The Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole made it worthwhile to rewind the B.A.S.S. historical timeline 55 years ago to a chain of events that played a significant role into what B.A.S.S. is today. And then fast forward to the current day, where a former landmark from that era is undergoing a rebirth.
Coincidentally, Feb. 22-24, 1968 (the same dates and month of the Elite event) were the dates of the Ray Scott’s third tournament, the Seminole Lunker, just one month after he incorporated the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
The connection between Scott, a man named Jack Wingate, and his business known at the time as Wingate’s Lunker Lodge near Bainbridge, Ga., were monumental in turning Scott’s dream into reality.
“I would not have made it without men like Jack Wingate,” Scott would recall.
In early 1967, Scott began recruiting enough anglers to sign up for the All-American, his first attempt to form a professional tournament organization. The going was slow, and Scott spent a $1,300 loan on what was then known as a Wide Area Telephone Service, or WATS line, which charged a flat rate for making long distance calls. Back then, it was like making unlimited free calls anywhere in the country on your cellphone, instead of paying by the minute. Scott, an insurance salesman at the time, wanted to smile and dial his way to success, but he didn’t have a contact list of prospects to get started.
Scott wisely chose a handful of acquaintances to seed his prospect list, among them Wingate, whose lodge on Seminole attracted guide clients and anglers from throughout the Southeast for its reputation of producing catches of lunker-sized bass.
Scott recalled: “I called Jack and asked if had any customers willing to pay $100 to enter the All-American.”
Without hesitation, Wingate thumbed through an index card box, giving Scott the names and telephone numbers of what would become 20 of the original 106 anglers to sign up for the tournament, including Wingate.
From there, Scott recruited more anglers from the original contacts, enough to fill the next two events, including the 1968 Seminole Lunker headquartered at Wingate’s Lunker Lodge.
Lunker Lodge closed years ago; however, a remarkable story is transpiring that will not only carry on its legacy, but do so in a manner in which Wingate would be proud.
Meet Don and Patti Fabian, both retired U.S. military veterans who are converting the former landmark into an outdoor recovery retreat for veterans. Their goal is to provide a palatial setting for veterans to get reacclimated to civilian life following overseas deployment, and even long afterwards. There are no age limits; veterans of all ages are welcome, as are the same fishing clientele served by Lunker Lodge in its heyday.
Don, who recently retired after 34 years in the U.S. Army, came up with the idea for what is now called At Ease Marina and Campground during a 900-mile, 40-day hike across Europe following a deployment to Iraq. While Don used hiking and kayaking as mental health coping mechanisms, he realized the universal challenges faced by military personnel after returning to civilian life as veterans.
“When we leave home we hit the pause button on our lives, and then we hit play again just as soon as we return,” he said. “There is no pause, no soft landing, no integration with families before we return home like I found they do in other countries, and I wanted to find a solution.”
Patty, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force, and Don set out to find property where they could make their dream of creating a veteran’s coping program and recovery haven a reality. Call it what you wish, coincidence or divine intervention, the search led them to the unincorporated community of Recovery, Ga., and to a campground near the former Wingate’s Lunker Lodge.
After an offer on a small tract of land fell through, the Fabians were ready to pack up and leave when the owners of the lodge offered to sell. Although financially out of their budget, the Fabians became convinced sacrificing their savings was worth the risk.
“A tract of land, on a lake, already with a campground and marina, in Recovery, Georgia, and with a large community of retired veterans made it all a fit,” said Don. “That, along with the reputation created by the lodge and the great fishing.”
The Fabians have ambitious plans with the nonprofit Operation At Ease created to fund programs for helping veterans cope, regardless of age and stage of retirement. They hope to form partnerships with other veteran groups who align with their mutual goals to assist veterans heal, recover and adapt to civilian life professionally, personally and with their families, regardless of their time in service.
After only a few months, small steps are headed in the right direction. Already, a list of 50 local anglers — many of them veterans — are available to take veterans fishing. A veteran’s day tournament, flag retirement ceremony and other events have already happened. Don is eyeing hiking trails for the 286-acres they lease from the Corps of Engineers. Renovations to the store and restaurant will make it ADA friendly. Plans are to convert the bar into a Social Quarters for an American Legion Post. Through a pilot project with Veterans Administration, veterans will be invited to a retreat.
The legacy left behind by Jack Wingate is not lost with the Fabians.
“The previous owners said we’d get tired of hearing about Jack Wingate,” Don said. “We embrace it, because of the history and connection it has this area and beyond.”
The “What Would Jack Do?” motto they follow in operating At Ease pays tribute to how Wingate served his customers. No request is denied, nor too big or small to meet the needs of guests.
The Fabians are collecting and restoring many of the relics once part of the décor at the original Lunker Lodge. At the entrance during its heyday was a sign inscribed with “Cuz, They Bite Yesterday” and on the opposite side, “Cuz, They’ll Tare It Up Tomorrow.”
The signs were replicated, installed at their original locations, and also feature the Pepsi logo for a reason. Wingate favored Pepsi and served it exclusively, and the same holds true today.
Some things never change; while others do for the better.