Interviewing Contact Person: Dr. Mike McCoy 

Email: mmccoy@kerncountymuseum.org 

Release Date: Friday, November 8th 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bakersfield, Ca) – Kern County Museum has recovered the Trout’s Bar Sign and it is back at the Kern County Museum.

On Friday, November 8th The Kern County Museum announced that they had acquired the long lost Trout’s Bar sign from Oildale after a seven year search for this historical sign. The sign was taken down in 2017, by the bars manager Thomas Rockwell for “cleaning” but was really stolen and then recently found in a rural area of Tuolumne County. Due to the hard work, dedication, and  professionalism of Private Investigator Paul Lopez, the sign is home at The Kern County Museum.

The Kern County Museum also wants to thank local businessman, Chris Hayden, for his donation to cover the cost of the Private Investigator Paul Lopez as well as local attorney Grover Walden and real estate professional Duane Keathley for donating their time and helping with the legal aspects of getting the sign returned.

On November 7th, Dr. Mike McCoy and Maintenance Director Eddie Valdez drove to Tuolumne County to pick up the sign and needed five men and a tractor to move it. We’re thankful for Chet White, Bob Grimm, and Mark Christie for joining McCoy and Valdez on loading this sign that is over 800 pounds and now the largest sign in the collection back home.

The amount of people who donated their time, made financial contributions, and we’re committed to getting this sign home is a true testament that our Kern County Museum continues to preserve our history for generations to come.

Our goal is to have the sign restored, installed, and ready to be seen at our annual fundraiser “Get Lit” on May 3rd, 2025 at the Kern County Museum. There will be more details to come as the restoration process begins and this sign is added to our Kern County Museum Mission Bank Neon Courtyard.

Dr. Mike McCoy, the Kern County Museum Director is available for LIVE segments, radio spots, pre-recorded interviews, article submissions and interviews.