Special Announcement from Roy Rogers Jr.I have been personally agonizing over how to start this letter. I guess I will start by saying thank you. Thank you for the years of love, support, prayers and loyalty to the Rogers Family. You, the fans, and our Board of Directors, are the ones who have kept our family's museum going for over 42 years. It has been a wonderful ride. After millions of visitors and countless stories of what Roy and Dale have meant to you, the Board of Directors have voted to close our doors of the Museum at the end of 2009. This has not been an easy decision. Many very emotional and financial issues have been addressed by all of us, as you can well imagine.
The decision to close the Museum has come after two years of steady decline in visitors to the Museum. A lot of factors have made our decision for us. The economy for one, people are just not traveling as much. Dad's fans are getting older, and concerned about their retirement funds. Everyone is concerned about their future in this present economy. Secondly, with our high fiscal obligations we cannot continue to accumulate debt to keep the doors open.This situation is one I have not wanted to happen. Dad always said- “If the museum starts costing you money, then liquidate everything and move on.” Myself and my family have tried to hold together the Museum and collection for over 15 years, so it is very difficult to think that it will all be gone soon.
What will happen to Roy Rogers, Jr and his family? For those of you that have heard I am retiring, nothing could be farther from the truth. My company, Golden Stallion, and its show tribute to Roy and Dale, will continue. I plan on taking the show to another venue in Branson. We are looking for space now. The show will also be available to travel around the country and take the message of Roy and Dale wherever we travel. I feel that this country needs the message that Roy and Dale always put forth, not only in their professional lives, but in their private lives as well.
The Museum's last day of operation will be December 12th. We want everyone to have the opportunity to visit the Museum one last time to see the collection in its entirety. This will be your last chance to see Roy and Dale's collection. Tell your friends and encourage them to come, before we close. This will be your final chance!!
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Remember, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans will live forever in our hearts and minds, and will continue to ride across the silver screen through their movies. Every time you think of Roy and Dale, that warm feeling you have always felt, will always return.
Watch our website for further announcements and special dates.
I leave you all with Dad's favorite saying- Good bye, Good luck, and may the good Lord take a likin' to ya! See you in Branson, or on the road.
Love to all of you!
Happy Trails.
Dusty and Family
Contact Dustin Rogers
417-339-1900 Ext 231
dustin@royrogers.com
25 comments:
Shame to see one of the Good ones close down.
It must be really difficult for you guys to close down the museum which holds such emotional and sentimental value. It is also a great loss to the city because the visitors lose out on one important tourist must-see.
Wishing You well in your other endevours.
Sad to hear the news. But as they say, All Good Things Too Have To Come To An End.
I understand the Smithsonian has refused to take Trigger, etc.--What about the Autry Museum in Los Angeles?
I visited the museum while I was on TDY (temporary duty) at what was once George Air Force Base in Victorville, CA.
I still remember it as one of my high points. Just to see the things that were in the movies. Wow.
Here's hoping the memorabilia is preserved.
Hi Dusty, this makes me very sad. I grew up loving Roy and Dale's movies and shows, and lived in Victorville for 15 years. Visited the museum alot,it brought back that down home comfort that has been lost in the new generations.And every time family would come to visit, that was the highlight besides riding my horses on the desert. Met Roy and you Dusty a few times. Met Dale on a flight home from Sacramento one year, so gracious.Really hoped and prayed that with the move to Branson, the interest would be revived. I have my own mini Roy and Dale museum in my house, with antiques, books, videos and comic books. What will you do with all of the things??? Auction? I'm so sorry, they were the best ever, and a living memory.Thanks for the memories. Carol Windsor, Concho, AZ
the walton family keeps open the worthless 5 and 10 with items for sale made in china and nobody can afford to keep open a part of american history. what a shame
Roy was my hero from the time I was a little girl. I am so grateful that I had a chanced to visit the museum while driving from San Diego to Las Vegas in 2002.It was a highlight for me.
Happy Trails.
As a child Dale was the only girl Dale I knew besides myself. She and Roy will forever hang in my kitchen.HAPPY TRAIL!
Roy's door will always be open in my heart.
We are planning our first trip to Branson in 2010 and the museum was one of the major reasons we want to visit Branson. We are truly saddened to hear it has closed. We do understand the economy being down since we have felt it first hand. It sure would have been great to have seen the museum since we are long time fans of Roy and Dale. May God bless Dusty and his family.
Really sad to hear you closed the museum. Too bad you could not have put some of it in the Gene Autry Western Museum here in LA. At least some of Roy and Dale could be seen and hopefully remembered. It was great to work with you long ago in San Bernardino with the St. Bernadines Telethon.
Richard Wolf
Now I am glad that I got to see the Museum in 2003;and Baby Boomer that I am, cried all the way through. What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful family and an era.
And what a shame to lose yet another piece of Americana.
Roy was my hero when I was growing up. In 1994 we visited the museum in Victorville, it was just about to close for the day when we turned a corner and ran into Roy himself, he gave us a personal tour, it was an incredible thrill. What a nice and decent man.
We also visited the museum in Branson.
I loved Roy and Dale and I understand the reason for the closing but I will always have the memories. Happy trails to you.
I am just now learning about the closing and subsequent auctioning of a great museum of some of America's childhood heroes. It is shocking and a shame to come to this ending. I am thankful that I visited the museum last year while in Branson. I bought some books and wanted to buy more online but I guess that is out of the question now? Richard Garner,
I grew up in Apple Valley in the 70's and can still picture Roys house on highway 18. We went to the museum many times before it moved to Victorville. It was always a great time.
Best of luck down the road!
So glad we were able to see the museum in Victorville, CA. It was just amazing to see everything that had been saved - especially Roy's watch collection. Roy was truly a hero.
Connie
Roy and Dale were my heroes. I saw them at the Houston rodeo some 55 years ago. I remember squeezing my arm through the bars for a handshake and to touch Trigger. The handshake I will always remember. It was firm and sincere, not a slap or touch. He truly was King of the Cowboys and a true patriot. God Bless.
Visited the museum in Victorville while I was stationed ar Ft. Irwin. I remember watching Roy as a yougster and still enjoy his movies. So do my 9 and 11 year old. So not all of Roy and Dale's fans are grey!Hope to get to Branson once so they can see it before it closes. Met you a time or two at Riley's Reloader in Barstow. Hope the Lord blesses your future endeavors.
I visited the Museum in Apple Valley/Victorville twice in 10 years.
My first 45 records included the Sons of the Pioneers with Roy.
What makes America great?
Great Americans.
Though Roy's Museum is gone and some things scattered, I can only hope that the legacy of Roy and Dale live on preserved by us as part of the fabric of our nations roots.
My husband & I grew up watching Roy & Dale on TV. What a wonderful couple that clearly loved each other, family, country, & their Lord. Never got to see them in person but were priviledged to tour the museum in Oct'05 (40th anniv) and had my picture taken with Dusty. That day he not only put on a great show but told of the wonderful childhood he had growing up as Roy Jr & how loved he was by Dale who was not his birth mother. The praises he spoke brought tears to my eyes as I was thinking..would my children speak that highly of me.
Love & prayers, Dusty, as you continue to sing and tell the story of the rich legacy of love you received and may God continue blessing you & your family.
I was always a fan of Roy Rogers and wa so glad when they moved to Branson,that I went to see the museum and glad I took so many pictures.Glad I took one with Dustin.I got a checkbook,red tee-shirt,coffee mug.I have a couple of old comic pictures also.I will never part with the little things I have. Sorry to see that the museum had to close. Good luck to a wonderful family and the best to everyone. Love Ramona
I grew up in Nova Scotia and of course we had all our local heroes to idolize, but everyone of my generation looked up to a super-hero couple, Roy and Dale Rogers. We learned so many valuable lessons from them and they taught us with such grace and charm. What a sad comment on our world that the likes of Roy and Dale aren't still here to inspire young people - nowadays it seems to be all gangsters, corrupt bankers and egotistical athletes. I, for one, will carry the Rogers memory with me to my end. Happy Trails to one and all.
Dusty & Family,
A few years ago, my oldest daughter, who was serving in the Navy, and I visited the museum in Victorville! I loved every aspect of it. I was surprised how much my daughter enjoyed the museum. I was hoping some day we could take our grandchildren to see the life savings of a great couple. But, unfortunately, that isn't going to happen, I just found out, reading on the internet, that the museum in Branson was closed a couple of years ago. I'm sure Roy wouldn't like that his collection was sold, but he definetly would understand! I have been checking online about visiting Branson and possibly seeing a show with Dusty and his son.
God bless and continue to keep your legacy alive!
Sue
This is an outrage! Board of Directors INDEED! I am disgusted at the way the so called board of directors acted.
This Museum could have been self perpetuating and through diverse investments, ever growing and forever financially secure. Proof of this is lesser entities which have consistently grown, ever widening and forever secure.
I dont blame the Rodgers family but the board of directors. This situation should have been considered out of the question.
With People like Bill Gates and Ted Turner around (throwin Money into this hair-brained scheme or that come to nothin idea), dont tell me that someone couldn't have been found to make a one time endowment that could have stabilized the museum forever.
The Legacy of Roy Rogers and Dayle Evens should have been secured in a Bullet Proof entity that would have freed his family from the worrysome task of seein to its survival.
No Excuses.
You So-Called Board o Directors STINK!
Col. Korn,
Chief of Mayhem in the Great WW2 an the Cold War,
Now Chief of Security an Sanitation an What-not,
OXOjamm Studios.
Post a Comment