Although born in Texas, during the 1950s, Buck Owens decided to move to Bakersfield, California. Instantly falling in love with the city, the famed country singer drew inspiration from the area, recording hits like “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail” and “Act Naturally.” The frontman for The Buckaroos, Owens went on to land over 20 No. 1 hits, gaining him a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame. But outside of the studio, Owens looked to shine a light on other artists when he opened the Crystal Palace. While the venue gained a reputation over the years, the Crystal Palace will sadly close.
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1996 was a great year for Owens. Not only was he inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, but he also opened the Crystal Palace in Bakersfield. Over the decades, the venue welcomed stars like George Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Clint Black, Brad Paisley, and even the iconic Willie Nelson. With Owens sadly passing away in 2006 at 76, the singer’s family took over the Crystal Palace. But now, almost two decades later, the family announced its closure.
Sharing a statement about the Crystal Palace, it read, “We are extremely proud of the legacy of the Crystal Palace … for over 28 years, we brought the best of local and national entertainment to Bakersfield, served great food and hosted thousands of special occasions for thousands of special people and their families. Although Buck left us in 2006, we continued to maintain the excellence that he expected, striving to carry out his dream.”
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace Close Due To ‘Challenging Business Climate”
With the family deciding to move on from the venue, the statement suggested the “business climate” of the time led to the decision. “Now, a challenging business climate plus the wishes of the Owens family members to step back from the responsibilities of management require finally shutting the doors.”
Although closing its doors, the future of the Crystal Palace remained uncertain. According to the statement, the family hoped new owners would step forward to continue the legacy of Owens. “It is our hope that new owners will step forward to utilize this beautiful venue. Meanwhile, we will do our best to fulfill scheduled commitments we’ve made in the coming months. We know Buck would want us to thank the people of Bakersfield and fans from around the world for all of the support over the past years. We will miss you all.”
As Bakersfield prepared to say goodbye to a landmark that shaped its country music identity, there was still hope.
(Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
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