Blast from the Past - The Ropes

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When I was a teenager, we use to go to this place to party on the weekends in the summer months. It was on the Fox River, we called it The Ropes. It was a slight clearing in somewhat heavily wooded area and there were 3 big trees that were on the shoreline. Each one of the trees had these big ropes on a branch that you could use to swing out and jump into the river. We would bring out a couple kegs of beer and of course there was always plenty of drugs around. There would be all kinds of people from all the surrounding towns. It was far enough out away from any home or business so no one would know we were out there. We would park our cars in the closest town and walk a couple miles out there. The only vehicles that could get out there were 4-wheel drive vehicles. I remember many times of going out there and just having a great time. I only remember there being a few fights there over the times I went. Usually, they were broken up pretty quickly, no one wanted trouble to come there. It was a place we could go and party and have a good time. Of course, all good things have to come to an end. I was glad I was there for the last party ever in that spot. It was like any other time I was there. A few kegs, a bunch of people that brought their own drink, lot of drugs and people just having fun. The cops came in force to shut down the party. Just like the movies people started to run in every direction. I was close to the river and remember yelling to my one of my friends that was close by me. “the river” is all I said, and I ran full speed and jumped into the river. I swam a little, while fully dressed I knew I could make it since I was a good swimmer but then I wondered how my friend was doing who was a pretty good swimmer too. I looked back and he was right behind me. We made it across the river got out and headed to where are car was parked. We made it home with no issues. Over the few days we heard about all these people that got caught trying to run from the cops. We found out that that week the cops went in and cleared a big path through all the trees and took out the 3 trees. “The Ropes” was no more, and years later they built a subdivision on that land.