Folks at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco are abuzz this week, and it’s not because they’ve been drinking too much Dr Pepper. This Friday, the museum anticipates that its one-millionth visitor will cross the threshold into the 101-year-old building, a monumental achievement for this museum dedicated to the carbonated drink.
The museum, which first opened in 1991, bases its estimate on visitor counts, which, as of this writing, is at 999,461 and counting. Jack McKinney, the museum’s executive director, calculates that the millionth visitor should arrive sometime before noon on Friday. So what does this lucky person receive? According to Jack, a lifetime membership to the museum, a gift basket of Dr Pepper products, two nights lodging at Hotel Waco, dinner at Elite Circle Grill (don’t miss the Dr Pepper baby-back ribs), and, of course, bragging rights. Even if you’re not the millionth visitor, it’s still worth the visit, as there will be a special appearance by Bill "Old Doc" Pantel dressed as Old Doc, the drink’s original mascot, replete with top hat, tails, monocle, and a doctor’s bag. Peggy Pepper, another mascot, will also be in attendance, along with museum board members and employees, who will perform a 10-2-4 cheer for the millionth visitor.
And, of, course, don’t forget the 18,500-square-foot museum, which houses a collection of more than 17,000 Dr Pepper items, including bottling equipment, metal signs, and an old-fashioned soda fountain where ice-cold Dr Pepper floats are whipped up on the spot. Will you be the 1,000,000th visitor?
The Dr Pepper Museum is at 300 S. Fifth St. in Waco. For more information, call (254) 757-1024 or visit
www.drpeppermuseum.com.