About this landmark

Celebrating Apple Valley's High Desert heritage

The Apple Valley Legacy Museum opened in 2015 in Cottage #153 of the historic Apple Valley Inn complex, located at 20601 Hwy 18, Apple Valley, CA 92307. The museum's exhibits focus on High Desert regional history, with particular emphasis on Western entertainers Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Both made Apple Valley their permanent home from 1965 until their deaths (Rogers in 1998, Evans in 2001), and both are buried at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in the town. Admission to the museum is free.

Origins and heritage preservation

The museum opened in 2015 as a distinct institution separate from the earlier Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, which operated locally from 1967 to 1976. That original museum relocated to Victorville in 1976, moved again to Branson, Missouri in 2003, and closed permanently in 2009. The Apple Valley Legacy Museum takes a different approach, serving as a repository for broader High Desert regional history and community heritage while honoring the importance of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans to the area.

The museum marked its 10-year milestone in April 2025, celebrating the span since its 2015 opening. Anniversary festivities included a dinner-and-entertainment package, narrated historical hayrides, live music, and a theatrical performance titled "The Apple Valley Town." The programming connected the museum's focus on High Desert history and Western entertainment heritage to broader themes of community building and regional identity.

Today

The museum hosts regular community events on the Apple Valley Inn grounds, including steak fries, hoe-downs, and guided historical tours of the inn and the surrounding property. Visitors interested in learning more can contact the museum by phone at (760) 985-1918. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., with free admission throughout the year.

The museum's location within Cottage #153 of the Apple Valley Inn complex places it at a landmark significant to the town's development. The inn operated as a public hotel from 1948 to 1987, during which time it hosted notable guests and served as a draw for visitors and settlers. Today, the museum and inn together serve the community as a space for understanding and celebrating High Desert heritage and the figures—like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans—who shaped its character.

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Learn about the museum's events and programs

Primary sources: San Bernardino County District 1 government page, the museum's anniversary event details, and the historical Rogers-Dale Evans Museum.