"Hazzard Homecoming" Shaping Up as "Something Special"

SPERRYVILLE, Va., July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If you are driving into the Shenandoah National Park on the weekend of August 13th and 14th and you see about a hundred "General Lee" 1969 Dodge Chargers rolling through the Blue Ridge Mountains, don't panic. According to Ben Jones, that is simply "Hazzard Nation" heading to Sperryville, Virginia.

Jones, who played "Cooter" on television's perennially popular "The Dukes of Hazzard," says that all those cars are expected at "Hazzard Homecoming," a two-day festival celebrating all things Hazzard.

"Yep, we're expecting a lot of Hazzard County Sheriff's cars, too.  And Boss Hogg's Cadillac, and Daisy's Jeep.  Our fans have a lot of fun with the cars." But the cars are only part of the fun, says "Cooter."

"Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke) is coming. John Schneider (Bo Duke) is coming. And so are James Best (Rosco P. Coltrane), Sonny Shroyer (Enos), and Rick Hurst (Cletus).  So it is going to be a great homecoming for our cast. We already have fans coming from 38 states and 5 foreign countries."

Jones and his wife Alma Viator are the owners of two "Dukes" museums and shops, in Gatlinburg and Nashville, Tennessee. But their home is in Rappahannock County.  "We think it's the most beautiful place in the world," he says.

"Hazzard Homecoming" will also feature two days of country, bluegrass, and gospel music featuring Grammy nominee T. Graham Brown, rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef, bluegrass icon Dr. Ralph Stanley with the Clinch Mountain Boys, and Cooter's Garage Band. There will be a Gospel Sing on Sunday morning with the Lewis Tradition, the first family of bluegrass gospel.

"For the kids, we'll have a bounce room, a water slide, a climbing wall, face painting and pony rides," says Viator. "And there are going to be hot air balloon rides, a fireworks extravaganza on Saturday night, wrestling matches and some serious bicycle stunts."

Viator adds, "On Sunday, we are going to honor our Wounded Warriors. We have about a hundred servicemen and servicewomen coming out from Walter Reed Army Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital. This will give us a chance to thank them personally for their sacrifice on our behalf."

"It is going to be a lot of family fun," says Jones. "Just like The Dukes of Hazzard."

The gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.  Tickets are on sale now. Children 10 and under, Seniors 65 and over and military with an ID are free. Tickets are $15 for 1 day and $20 for both days. For tickets and or more information go to www.cootersplace.com or call 615-872-8358. Discount tickets are available at First Union Market Bank branches in Washington, Warrenton, and Front Royal, Virginia.

Hazzard Homecoming will be at The Thorton Hill Hounds Raceway, located at 4137 Sperryville Pike in Sperryville, VA, 22740.

SOURCE Hazzard Homecoming