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Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum

Dale Walksler Death Obituary: Dale Walksler Health Wheels Through Time Owner

HASN’T RUN IN 50 YEARS!!

Dale Walksler death: In the loving memory of Wheels Through Time Owner, we are saddened to inform that Dale Walksler, founder of the Dales Wheels Through Time Museum, a beloved one and loyal friend, has passed away on the 3rd of February, 2021.

A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humor, diligent and caring.

He always brought light to every room entered. And will be dearly missed by family, friends and everyone.

Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum

Motorcycle, North Carolina, Southern

The Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum is a 38,000-sq.-ft. museum housing 300+ rare motorcycles, cars, and related exhibits, photos & memorabilia.

The automobile collection is equally as interesting as the two-wheeled marvels. A pair of 32 roadsters, Packard and Lincoln from the classic era are surrounded by distinctive one-off autos such as the 1949 Veritas and the massive 1915 Locomobile built during the gilded age of American history.

The collection was started by Museum Founder Dale Walksler in 1969 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. In 1977 the collection moved to Mt. Vernon Illinois where it was housed at the Harley-Davidson dealership founded by Dale. As the collection matured it became obvious the potential for a truly incredible museum was at hand. In 2002, the collection moved to its present location in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. A 501c3 not-for-profit status was attained, and Wheels Through Time was on its way to preserving forever a most unique aspect of our American history.

62 Vintage Ln

When Does Wheels Through Time Open

The Wheels Through Time hours are fairly standard, except for two closures a week. The museum is openThursday through Monday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. OnTuesday and Wednesday, the museum is closed.

Be sure to plan to arrive at the museum an hour or two ahead of the closing time to ensure you have enough time to thoroughly take in the museums displays, exhibits, and atmosphere.

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Throughout February 2022 You Can Also Win An Expenses

Dales Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, is gearing up for its 2022 opening day in May. Every year, the Museum holds a raffle to help sustain the museums operational costs, as well as keep building up its collection and getting new, amazing pieces of American motorcycle and automotive machinery to come in through its doors. It also prides itself on being the Museum that Runs, so getting some pieces of history up and running again also takes time, effort, money, and parts. Cant forget the parts.

The 2022 raffle bike is a gorgeous blue 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, which is finished in Delphine Bluea one-year-only color. Teak red and gold details complete the look, really setting the whole thing off. Total assembly of all the 1937-specific parts took 30 years to put together, so WTT says this is both its rarest and most original raffle bike so far.

For the entire month of February, 2022, WTT is doing something even cooler. One lucky winner will receive a three-day, two-night, expenses-paid trip to WTTs 2022 opening day. Now, as with many raffles, there are a number of ticket packages you can purchase. This special Win a Trip to Opening Day bonus prize is only available with the Greater Deal and above packages. Still, some enthusiast is going to get a nice little mini-vacation out of the deal.

Knuckle Down:

Dale’s Wheels Through Time

Dale

The Wheels Through Time museum is home to the worlds premier collection of rare American vintage motorcycles. Located 5 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, in beautiful Maggie Valley, NC, this all-American motorcycle museum houses over 300 of Americas rarest and most historic classic motorcycles, with over 24 marques on display, including the likes of Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Crocker, Henderson, and much more. western North Carolinas premier museum and tourism attraction features dozens of motorcycle-related exhibits, ranging from board track racers, hillclimbing, and original paint machines to American dirt track racing, choppers and bobbers, and one-of-a-kind motorcycles. the museum also annually holds a motorcycle raffle, which helps them continue their mission.

Founded by Dale Walksler in 1993, WTT has become an integral piece in discovering, maintaining, and preserving American motorcycle history. the collection houses tens of thousands of motorcycle pictures, historic memorabilia, and other motorcycle artifacts, and has been featured in hundreds of motorcycle publications, including American iron, cycle world, cycle source, and American motorcyclist to name a few.

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Wheels Through Time Rocks

If you have any interest in motorcycles at all, Wheels Through Time needs to be on your must do list. Curator Dale Walksler and his son Matt are very welcoming, as are the rest of the courteous staff, and ultra knowledgeable. Its called The Museum That Runs for good reason. Nearly all of the motorcycles and cars on display are operational and every time Ive been there, something gets started up. There are bikes here that you will see nowhere else. Some are one-of-one beauties. I have been there at least 10 times and am planning my next trip now. Check their dates they close in the winter.

Alan M.

Tribute Set For Wheels Through Time Founder Dale Walksler

Dale Walksler with the 1916 Traub motorcycle found behind the wall of a building torn down in Chicago in 1967. Careful research has revealed that bike is a one-off machine completely custom built by one Reichard Traub, who designed and built/cast/machined every part of the motorcycle except for the seat, carburetor, magneto, and wheels. The craftsmanship is remarkable even more incredible is that in 1916 Traub had built an 80ci engine some 20 years before Harley and Indian. It is unknown why Traub hid the bike and why he never sought to mass-produce the machine.

Many motorcyclists develop an enduring relationship with both riding and the machinery itself.

Dale Walksler was a living symbol of this sentiment. In 1993, his unique and apparently boundless energy inspired him to launch one of the worlds most revered motorcycling destinations, Dales Wheels Through Time Museum. The museum institution began in Illinois behind Walkslers Harley-Davidson dealership and migrated in 2002 to Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Just 5 miles from one of the East Coasts most beloved riding routes, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Wheels Through Time is dedicated to telling the story of the American Motorcycle and showcasing one-off vintage automobiles.

But this wasnt just any museum. Under Walkslers leadership, everything on display had to run, earning the WTT the title of The Museum That Runs.

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The Ama Hall Of Famer Leaves Behind A World

When you think of important motorcycle museums, its difficult to not immediately think of Dales Wheels Through Time. While there are plenty of great museums in the world, Wheels Through Time stands out because it is, as its tagline reads, the Museum That Runs. Want to see an extremely rare Crocker Big Twin do a burnout? Here you go.

You see, founder Dale Walksler made running a requirement of every single vehicle on display. If you didnt get the chance to witness a running fill-in-the-blank in person, chances are excellent that theres a YouTube video around, just waiting for you to find it. In search of a running 1916 Harley-Davidson J model with a one-of-a-kind double-wide sidecar setup, you say? Not a problem.

Sadly, Dale Walksler died on February 3, 2021, after a four-year battle with cancer. He passed peacefully in his home with his wife by his side. Family, friends, community members, and a worldwide community of motorcycle and automotive enthusiasts all mourn his passing.

According to a memorial post on the Wheels Through Time Facebook page, Walksler built his very first motorcycle in 1967, when he was just 15 years old. By the age of 22, he opened a Harley-Davidson franchise in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. As his business grew more successful, he was able to fuel his lifelong passion with motorcycles. He was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2019.

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When To Get There

The Trophy

Like many businesses along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Wheels Through Time Museum is closed in the winter but reopens around the first week of April. During the high season, its open Thursday through Monday from 9am5pm, and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To see how the museum got the nickname The Museum That Runs, visit between 12pm and 2pm, when an array of vintage machines are started up.

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How Much Does The Wheels Through Time Museum Cost

For what the museum offers, the admission price is actually very reasonable. For adults, those 15 years or older, a ticket is $15. For seniors, those 65 years or older, it is $12. Children between the ages of 6 and 14, it is $7. Kids 5 and under are free to enter! By the way, all of these prices already include the sales tax.

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This unique museum in Maggie Valley is home to an outstanding huge collection of rare American vintage motorcycles and automobiles. It’s been featured in many magazines and national television shows including the History Channel. Located five miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, this all-American motorcycle museum houses 300+ of America’s rarest and most historic classic motorcycles, including Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Crocker, Henderson, and much more.

Regarded as one of the world’s premier destinations for motorcycle and transportation history, the museum continues to grow, with an unparalleled collection of memorabilia, and continues to provide new exhibits. See dozens of motorcycle-related exhibits, ranging from board track racers, hillclimbing, and original paint machines to American dirt track racing, choppers and bobbers, and one-of-a-kind motorcycles.

Any classic car buff will love their “Decade Collection” with many American automobiles in a timeline spanning nearly 100 years. Classics of the 30s, such as Packard, Lincoln, and Cadillac. Like the motorcycle collection, these automobiles are used regularly. Early teen cars include the Locomobile and Cadillac, which were the top of the line during their time. More modern cars consist of a sheik 1954 Eldorado convertible and a 1962 Corvette Roadster.

Open April-November

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Wheels Through Time On Tv

The Wheels Through Time Museum founder Dale Walksler spent a year on the History ChannelsAmerican Restoration TV show, showcasing the history, talents, and vintage machines that the museum has collected. While the show is no longer on the air, the team has continued to produce an ongoing series which is now hosted online on Dales Channel and can be found on the museums website.

Dale Walksler’s Memory Lives On At Wheels Through Time

Dale

As an homage to its founder, the museum has been renamed in Dale’s honor. Now known as Dale’s Wheels Through Time, the motorcycle museum located near the Great Smokey Mountains contains one of the greatest collections of American motorcycles in the world. Dale moved his collection from Mount Vernon, Illinois in 2002 and set up shop in a 38,000 square foot facility. Over time he acquired historically important machines and returned them to running order. Dale was adamant that the motorcycles in the museum should run and roll, and to his credit, they did. So, while drip pans were prevalent, Dale could throw a leg over any of the bikes and take them for a spin on a moment’s notice.

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The museum contains a collection of one-off custom automobiles and over 350 rare motorcycles comprised of 25 makes including Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Henderson, Pope, Yale, Crocker, Flying Merkel, and many others. Over the years, these machines have been featured on various TV programs including a series that ran on Velocity entitled What’s in the Barn? Dale was well known in the motorcycle community, but programs such as this exposed him to a broader audience and helped further his efforts.

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What To Know About The Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum

North Carolina is home to many astounding attractions, beautiful nature, and evengorgeous rides that every rider should try at least once in their life. Maggie Valley, NC, in particular, is home to a very special attraction the Wheels Through Time museum. This museum is very well-known within the motorcycle circles. However, since the Wheels Through Time was featured on a TV show, knowledge about this museum has grown exponentially in recent times. Want to learn more about this fascinating museum? Read on to learn more!

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The Same Raffle Could Also Win You A Fully Restored 1948 Harley

Dales Wheels Through Time Museum is once again hosting its annual rafflebut with a twist for the month of June. Every year, the Museum raffles off a different beautifully restored piece of American motorcycling history. For 2021, its a 1948 Harley-Davidson Panhead finished in brilliant black and chrome. However, some raffle entries during the month of June, 2021, will also get entered to win a most-expenses-paid trip to visit the Wheels Through Time Museum in person for the raffle drawing.

Raffle tickets can be purchased in various packages via the Museums website. One ticket is $10, but as you go up in number, the cost per ticket goes down if you purchase bigger packages. Lots of raffles work this way, so youre probably familiar with this idea. During June, 2021, if you purchase the Greater Deal package for $100, or any package with a greater value than that, youll also be entered to win that trip to the Museum in November, 2021 to witness the raffle drawing in person. Different raffle ticket packages also come with additional perks, including 48 Panhead prints, T-shirts, and DVDs.

Riding Into The Future Like:

What Is The Wheel Through Time Museum

New at Wheels Through Time!

The Wheels Through Time museum, located in Maggie Valley, NC, is a museum that features collections of unique and rare American motorcycles, cars, and other items related to American automobiles. The museum shows off over 350 different kinds of bikes and automobiles consisting of makes such as Indian, Yale, Harley-Davidson, and more.

This museum also contains many different exhibits such as the Wall of Death, The Chopper Graveyard, American Racers, and American Restoration. There areeven more exhibits that allow visitors to experience different generations of automobiles. It is almost as though you take a trip through time when you walk through all the various exhibits.

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How History Comes To Life At Dale’s Wheels Through Time

While the motorcycle community will mourn the loss of Dale Walksler, his memory definitely lives on. At the museum, Matt Walksler has taken the reins and seems capable of keeping the machines on display running. Just like his dad, Matt ended the recent video announcement about the museum reopening by tearing through the narrow passages on a vintage motorcycle. He did his dad proud and despite Dale’s absence, visitors will appreciate the founder’s hard work for years to come.

Wheels Through Time Founder Dies Of Cancer

Dale Walksler, the founder and curator of the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, passed away peacefully, with his wife by his side, at home on Feb. 3, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer.

In 1967, at the age of 15, Walksler built his first motorcycle, sparking a life-long love affair with American Motorcycles and their history. At 22, he established a Harley/Davidson franchise in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Dales Harley-Davidson. His signal success as a dealer grew to include the decades-long work that would define his life the creation of the museum everyone now knows as Wheels Through Time.

As the museum collection grew, so too did Walkslers vision for the museum, his reputation, his mechanical and curatorial skills, and a goal of always exceeding expectations of customers and guests.

In 2002, he opened the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley. From humble beginnings in a small Illinois town, one of the worlds premier collections of rare and vintage American motorcycles, automobiles and memorabilia emerged. Wheels Through Time became an Iconic American Institution and known internationally.

Walkslers vision was not just one of preserving the past but was also focused on the future. In that regard, he made great strides to ensure that the museum and his legacy would carry on for generations to come.

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Dale Walksler Health Cause Of Death: Wheels Through Time Owner

Our beloved Dale Walksler health condition is a major factor to his death.

According to The Harley-Davidson Museum, Dale Walksler, motorcycling legend, who became a franchised H-D Dealer 22 had passed away.

He died of cancer.

Dale Walksler obituary is not public at the time, we will share more as we learn about the obituary and possibly funeral.

A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Please join us to mourn the passing of Dale Walksler.

Welcome To Wheels Through Time

Dale

Wheels Through Time Museum is home to the worlds premier collection of rare American motorcycles, memorabilia, and a distinct array of unique one-off American automobiles. Located just 5 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Maggie Valley, North Carolina our museum houses a collection of over 300 rare machines.

Become a Wheels Through Time Donor

In 2016, our Founder Dale Walksler introduced the WTT Donorship program to help sustain the long-term growth of the museum and the ongoing effort to educate our visitors on the history of the American Motorcycle. The program opens a way for you to move from a casual observer to an active participant.By becoming a Donor, you become a special part of the museum family, and your generous gift ensures that the museums vision, passion, and mission moves forward year after year.

The 2022 WTT Raffle Bike

This years Raffle Bike is the stunning 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead finished in one-year-only Delphine Blue, striped in Teak Red, and edged in Gold. This Model EL features an all-1937 61c.i. Knucklehead engine cradled in a genuine 1937 frame and fork, along with all-original pre-war fenders and gas tanks. The 1937-only dash panel sports a 120 mph speedo, NOS amp gauge, and oil pressure switch. This 30-year assemblage of genuine HD components makes it the rarest and most original WTT Raffle Bike to date!

Dale’s Channel

The 2022 WTT Raffle Bike

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The Discovery

Dale’s Channel

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