format with Old West theming. In 1967, the church added a ghost town called “Bellview Junction” and the first celebrity guest, boxer Rocky Marciano. The annual 3-day event surged in popularity, often attracting more than 150,000 people with food and Western entertainment that included shootouts, can-can dancers, and . In 1999, in the wake of the Columbine massacre, Licari’s successor Rev. John Gray decided to remove the mock gunfights. After years of declining attendance, the church canceled the Round-Up in 2003. Hurricane Ivan destroyed most of the Bellview Junction buildings in 2004, and an attempt to revive the Round-Up at Sam’s Fun City did not gain traction.