For 85 years, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been the crown jewel of biker culture, a place where engines roar, crowds gather, and the spirit of freedom takes over South Dakota. Among the legends and the madness, Jesse James Dupree of the band Jackyl found himself at the center of it all. Partnering with Michael Ballard at the world-famous Full Throttle Saloon and Pappy Hoel Campground, Jesse wanted to make the 85th anniversary rally unforgettable.
As Jesse puts it, tents simply do not suffice on the prairie. High winds, constant strain, and endless headaches. This year, he wanted something different, something permanent, reliable, and unforgettable.
“You do not want to be stuck with high wind in a tent. So, what do you do? You call Great Western Buildings. That is exactly what we did. And we have changed the game,” Jesse told GWB.
The new roof-only GWB building became the heart of the Pappy Hoel pool party. Though “party” almost seems like an understatement. It was complete with high-wire motorcycle stunts, the legendary motorcycle globe of death, and more. Rally goers noticed the building upgrade immediately, with Jesse saying everyone was “over the top” about the transformation.
“Not only did we put that building up there, we hung a little dinghy boat with an outboard motor, and I had to put some headers on it in case we needed to set a land speed record,” Jesse laughed.
When he called Great Western with requests for extra weight capacity and decoration flexibility, the team got to work. “They said, ‘Not a problem.’ Within a couple of hours, they redesigned it, configured it so we could do virtually anything we wanted to do. Super service, and they turned it around so quick because we needed it yesterday.”
What stood out most to Jesse was not just the product, it was the people. “I felt like I had known the guys forever. They wrapped up around us, and they made it happen.”
The 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was more than just another year in the books. With the largest party pool in the world, a new building that redefined what is possible, and memories that will last a lifetime, Jesse and his team showed how far a vision can go when you have the right partners.
“Everyone has been so over the top about what we have done here with the Pappy Hoel pool party. It is phenomenal to see. We are making memories. That is what we do. And Great Western helps us make the best memories.”
Jesse James Dupree and the team behind the Pappy Hoel pool party proved that Great Western Buildings can turn big ideas into unforgettable realities.
So, what are you imagining? Reach out to our team, and we’ll do everything we can to bring it into reality, too. If you have a vision that demands reliability, flexibility, and a partner that can move fast, we are here to make it happen.
You can get started by designing your building with our 3D Building Designer tool, requesting a quick quote, or contacting our team directly with your project details.
You should receive your estimated quote by email shortly. Please keep in mind that this is just an estimate and does not include snow loads, wind loads, county specific code requirements, delivery or design specific engineering calculations related to the structural soundness of the building.
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