By Randy Rogers
It all started back in 2024 when the residents of Dubach woke up one morning to find a newly restored ballpark, a new children’s park, the Lewis Pavillion on James Lake had been repaired and turned into an outdoor music venue, a new fountain, a one-mile-long nature (birding) trail, a new fishing and kayaking dock, and finally – a new boat ramp.
So, it made sense, with Independence Day just around the corner, to have several events held on that day: ribbon cuttings at the Lewis Pavillion, the new ballpark, and the Children’s Park. We’d start it off with a softball tournament, have live music at the Pavilion leading up to a fireworks show launched from the levee at dark.
We needed a name for this event. We thought about bringing back Dubach Day but decided we really wanted to celebrate, not the days gone by, but the rebirth of our little town.
Dubach now has restored amenities that would bring people into town—to play ball, fish, canoe or kayak, bird watch, take the kids to the park, or just hang out on the pavilion, listen to the fountain, and maybe think, hey, I might like to live here in Dubach.
Dubach is not the town it was back in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Few small towns are. Back then, merchants filled almost every downtown store. We had a high school with award-winning baseball and basketball programs. Yes, Dubach thrived, mainly because almost every man, and some women, were employed by the local gasoline plant.
Now we try to be realistic and pitch Dubach as a beautiful, quiet, safe, little country town only 13 minutes from our Big Southern Sister—Ruston—down a 65-mph four-lane highway.
Growing up, we all went to “town” (Ruston) to shop, buy clothes, dine, and go to college. So, nothing, in that regard, has changed much.
Our properties aren’t as costly as Ruston’s and we’re steadily working to get rid of some of the eyesores that convey a poor first impression. Once that’s done, look out!
That brings us to Celebrate Dubach 2.0 to be held Saturday, July 5. This year’s softball tournament will be played on our restored baseball field, and, for the very first time, under brand new LED lights. Food trucks scattered all over. And for the first time, we’ll have a cross-country run utilizing the ballpark and the nature trail, then a fishing tournament, then live music that afternoon starring Nashville recording artist and platinum-selling songwriter Chancie Neal. Chancie and her band will perform right up until time we light the fireworks show off the levee and help us all celebrate our country’s birthday!
Now, hopefully you can see why we chose to call it “Celebrate Dubach.”
It was simply time to throw a party and rejoice in the hard work by so many volunteers and donors who pulled off this small-town miracle. Now it’s time to do it again!
And there’s more big news! Eric Hanna, of the Dubach Hanna’s, recently purchased the old downtown Gem Theater and plans to turn it into a venue for weekend movie goers and to host catered corporate events.
Eric’s going to open the Gem’s doors from 10:00 to noon during Celebrate Dubach Saturday to allow a brief walk-through prior to the start of reconstruction. Once finished, we hope you’ll bring your family and take in a show.
The Bach is Back!
Randy Rogers
For more information, see the “Dubach Legends” Facebook page.