Bing Crosby Stadium is
located at 50 Stadium Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.
 
 
Front Royal
has long been known as a baseball town. But until 1950, it provided no
formal playing field for its favorite spectator sport.
The fifty
acres, along Happy Creek, was purchased at $250 an acre.
The Front Royal
- Warren County Recreation Association undertook the project of raising
funds to develop the stadium. Besides playing fields, the stadium needed
a wall, bleachers, dugouts and lighting.
A goal of
$10,000 was set for accomplishing all that needed to be done. Local
citizens and businesses were invited to purchase bonds in denominations
of $10 per bond to finance the project. Fund raising projects were
undertaken.
A break for the
community and its fund raising efforts came in the spring of 1949, the
year Bing Crosby was grand marshal of the Apple Blossom Festival in
Winchester, Va. Raymond R. Guest, Sr., a personal friend of the late
entertainer, prevailed upon him to make an appearance in Front Royal on
behalf of the recreation association.
Mr. Crosby
appeared before a sell-out crowd in Warren County High School and during
the ensuing year, plans were made for a Bing Crosby Day celebration to
benefit the recreation association. Bing Crosby Day, April 1, 1950, drew
crowds from everywhere, as Mr. Crosby entertained and captivated the
huge audience with his expert blending of friendliness and informality.
Highlight of the evening was his rendition of "I feel like I'm on my own
soil, when I'm down in Old Front Royal," his own version of "Dear Hearts
and Gentle People".
A grateful
community named its new stadium in honor of a nationally known Hollywood
figure that had taken time and given money to forward one of its dreams.
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