Here Holly, go get it. This one’s for you!

In the three days that you will spend at Goldstock, four days if you're lucky, you will make a few dozen trips down to the lake. Trust me when I tell you that because you're pups are gonna want to spend a lot of time at the lake. As you make your descent down the hill towards the water you will pass by a red chair that contains an endless supply of tennis balls.

That's Holly's chair and she is the reason that you will never walk down that hill without a tennis ball if your furry companion so desires that you have one down at the lake. It's a wonderful tradition and a loving tribute to a very special girl that loved Goldstock.

This is Holly's story as told by her Mom;

Dear golden friends from Camp Goldstock,

Please visit Holly’s Magic Chair. This is the story of how it came to be.

Last summer (2008) when we returned from Goldstock (a camp mostly for golden retrievers and their people – www.goldstockcamp.com), I told my neighbor about the great time our dog Holly had playing ball and racing down to the lake. She had just been diagnosed with spinal neuropathy but she acted like she was 2 when she saw that lake, not 15!

My neighbor at home often sees tennis balls in the retention pond at the high school when she takes her early morning walk. She said she would gather some up for Holly. 

So, every day since last fall when Holly went out for her morning walk at about 7:30 a.m., there on the chair on our front porch would be a gift of one, two, or sometimes a jackpot of tennis balls. 

Holly would sniff each one, smile as if to say, "Wow this is such a magic chair!" and after her walk, on the way back into the house, she would grab one to add to her pile of treasures that she has been collecting since we adopted her at age 11. 

As the year went on I started putting the extra tennis balls from the Magic Chair into a bag in the garage for the next Goldstock camp. 

Last week Holly stopped checking the chair. 

Her thoughts were focused on how to get up in the morning and lie down for a nap and if she could manage to eat breakfast. After all, she was 15 years old!

Her days of tennis balls were behind her and she earned her wings just short of her 16th birthday and her third trip to Goldstock.

Holly would like you to play with her tennis balls from the Magic Chair you pass on the way to the lake at Goldstock. All she asks is that as you throw out the first ball you say, "Here Holly, go get it. This one’s for you!" She’ll be right there.

With Love,

Holly’s Mom

(Holly Goes to Camp, Leaves Legacy of Tennis Balls)

Help Support Rescue at Goldstock


If you haven't already, please like and share our Facebook page. As a grassroots event, with very limited funds, supported completely by volunteers, word of mouth is our life-line.

In the weeks leading up to camp the page is filled with all announcements you need to plan your weekend! And after camp is over it's filled with newly created memories of another Goldstock gone by. Liking and sharing is a free way for us to spread the word about Goldstock and how it supports Rescues all over the country.

And speaking of supporting rescue, remember that the number one mission of Goldstock is to support rescue! It's the only reason Goldstock exists.  While you're having fun and enjoying the amenities the campground has to offer from the lake to the open fields, please remember that the entire event is run by volunteers that take time out of their stay at Goldstock to do poop patrol or help rescue organizations man their vendor booths. It's all to ensure that camp runs as smoothly as possible so people want to come back to support rescue year after year. Interested in rolling up your sleeves at camp? Please mention it on your registration form. Or ask someone to point you in the direction of Gail Lustig, the founder of Goldstock.  She will be more then happy to show you around, introduce you to everyone and put you to work. 😃

Every event, every booth, and every contest at Goldstock is sponsored by rescues or people that care enough about Rescue to create and support an event where the proceeds are donated to the cause. Much time and effort is put into every event at Goldstock so please make an effort to support as many as you can.

With that in mind here are some tips on how you can support rescues at Goldstock;

  1. Set a dollar amount of how much you will spend over the course of the weekend. Camp is kept inexpensive on purpose so that you spend ALL your money on Rescue.
  2. Even if you don't need tchachkis or have everything already spend your $$ on raffles or sweetest dog.
  3. Support EVERY rescue. Make sure to buy something from every rescue booth in the rec center. And if there's nothing you want then just donate to the rescue running the table.
  4. Always keep some cash in your pocket for when you get asked to vote for sweetest dog, or to buy a raffle ticket or when you see the mimosa mobile!! 😃
  5. LIVE AUCTION. This is not something you should skip. It brings a lot of money into the participating rescues that have items on the block. This is where you can get something truly unique and lots of hand crafted items. It may be more expensive, but maybe that's where you spend all your $$. Even if you think you're not going to buy, it's still a lot of fun to watch and you might get swept up in the moment!! And you might spot the mimosa mobile!! 😃
  6. SILENT AUCTION: This is the PERFECT EVENT if you have something you want to donate to a Rescue as an auction item. Doesn't cost you a dime to go through your attic and find an item that you think someone may want to buy. Keep it small but pack it in the car and when you get to camp you can always find a rescue to donate it to. Anything dog related is usually pretty popular!!

Please, please make sure to come to both the live and silent auctions!

Thank you for choosing to come to Goldstock this year and choosing to support Rescue and we will see you all real soon!!!

Goldstock Bandanas are Back -- Pre-Order Only

Annie showing off the new banadana surrounded by the baby bootcampers.

Thanks to Marty Harris the Goldstock Bandanas are back this year. They will only be available for pick up at Goldstock this year and by pre-order only. They are the same as other years $5 each. Click here to place your order. Orders will only be taken until August 17th so please order soon! All proceeds will be donated to Montana Precious Gold.