The Grove is the legendary tailgating area located at the center of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) campus. It is approximately 10acre in size. The Grove takes its name from "the oak, elm and magnolia trees surrounding the area.Surrounded by ancient oaks, mysterious elms, and Mississippi magnolias, the 10-acre sized plot known as “The Grove” plays host, most autumn Saturday afternoons, to thousands of Ole Miss Rebel tailgaters. Not only does the grove play a major role in game days, it is also a vital part of student's lives during the off season.HistoryOriginally, gathering in The Grove was an informal tailgating get-together when most serious pre-game socializing took place at the fraternity and sorority houses. By the 1950s, the Grove started to become its own pregame tradition.Automobiles, including RV campers, have been kept out of The Grove since a rainstorm in 1991 that reduced the Grove to a rutted swamp. The autos were replaced by tents. As a result of fans claiming certain areas within The Grove for their tents, and often being angered when they arrived and found another person in "their spot." The Ole Miss Alumni Association's Grove Society began in 1998 to preserve the 10acre green space. The Grove Society posts a strict schedule for the event.Game dayDescribed as "the Holy Grail of tailgating sites" by Sporting News, The Grove comes to life for Ole Miss Rebels football home games with as many as 100,000 fans. Fans arrive often around noon the day before the game (campus rule is no one allowed to "stake their claim" before 9:00 pm, which is strictly enforced by campus police) to grab their spot in The Grove. This usually serene area of campus becomes a sea of red, white and blue tents. Ole Miss students generally dress in their Sunday best: Men wear slacks, button-up shirts, bow ties, Sperry Top Siders, and coats while women wear cocktail dresses or brightly colored sundresses and high heel shoes. Some older fans also dress in this style.
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