Join us at the Kathy Crandall Entertainment Pavilion on Saturday, August 22nd, as we welcome back Replay Band! Replay Band performs a variety of rock hits you’re sure to enjoy. Our food truck for the evening will be Mary’s Urban Kitchen.

Reminder: Concerts are free for RRA Members and their guests only. Concerts are tentatively scheduled for 6:00pm to 9:30pm with food service beginning at 5:00pm. Enjoy from Beach 1 or by boat.

Concert days are RRA Special Use days which means there will be no parties greater than 25 guests at Beach 1. Membership cards will be checked upon entry.

The Beach 1 area will be NO WAKE beginning at 5:00pm on concert nights as boaters will be anchoring for the concert. Boaters, there will be an area to park your watercraft marked by buoys near Beach 1. Please park within the buoyed area.

Mark your calendars! Our next concert is next Saturday, August 8th. The band for the evening will be Mix of Six with food service by Evie’s Luau!

Concerts are free for RRA Members and their guests only. Concerts are tentatively scheduled for 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM with food service beginning at 5:00 PM. Enjoy from Beach 1 or by boat.

Concert days are RRA Special Use days which means there will be no parties greater than 25 guests at Beach 1. Membership cards will be checked upon entry.

The Beach 1 area will be NO WAKE beginning at 5:00 PM on concert nights as boaters will be anchoring for the concert. Boaters, there will be an area to park your watercraft marked by buoys near Beach 1. Please anchor within the buoyed area.

Concert Sponsor

Thank you to WGV Insurance in Orwell for sponsoring our remaining concerts this summer!

Before we dive into our recap, we wish to thank all of those who made it happen! The 60th Anniversary Celebration took a year to plan, coordinate, and execute. July 4th weekend was its exciting conclusion.

Thank you to all of the members and volunteers of the 60th Anniversary Committee, our amazing Clubs, the organizers of the Jason Scribben Volleyball Tournament, our sponsors, and, last but certainly not least, a big round of applause to our outstanding Safety Services: the Roaming Shores Police Department, Rome Fire Department, Morgan Hose Volunteer Fire Department, and SCAD. Your dedication and hard work helped make the weekend safe, successful, and memorable for everyone. Without you, none of this would be possible.

STARS Roaming Shores 5K and 1-Mile

What a great way to kick off Independence Day! On the morning of July 4th, the annual Roaming Shores 5K & 1-Mile Race welcomed 145 registered participants to the Clubhouse. It was a beautiful morning for a race, with 130 runners and walkers crossing the finish line after enjoying the scenic course around the community.

A special thank you goes out to the STARS Club for organizing another outstanding event, as well as our dedicated volunteers, generous sponsors, race officials, and Safety Services for helping make this year’s race a success. Community events like this are only possible because of the many people and businesses that generously give their time and support.

Congratulations to all of our participants and award winners! Below you’ll find links to race photos, the official race results, and this year’s awards. We hope you enjoy reliving the morning’s festivities, and we look forward to seeing everyone back at the starting line next year!

• Race and Awards Album
• Stasny Finish Line Pics
• Results

Cardboard Boat Races

At exactly 12:00 on July 4th 2026, five fearless cardboard creations launched onto the waters of Lake Roaming Rock for what would become one of the most entertaining races in nautical history. The fleet, Cotton Candy Dream, Freedom, Blue Whale, The Monster, and Firework Splash set off with every crew convinced their masterpiece was built on engineering brilliance rather than equal parts duct tape, cardboard, and optimism.

The race remained neck-and-neck until Freedom suddenly decided it had experienced enough “freedom” and in spectacular fashion, the boat floundered and sank, leaving Captain Ruby and Crewman Sunday heroically clinging to the floating remains like shipwreck survivors auditioning for a pirate movie.

As if that weren’t enough excitement, Cotton Candy Dream reached the halfway point only to discover that having a sturdy bottom is, in fact, a fairly important feature for a boat. With impeccable comic timing, the floor gave way, and Captain Skylar vanished into the lake in one unforgettable splash.

Meanwhile, Captain Douglas had The Monster roaring around the halfway mark with a commanding lead, looking nearly impossible to catch. But Captain Mackenna and Crewman Delaney had other plans! Powering Firework Splash with surprising speed, they surged past the stunned Monster in the closing stretch to capture a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

Not to be overlooked, Captain Emaline and the Blue Whale endured enough navigational detours to justify a brand-new GPS. Despite the wandering course, she persevered and safely guided her vessel back to shore, claiming a well-earned third-place finish and proving that sometimes simply making it back in one piece is its own kind of championship.

When the cardboard settled and the splashing stopped, the results were clear:

1st Place: Firework Splash — Captain Mackenna & Crewman Delaney Lawson

2nd Place: The Monster — Captain Douglas Day

3rd Place: Blue Whale — Captain Emaline O’Hara

The rest of the fleet may not have finished quite as planned, but they certainly succeeded in providing the biggest laughs, the most memorable sinkings, and another unforgettable Fourth of July tradition at Lake Roaming Rock.

Cotton Candy Dream – Captain Skylar Day

Freedom – Captain Ruby & Crewman Sunday Zufall – MOST SPECTACULAR SINKING 2026

Firework Splash – Captain Mackenna & Crewman Delaney Lawson – MOST CREATIVE BOAT 2026

We would like to thank all of our racers and give special mention to family and friends who helped construct or supported the boats that raced on Saturday. We would also like to thank our volunteer judges, photographers and our fire/EMS service personnel who provided safety overwatch during the race.

In addition to the above, we would also like to thank NOPEC who awarded us a special community events grant which ultimately made this event and our Cardboard Boat Workshops possible. Last but not least, we would like to thank Todd and Rick of the Ashtabula Aarons who provided us with all of the construction cardboard utilized at our workshops.

Again, thank you for your participation and we truly look forward to seeing you again next year.

Roaming Shores Police Department.

• Cardboard Boat Race Album

Jason Scribben Memorial Volleyball Tournament

The annual Jason Scribben Memorial 3-on-3 Volleyball Tournament returned to Beach #1 on the Fourth of July, bringing together friends, families, and competitors to honor Jason Scribben’s memory through a day of friendly competition.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

1st Place: Jack Hedden, Alex Hedden, and Blake Hedden
2nd Place: Kyle Puckett, Emily Styers, and Scott Styers
3rd Place: Gage Rogers, Ty Rogers, and Vance Rogers

A special congratulations goes to Emily Styers, who was named the recipient of the Joshua Scribben Youth MVP Award. Introduced this year in memory of Jason’s brother, Joshua Scribben, who passed away earlier this year, the award recognizes a young player who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship, effort, and love for the game.

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported this year’s tournament. Your continued support helps preserve a tradition that has honored Jason’s legacy for more than 25 years. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Scribben family for continuing to share this meaningful tradition with the Roaming Shores community year after year.

DJ at Beach 1

Thank you to DJ Doctor D who kept us rocking and dancing into the evening!

Fireworks!

No Independence Day celebration is complete without fireworks! Thanks to the efforts of Mark Dougherty and Barb Buckley, we were able to secure a fireworks vendor in time for the big day.

A special thank-you to Mad Bomber Fireworks for putting on an outstanding fireworks display, and to all of our generous donors whose contributions help make this annual tradition possible. We would also like to recognize the STARS Club, whose fundraising events throughout the year help support the fireworks show and many other community activities. We truly appreciate everyone who helps make this tradition possible!

Sand Sculpture Contest

Despite a rainy start to the morning on July 5, three creative families braved the weather and gathered at Beach 1 for this year’s Sand Sculpture Contest. While Mother Nature may not have fully cooperated, the participants certainly didn’t let the rain dampen their imagination!

Each team put their artistic talents on display, creating impressive sculptures that made judging a difficult task. Thank you to all of the families who participated and helped make this year’s contest a fun addition to our Independence Day weekend celebration.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

1st Place: Clark Family – Team CJs with their impressive Octopus creation.

2nd Place: Kemmerline/Robinette Family – Team Cheetah with their beautiful Mermaid sculpture.

3rd Place: Madison Javorich – Team Super Girls with a wonderful Sand Castle creation.

Congratulations to all of our participants, and thank you for making the best of a rainy morning.

Cornhole Tournament

Unfortunately, the rain turned into storms, forcing the Cornhole Tournament to be postponed until July 11. Despite the change in date, we still enjoyed a day of great competition and friendly fun!

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

First Place (Gold): Eric & Topher Salek
Second Place (Silver): Josh Kovats & Brennan Davidson
Third Place (Bronze): Mac Wright & Owen Maruca

After battling their way through the loser’s bracket, Eric and Topher defeated Josh and Brennan twice in the championship rounds to capture this year’s Gold Championship. Congratulations to all of our competitors, and thank you to everyone who came out to make the tournament a success!

• Cornhole Tournament Album

Food Trucks & Vendors

A big thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who helped make our Independence Day weekend celebration even more enjoyable!

On Saturday, members and guests enjoyed delicious food from Cheesy Squeezy, Baba Saj, and Cotton Candy & Snow Cones.

On Sunday morning, Scribblers Coffee Truck and Mary’s Urban Kitchen kept everyone fueled with breakfast, while Tornado Potato Curls served lunch later in the day.

We’d also like to thank Brenda McDonald and Thee Sassy Shack for offering a great selection of apparel and merchandise throughout the weekend.

We appreciate each of our vendors for spending the holiday weekend with us and helping make Roaming Shores’ 60th Anniversary Independence Day celebration a memorable one!

5K & 1-Mile

The Annual Roaming Shores 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk will be held this year on Saturday, July 4th, beginning at 8:00 AM at the Clubhouse!

Our race continues to be one of the largest racing events in the county! Be sure to register ahead of time to secure your shirt size and registration discount!

More Info & Sign Up

Thank you, Sponsors!

Cardboard Boat Races

Make your designs a reality and join the Roaming Shores Police Department at noon on July 4th as they host their 8th Annual Cardboard Boat Race at Beach 1.

The Challenge: Design and build a person-powered corrugated cardboard boat capable of racing a 200-yard course on Lake Roaming Rock. Boats may be powered by canoe paddles, oars, kayak paddles, approved mechanical paddle wheels, sails, or raw muscle power.

For more information, including the rules and waiver, see the links below. There will be another Cardboard Boat Workshop on Saturday, June 27th, from noon to 2:00 PM.

For questions, contact the Roaming Shores Police Department at rspd@roamingshorespd.org.

• Race Info & Rules
• Sign Up & Waiver

Workshop

Jason Scribben Memorial Volleyball Tournament

Jason P. Scribben was a senior at Grand Valley High School who tragically lost his life in a boating accident on Lake Roaming Rock on July 4, 1998. In his memory, the volleyball court at Beach #1 was dedicated to him. Since 1999, Jason’s family and friends have held an annual 3-on-3 volleyball tournament in his honor.

This year, the Jason P. Scribben Memorial 3-on-3 Volleyball Tournament will take place on July 4 at the Roaming Shores Beach #1 Volleyball Court. Registration will begin at 10:00 AM, and the tournament will start at 11:00 AM. The entry fee is $30 per team, which helps cover the cost of awards.

Jason’s family is no longer able to provide lunch for participants. Players are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and beverages to stay hydrated throughout the day. Food trucks and the Roaming Shores concession stand will also be available.

A special thank you to the community, friends, family members, and both new and returning players who continue to make this event fun, competitive, and a meaningful tribute to Jason each year.

Registration

Fireworks

One of the highlights of summer is our annual Roaming Shores Fireworks Display! This year’s show is scheduled for Saturday, July 4th, at 10:00 PM, weather permitting. The rain date will be July 5th.

The annual display is made possible by the generous donations of our membership and the tireless efforts of the STARS Club! The show is best viewed by boat or from the Beach 1 area.

As the fireworks display is launched from Beach 2, please note that the entire Beach 2 area will be closed on the afternoon of the show. There is no set time for Beach 2’s closure, as it is determined by the fireworks company.

Boaters: Please anchor your boats around the buoys (rather than farther down the lake) for safety and the best view of both lower and aerial displays. Try to be in place by 9:30–9:45 PM.

On fireworks night, the entire lake will be NO WAKE beginning at 8:00 PM until dawn the following morning.

Light Up the Lake Night

Following the fireworks, be sure to “Light Up the Lake” by turning on your lights, both on and off the lake.

This annual event is held in honor and memory of Pat Sowry. Help us keep boaters safe!

Sand Sculpture Contest – July 5th

Get your family and friends together for a fun Sand Sculpture Contest at Beach 1! This event will be held on July 5th beginning at 10:00 AM.

Event Information

• Registration: Sunday, July 5th at 10:00 AM

• Registration Fee: FREE

• Who Can Participate: Family teams of all ages

• Location: Beach 1 (by the Main Clubhouse)

• Event Time: 10:00 AM – Noon

• Judging Begins: Noon

• Awards: Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners

Rules

Teams must provide their own buckets, shovels, and tools. Teams may use only sand, water, shells, and other natural beach materials — no colored sand or other additives are permitted.

Judging Criteria

Total of 25 points possible:

• Creativity & Originality: 1–10 points

• Level of Difficulty: 1–5 points

• Overall Appeal: 1–10 points

STARS Cornhole Tournament – July 5th

The STARS Club will host its Annual Cornhole Tournament on Sunday, July 5th. The tournament will be held on the field between the Roaming Shores Clubhouse Pool & Pavilion (13 Roaming Rock Blvd.), rain or shine.

Check-in and registration begin at Noon, with the tournament starting at 1:00 PM.

Registration is $20 per person.

You may enter as an individual or as a team. Individual entries will be assigned a teammate via a random drawing.

Registration is limited to the first 40 participants.

Registration

Food Trucks

We have a great lineup of food trucks!

• July 4th @ Noon: Cheesy Squeezy & Crooked Tacos

• July 5th @ 10:00 AM: Scribblers Coffee Truck & Cookies to Go

• July 5th @ 11:00 AM: Little Charlie’s Bakery

• July 5th @ Noon: Tornado Potato Curls & Mary’s Urban Kitchen

It’s going to be an amazing weekend — don’t miss it!

As part of our Rockin’ 60th Summer Celebration, members and guests gathered June 13th and 14th to celebrate the founding of Roaming Rock Shores!

The festivities began Saturday morning with the Kids Fishing Tournament, where young anglers tried their luck to catch the biggest fish of the day.

Throughout the day, members enjoyed food trucks, fellowship, and beautiful weather before gathering along the shoreline for two outstanding water ski shows. Brenda McDonald was also on hand with a variety of exclusive 60th Anniversary apparel and merchandise, giving residents an opportunity to show their community pride and commemorate this milestone year. The evening concluded with a concert by Thunder Creek at the Kathy Crandall Entertainment Pavilion, providing a perfect ending to a great day on the lake.

Sunday’s Family & Kids Day brought even more excitement, with beach yoga, games, an obstacle course, bounce houses, face painting, and activities. Families enjoyed lunch, frozen treats, and live entertainment from Danimal the Balloon Blowing Clown and Jungle Terry, whose performances delighted children and adults alike.

Just as the weekend festivities wrapped up, Mother Nature reminded us who is really in charge with a powerful storm that arrived shortly after the final show concluded.

Events like these are only possible because of the incredible volunteers who generously give their time and talents to our community. We extend our sincere thanks to the members of the 60th Anniversary Committee for their months of planning and coordination. We are also grateful to the volunteers from the STARS Club, Polar Bear Club, Fishing Club, Yoga Club, and the Roaming Shores Police Department for helping make the weekend a success.

A special thank you goes to Terri Pilarczyk for volunteering her time and artistic talents to provide face painting for our younger residents throughout the day.

We would also like to thank our performers, food vendors, and everyone who attended the events. Seeing neighbors reconnect, families spend time together, and new memories being made is what community celebrations are all about.

As we continue our Rockin’ 60th Summer Celebration, we invite everyone to enjoy the photo albums from Founding Weekend and relive some of the wonderful moments that made this event so special. Thanks go out to Jan Dougherty, Lisa Breier, Wendy Carley, and Betsy Jancigar for your photo contributions!

Thank you for helping make Roaming Shores’ 60th Anniversary a celebration to remember!

• Founding Weekend Album
• Ski Show Album (photographer: Lisa Breier)

Come join us on June 28 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM outside the Clubhouse for our Lake & Local Market! We’ll have a variety of vendors selling local and homemade goods.

Depending on the success of the market, we’ll host additional markets in July and August. Be sure to come out and support the Lake & Local Market!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Opening Ceremonies and Clubhouse Dedication this past weekend!

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who played a role in bringing this renovation to life. From contractors and vendors to staff, volunteers, committee members, and all those working behind the scenes, thank you for your time, effort, and dedication to making this project possible.

A special thank you goes to Denny and Howard of Crandall & Co. Builders for their hard work not only throughout the Clubhouse renovation project as a whole, but especially for their dedication this past week, which helped us secure our occupancy permit in time for the celebration.

We know many of you are eager to begin using the Clubhouse again for rentals, meetings, and club functions. While we are incredibly close, there are still a few finishing touches, final details, and logistics to complete before we can officially consider the renovation finished.

The wait is almost over! We expect to have everything wrapped up very soon. Stay tuned for updates and our official announcement! 

Join us June 13th and 14th as Roaming Rock Shores continues its Rockin’ 60th Summer Celebration with a fun-filled Founding Weekend honoring 60 years of Lake Roaming Rock! This exciting weekend will feature live entertainment, family activities, food trucks, water ski shows, and much more at Beach 1 and the Clubhouse area.

Saturday, June 13th

The weekend kicks off Saturday morning at 10:00 AM with the Kids Fishing Tournament at Beach 1. Young anglers will compete for bragging rights, with the child catching the biggest fish winning a $25 prize.

Beginning at Noon, food trucks will be serving throughout the day, including Blowing Smoke BBQ and Emergency Meatballs.

The excitement continues with two Water Ski Shows presented at 2:00 PM and again at 5:00 PM. These performances are sure to be a crowd favorite!

Important info regarding the Water Ski Show.

At 6:00 PM, wrap up the evening with a live concert by Thunder Creek. The band will perform classic rock and rock hits as members and guests gather lakeside to celebrate the founding of our community.

Sunday, June 14th – Family & Kids Day

Sunday’s activities are centered around family fun and children’s entertainment.

The day begins at 10:00 AM with Beach Yoga for Kids & Parents, offering a relaxing and fun way to start the morning together by the lake.

At 11:00 AM, Kids Activities will begin and include:

• Obstacle Course
• Kids Games
• Face Painting
• Bounce House
• Rock Creek Library activities

Lunch will begin at Noon with hotdogs and burgers served by the STARS Club, Polar Bear Club, and the Roaming Shores Police Department.

Also at Noon, the Fro Yo Food Truck will arrive, with a free item available for the first 100 kids.

At 1:00 PM, enjoy a performance by Danimal the Balloon Blowing Clown, followed by Jungle Terry at 3:00 PM with exciting animal encounters and educational entertainment for the whole family.

We hope you’ll join us for this special weekend as we celebrate 60 years of memories, community, and fun at Lake Roaming Rock!

Sixty years ago the Greater Cleveland Area enjoyed two daily newspapers.  The Cleveland Plain Dealer was the morning paper, and the Cleveland Press the afternoon paper.  In an era before the Internet and instant delivery of news electronically, the Press enjoyed a circulation of over 400,000 subscribers.  Each paper featured a robust section containing real estate advertisements and every week published a special Homes insert.

Don Reiss, a graduate of Cleveland’s Cooper School of Art, worked the Classified Advertisement division of the Cleveland Press beginning in 1952.  Because of his sales experience and artistic expertise, Don could both sell and design promotional ads.  Enter the development of Roaming Shores in 1966.  Don called the developers, made an appointment to sell advertising, and visited the future Roaming Shores just after the trees had been cut down and the construction of the dam was underway.  This was the first of many visits to the Shores by Don as the marketing of the community progressed over the next two years.  The opportunity to build a cottage or home on a lake was a big draw in post-World War II America.  In a recent interview, Don recalled that among the first of the amenities developed were the beaches and clubhouse to show buyers the future potential of the community.

Don related that when the Shores was conceived, the development was called “Roman Rock Shores;” however, the sign painter for the project apparently mislabeled it as “Roaming Shores,” and the name stuck.  (Note: The full name developed into “Roaming Rock Shores,” but in 1979 the community became known as simply “Roaming Shores” when the Village of Roaming Shores was incorporated; however, according to the RRA office, our subdivision is still officially “Roaming Rock Shores.”)   The Greater Cleveland Area was determined to be a fertile field for promotion of the sale of Roaming Shores lots so over the next few years, Don created a series of ads and cartoons for publication in the Cleveland Press, including the invention of several caricature illustrations using a beaver motif for marketplace “branding”.  So how did the pair of beavers come to symbolize this new real estate venture in Ashtabula County?  Don said the idea was simple.  The developers were building a dam on Rock Creek, and beavers were also known for construction of dams so the association was a natural.  Don remarked that his beaver cartooning and artwork for the initial advertising of Roaming Shores was “a lot of fun to do.”   

Today, Don resides in Westlake, Ohio where we met him over dinner several months ago.  He worked at the Cleveland Press for twenty years and then managed advertising and catalog design at the newly formed Invacare company in Elyria, that is now a global leader in home and long term care medical equipment.  He was delighted to learn of the success of Roaming Shores real estate promotions when informed that Roaming Shores now has over 900 homes.  Recalling what lots and homes at Roaming Shores sold for in the mid-`1960’s, Don was amazed to learn of lots in the 2020’s now selling for over $100,000 and homes going for over one million dollars.  He commented, “It is nice to see the lake survived and that nice houses are being built.”