Photo: FOTOKERSCHI / KERSCHBAUMAYR)
The shed that houses the largest and certainly heaviest piece of jewelry in the Cowboy Museum in Pichling almost collapsed. The “Chuckwagon” and the covered wagon were taken out of the shed just in time and the repair work began. Now the barn is stable again and the wagon is back in its place, where it is protected from wind and weather.
“Chuck” means food in the slang of the Wild West, and such food wagons also accompanied the settlers on their way west. A rich cattle breeder from Texas invented the Chuckwagon, reports Ilse Ratzenböck, head of the Cowboy Museum in Pichling. The Studebaker company then built the car in series. “We copied original plans from America and the car 33 years ago,” says Ratzenböck. Cookware and other utensils are not missing either.
No festival this year
Due to the renovation work, Ratzenböck unfortunately had to cancel the summer festival this year, but the museum is still worth a visit. In 1991, Hans-Jörg “Fatsy” Ratzenböck opened the Cowboy Museum. He referred to it as “Little America”. The 500-year-old house has more than 5,000 collectibles related to cowboy and Native American life.
On numerous trips to the USA, the couple collected various original exhibits, including cowboy boots and hats, bullwhips, branding irons, weapons, saddles and documents. The story is presented in different themed rooms such as the sheriff’s office. Since his death in 2016, his wife Ilse has continued to run the museum.
Source: Nachrichten
