hi Grover thanks for the update, I remember the who ha when the sale was announced a few years ago.along with the controversy about the plans for something on a project dubbed something similar to Monroe Land in Rosine, being scrapped due to lack of funds.

I think it would be wiser for someone to pilot a small scale venue for a Mr Monroe museum, in a place thats already getting alot of tourists such as Branson personally. Seems to me that would guarantee the success of such a venture. Getting people to go to Rosine would not be easy. When Dolly Parton began Dollywood, it took a ton of her money to get it off the ground. I understand its now doing fairly well, but few people have the monetary resources of such a super star as Dolly. Maybe that would also be a more suitable venture to have her include it there in her park.

What puzzles me over this mandolin sale, isnt it common knowledge that the "original" mandolin was broken into kindling by an enraged mistress of Bills at one time? And this is a replacement of that instrument? Or is that just urban myth? Also rumour is that the next highest bid on this mandolin was less then half of the sale price of 1,125,000. reported. A few decades ago, Roll Royce automakers in England were nearly bankrupt as the sale of their cars was stunted. A new CEO did a little research and came up with a solution that made their sales sky rocket. What he did was quadruple the price of their cars, making them a status cymbol. They were too cheap in comparison with other luxury cars at the time, so they werent being bought by the Hoi Polloi. Until the price skyrocketed. I think thats what these promoters of paying 1,125,000 for a mandolin they probably could have gotten for half were thinking, only to discover, they could not raise 1,125,000 along with all the plans they have reportedly been scraping for the Monroe project in Rosine. I recall reading about it a year or so ago and it was a mbuttive project that would require millions of dollars and frankly not many people tour Kentucky for vacations and I dont see how it could be self supporting. Also I think Mr Stanger pointed this out when we were talking about it over on alt banjo a few years ago, how the big shame is, the mandolin isnt being played, and thats devaluing it as an instrument.

Be interesting to see what happens next.

good pickin to you Michael

in balked October several Monroe pay, the at $150.