Early plans for the Okanogan Valley Equestrian and Cultural Heritage Center showed room for office areas and a museum. Current plans have scraped the offices and museum for a large meeting area/beer garden.
     "We still want the museum," said Bunny DeTro, an Omak Stampede honorary (emeritus) board member who has lobbied for years to get a permanent home for historic items related to the rodeo.
     As for where the museum is located, DeTro said her first concern is just getting a museum.
     DeTro, who has been calling for a permanent Stampede museum since she started volunteering in 1964, said inside the new building would be preferred, but she wouldn't necessarily be against it being located in another part of East Side Park.
     DeTro said she believes that past, present and future cowboys and cowgirls would be more willing to donate pieces of Stampede history if there was a home for the museum.
     "Right now we have things stored," said DeTro. "We can't very well request people to give things, because everything's so up in the air."
     Omak Stampede president Jim Hensarling said a museum would be a nice addition, but doesn't see how they could fit it into the current design. He said he would like to see it somewhere near the arena in East Side Park.