The Apple Valley Legacy Museum is dedicated to preserving the Town’s past. The mini-museum/visitor’s center is a great place to learn about the area’s history and ideas for maintaining local icons.
Located in the former Bob Hope Cottage on the Historic Apple Valley Inn, it is conveniently close to the Town’s civic center. Sitting directly behind the museum is Hilltop, which is being acquired, and the various aspects include hiking and equestrian trails, plus picnic areas and viewpoints.
Local historian Marcella Taylor started the museum to showcase local collectors’ pieces. She is an avid collector of memorabilia from Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and other historical figures who called this area their home and has lived in the Rogers’ home on Highway 18 since 1990.
The history of Hilltop and the proposed Apple Valley Legacy Trail project are featured displays of the new museum.
Museum displays include artifacts, memorabilia, news clippings, books, magazines, dolls, toys, maps, posters, records, postcards, photos, and much more. Some old cowboy films on VHS are available for checkout.
Collections are on display from local community leaders and families. These include the Apple Valley Inn, Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, A.V. Fire District, Yucca Loma Ranch, Murray’s “Overall Wearing” Dude Ranch, Herb Jeffries, Apple Valley Library, Terri Lee Dolls, Apple Valley Dairy, the Apple Valley Ranchos Housing Development and much more.
The museum acts as an official visitors center for the Apple Valley Legacy Trail project, including historical information and plans for the property. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After entering through the Apple Valley Inn gateway, look for a sign with a green arrow on the right-hand side.
The Apple Valley Inn opened in 1948 and was a popular vacation destination for Hollywood celebrities until the early 1960s. Celebrities that visited the inn included Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, and John Wayne. The Apple Valley Inn closed to the public in 1986. Most buildings are still there, including the Bob Hope Cottage, which now houses the Apple Valley Legacy Museum.
The museum is in cottage #153. Volunteers are needed in many capacities for the museum and the legacy trail project. The Apple Valley Legacy Museum submitted this article.
We’re you able to get any memorabilia about Spanky” from “Our Gang”? There are several other notables who stopped off at the Inn. Also, Denny’s restaurant has some wonderful pictures in their business of the old A.V. airport runway. It’s the Denny’s across from AlaskaUSA Bank on 7th and that street that runs along side of Costco. I wonder if they would be able to have copies made for the museum. The way they are building houses, it would behoove some pilot to go up and take an aerial view of the landscape before we become a wannabe LA. Traffic is ridiculous now as it is.
The apples trees are gone now and so is the turkey farm
The “Pancake House” is no more up on Hiway 18. I hope you have pictures of St. Mary’s with the huge pines out front before they cut them down to make way for the new E.R. and ambulance deck.
Our Lady Of The Desert Catholic Church on Corwin, used to be called St. David’s complete with parochial school.
The bridge (Bear Valley Road) over the Mojave River used to be one lane each way with absolutely NO traffic signals….just stop signs. How about taking pictures of all the signatures on the cinder block walls inside the current cafe at the AV airport? They belong to pilots of long ago. These are just a few of the things I remember.
Thanks for sharing your memories of Apple Valley.
Too bad this is all that is left of an historical site that defined Apple Valley. Greed and investors seem to wreak havoc everywhere to make the almighty buck! Now that “vintage” is in vogue, there is not much left to share. However, I am glad to see someone cares enough to keep some of these memories alive . Sadly though, this next generation of youngsters will never know or care who Roy Rogers and Trigger were.
Thanks for the comment Cindy
Unfortunately, nothing stays the same. Some changes are for the good, many are not.