In the heart of Rothbury, Michigan, there’s a hallowed piece of land that vibrates with the resonant echoes of electronic beats and the vibrant hues of transformative human experiences. It’s a place that has been carved into the annals of festival history, etched deeply with the indomitable spirit of one man: Wally Wojack.
Photo: Oceana Count Press
Born into the post-Great Depression era, Wally was a midwesterner by birth, a rancher by choice, and a dreamer by divine decree. There was something about Wally that bespoke the wild west spirit. The tales of his life read like chapters from a Jack Kerouac novel, rife with life, love, and an insatiable zest for the adventurous unknown.
In 1955, Wally, owner of the then-named “Jack and Jill Ranch,” decided to cultivate his own sanctuary. With no blueprint but Mother Nature herself, he began sowing seeds in the vast expanse of his property. Little did he know, his labor of love would morph into the Sherwood Forest, an integral element of what would become Electric Forest, the enchanting Mecca for the global EDM community.
Fast forward to 2008, and those seedlings had become towering companions to the resonating sounds of the Rothbury Music Festival. The festival was a newborn, its lineup a spectacular collection of rock ‘n’ roll icons and jam bands. Names like John Mayer and Modest Mouse reverberated through the now-thriving forest, casting an enchanting spell over the heartland. Wally was in the wings, watching his humble ranch transform into a sanctuary for the music-satiated souls of the world.
When the festival went on a brief hiatus in 2010, there was a palpable absence in the air. However, the silence was short-lived. In 2011, Rothbury was re-energized as the first-ever Electric Forest Festival, courtesy of Insomniac Events and Madison House. The burgeoning EDM culture, coupled with the festival’s deep-rooted connections to nature, summoned music lovers far and wide to embark on a spiritual journey through Wally’s Sherwood Forest.
Photo: Electric Forest
Wally, though a septuagenarian by this time, was far from an onlooker. Sporting his iconic cowboy hat, he became a familiar and beloved presence amid the pulsating crowd. His radiant smile was infectious, his love for the festival tangible in his every word. He famously quipped Those kids (at Electric Forest) acted like the kids did in the 1950s. We dressed funny; we drank a lot of beer; and we had fun. History repeats itself.” Just goes to show that his joy in sharing his ranch with these eclectic, vibrant festival-goers was as genuine as the forest itself.
After Wally passed away in 2017, the forest seemed to hold its breath. But the festival carried on, a testament to the dreamer’s undying spirit. As festival attendees made their pilgrimages to the Double JJ Ranch, now rechristened in his honor, they did so with Wally in their hearts. His love for the land, his passion for people, and his unwavering belief in the beauty of shared human experiences were etched into every corner of the festival.
The legacy Wally left behind was not just the majestic Sherwood Forest or the electric allure of the festival. It was a melting pot of love, freedom, and unity. The land he nurtured now provides solace to those who seek it, and the festival he enabled continues to be a beacon for music enthusiasts worldwide. In every thump of the bass, every rustle of the leaves, every shared smile, Wally lives on. The Electric Forest Festival may have lost its founding father, but his spirit continues to dance among the trees he so lovingly planted, keeping the magic alive, the music flowing, and the smiles radiant. Wally Wojack, the patron saint of Electric Forest, will forever be remembered as the man who carved a utopia out of the wilderness, turning dreams into the tangible reality of harmonic bliss.
– Scene Kid