Foundation Seeks Bluegrass Property

A bluegrass-loving businessman’s nonprofit foundation is trying to purchase the music park and campground south of Indianapolis that has been home to the Bill Monroe bluegrass festival for more than 40 years.

Steve Johnson, who first attended the festival when he was 5 years old in the ’70s, formed the Bean Blossom Brown County Jamboree Preservation Foundation to purchase the property.

Monroe bought the tract of land, which includes a museum, in the early ’50s. The property is now up for sale by owner Dwight Dillman, who decided to help the group by lowering the price from $3.9 million to $3 million. He’s also removed the “for sale” sign as a show of support.

Bluegrass music has been a part of the area since 1940 when the old Brown County Jamboree was held next to the highway. The 43rd annual Bill Monroe festival is scheduled for June 13-20.