Way back in January we noted that Fair Park was in the market for a vintage car museum; in July we added that all systems were go following Park and Rec's green light, which gave the joint a lease in the 50,000-square-foot Grand Place exhibition hall through at least August 2011. But the question remained: When would people actually get to tour the joint?
That answer's presently available on City Hall's Web site, where the very top item now reads: "Texas Museum of Automotive History Grand Opening Party," to be held November 20. Ah, but this is hardly a general-public look-see: Tickets are very VIP -- as in, tables for 10 run anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000, and museum "memberships" are only slightly less expensive. Nevertheless, the invite does provide a few more details about what Stephen Page and Wilbert Grinsven (who's also behind the NTX Automotive Museum in Richardson) have in mind -- everything from a top-flight car museum to a "Restoration Factory" for "at-risk" kids to a "a Vintage Race and Concours event weekend."
The museum's website, which says admission prices will range from $10 for growed-ups to free for the wee, is also now up and running -- and I see Henry S. Miller III and Scott Murray are among those sitting on its advisory board. There had been some talk about sneak-peaking the museum during the State Fair, but as I understand it those were put on hold pending the formal grand opening. Calls are out to Fair Park and museum officials; updates forthcoming.