Sixteen years ago the Dr Pepper Museum opened its door to the public, and many people wondered what would become of this museum. Who would be interested in seeing a lot of Dr Pepper memorabilia? It was an idea that had never been tried before. Each year since then, over 60,000 people have walked through its doors.
Those numbers steadily added up, finally totaling 1 Million on August 17 when the Murray family from Cedar Park, Texas walked through the door at 10:42 am. They had arrived in Waco to meet up with some friends and go to the local water park. The water park didn’t open until noon, so they decided to head over to the museum for a look around and some Dr Pepper. Unaware of the countdown, they walked in the Home of Dr Pepper to be greeted by over 50 staff, volunteers, board members, and media representatives with balloons, noisemakers, and loud applause and cheers.
Crowned with Dr Pepper Museum Millionth Visitor T-shirts along with a Lifetime Membership to the Dr Pepper Museum, mom, Andrea Murray, described the moment as unreal, but very exciting. The kids, Ryan, 10 and Elizabeth, 8, were the most excited to learn they had just won a gift certificate for the museum gift shop along with a huge goodie basket of Dr Pepper items. Dr Pepper reproduction patio set was also part of the goodie basket. If the Murrays ever return to Waco, they also will be able to stay at The Waco Hotel for free and feast on Dr Pepper ribs at the Elite Circle Grill. And who knows, they just might after all. The Dr Pepper Museum has been a popular tourist attraction for the past 16 years, and the next million are sure to be just as exciting as the first.