Sports History

Russ Houks Wrestling Camp History: Preserving the Legacy of America's Premier Olympic Wrestling Training Center

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• Athletic recognition , Sports history

Russ Houks Wrestling Camp at Maple Lake in Forksville, Pennsylvania, represents one of the most significant chapters in American wrestling history. From 1962 through the mid-1970s, this legendary camp served as the official U.S. Olympic and Pan-American Games Training Camp, hosting wrestling icons like Dan Gable, Chris Taylor, and the Peterson brothers while shaping the future of American Olympic wrestling. For wrestling programs, alumni associations, and sports facilities today, preserving these remarkable camp histories presents both a challenge and an opportunity to honor the athletes, coaches, and traditions that built the foundation of competitive wrestling in America.