From one collector’s passion to a world-class attraction, this is the story of how Evel Knievel’s legacy found a permanent HOME
It starts with Lathan McKay, a devoted visionary who saw something bigger than memorabilia in the legacy of Evel Knievel. What began with the purchase of a single Evel Knievel jumpsuit quickly became a mission. Piece by piece, Lathan tracked down rare artifacts tied to the life and career of America’s most legendary daredevil.
Among all the items he acquired, one stood above the rest: Evel’s famous Mack truck and semi trailer, known as Big Red.
Big Red was more than just a vehicle—it was a rolling symbol of Evel’s larger-than-life persona. But restoring it proved to be an enormous challenge. Lathan struggled to find the right team capable of bringing the battered rig back to its former glory.
THAT'S WHEN A CONNECTION CHANGED EVERYTHING.
In Topeka, Kansas, Mike Patterson and his family had spent over 75 years building a positive reputation through their dealership Historic Harley-Davidson. Known for their expertise in restoring vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles, their shop had become trusted craftsmen in preserving pieces of American history. One of Mike’s notable restorations was for rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis—a meticulous rebuild of Lewis’s 1959 Harley-Davidson. Through that relationship, the Lewis family connected Lathan to Mike.
When Mike received the call about restoring Evel Knievel’s Mack truck, it struck a personal chord. Having grown up around the Harley-Davidson world in the 1970s, Mike had been a fan of Evel during his youth. The opportunity felt like destiny.
Without hesitation—and with a bit of bold confidence—Mike declared, “We restore Mack trucks.”
The truth? He had never even been inside one.
But that didn’t stop him. In Topeka, Kansas, Mike Patterson and his family had spent over 75 years building a positive reputation through their dealership Historic Harley-Davidson. Known for their expertise in restoring vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles, their shop had become trusted craftsmen in preserving pieces of American history. One of Mike’s notable restorations was for rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis—a meticulous rebuild of Lewis’s 1959 Harley-Davidson. Through that relationship, the Lewis family connected Lathan to Mike.
THE TEAM THAT MADE IT HAPPEN
Determined to deliver, Mike assembled a team of local experts in Topeka. He brought in Chuck Stover, a lifelong Mack technician with deep knowledge of the engines and mechanics, and Todd Williams, a highly skilled specialist in vintage vehicle restoration.
Chuck took charge of rebuilding the engine and chassis, ensuring the truck could run as powerfully as it once had. Todd faced the daunting task of restoring the bodywork of both the truck and trailer—a job that initially seemed impossible. When Todd first saw the condition of Big Red, his reaction was blunt: “I’m out. It’s too far gone to restore.”
But Mike wasn’t ready to accept that.
Through persistence and belief in the project, he convinced Todd to take on the challenge. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary. Working out of the Harley-Davidson dealership, as well as Chuck and Todd’s own shops, the restoration became a massive collaborative effort. In total, more than 90 individuals contributed their skills—mechanics, fabricators, painters, and craftsmen—each playing a role in bringing Big Red back to life.
FROM RESTORATION TO REVELATION
When the restoration was finally complete, the result was stunning—a fully revived piece of Evel Knievel history.
With the project finished, Mike and Lathan began discussing what would come next. There was an idea of a traveling museum, a way to showcase Big Red alongside the growing collection of Evel artifacts he had assembled. While the idea of a traveling museum remained, the initial plan was to keep Big Red and several of Evel’s motorcycles at the dealership, allowing customers to experience a piece of his legacy up close.
During one of those conversations, Mike asked a simple question: “Where is the Evel Knievel Museum?”
Lathan’s answer was just as simple: “There isn’t one.” They both instantly knew what they were to do next.
IN THAT MOMENT, AN IDEA WAS BORN.
Rather than sending the collection on the road, they decided to create a permanent home—a place where Evel’s story could live on and inspire future generations. The decision was made to build the museum in Topeka, Kansas, expanding the Patterson family’s Harley-Davidson dealership 12,000 square feet to house it.
To bring that vision to life, Mike and Lathan turned to a Topeka attorney who had taken a keen interest in their growing project—Jim Caplinger. With Jim’s guidance and belief in what they were building, the team expanded. Now a trio, Lathan, Mike, and Jim set out on a mission to elevate the collection from impressive to truly museum-worthy.
Together, they pursued and secured some of the most iconic Evel Knievel artifacts in existence. What had started as a personal collection—and a plan to showcase Big Red alongside a few motorcycles—quickly transformed into something far greater. The Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka was coming to life.
BUILDING THE MUSEUM
Mike assembled a core team within his dealership—Amanda Beach, Bruce Zimmerman, and Eli Geiger—to help bring the vision to life. Together with the rest of the dealership staff, they built the museum piece by piece, turning an idea into reality.
From the beginning, they knew they had created something special. But what happened next exceeded every expectation.
(L to R) Bruce Zimmerman, Mike Patterson, Eli Geiger, Amanda Beach
A MUSEUM THAT SURPRISED EVERYONE
Visitors didn’t just enjoy the museum—they were blown away. Reviews poured in, consistently rating the experience at the highest level. Word spread quickly, and soon the museum was receiving nationwide media attention. What was once a bold idea in Topeka had become a destination.
Then came a phone call that would change everything.
It was from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). When they asked Mike if he had heard of their organization, he admitted he had not. What they told him next was almost unbelievable: the Evel Knievel Museum had won a THEA Award—one of the most prestigious honors in the themed entertainment industry.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Out of more than 300 entries from around the world, only 15 awards were given—and the Evel Knievel Museum was among them. The company it now kept included some of the most recognized attractions on the planet including Disney and Universal. The team traveled to Los Angeles to attend a red-carpet, Academy Awards-style ceremony to accept the honor. That moment elevated the museum to an entirely new level. It validated not only the work, but the vision behind it.
2019 International THEA Award Winners
- Bazyliszek (Legendia Theme Park, (Poland)
- Justice League: Battle for Metropolis (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
- SlideWheel (Chimelong Water Park, (China)
- The Evel Knievel Museum (Topeka, Kansas)
- Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead (Mount Vernon, USA)
- Fantawild Oriental Heritage (Xiamen, China)
- Volcano Bay (Universal Orlando Resort, USA)
- Nemo & Friends SeaRider (Tokyo DisneySea, Japan)
- Legend of Camel Bells (Huaxia Cultural Tourism Resort, China)
- Universal Spectacle Night Parade (Universal Studios Japan)
- Fantastic Journey (Majestic Princess – Princess Cruises)
- Illuminations: human/nature (Banff Centre, Canada)
- Mori Building Digital Art Museum (Team Lab Borderless, Tokyo)
THAT IS WHEN LAS VEGAS CAME CALLING
It became clear that while Topeka had been a great place to build the museum, its future—and its ability to reach millions more fans—lay on a bigger stage. Las Vegas offered that opportunity.
But during this pivotal time, the team suffered a profound loss. Jim Caplinger passed away unexpectedly. His impact on the museum was immeasurable, and he will always be remembered as a co-founder whose belief and contributions helped make the entire project possible.
NEW PARTNERS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER
As the team looked toward the future, they also recognized others who had played important roles along the way. One of the most dedicated was Joe Pennington, a volunteer who spent countless weekends at the Topeka museum ensuring every visitor had an unforgettable experience. His passion and commitment did not go unnoticed.
When the idea of moving to Las Vegas began to take shape, Joe was approached about becoming part of the next chapter—and he was all in.
Then, in a twist that felt almost meant to be, another key piece of the puzzle fell into place.
Lathan received a call from a Canadian friend who mentioned a businessman had recently purchased Evel Knievel’s vintage 1970s yacht. That businessman was Rob Steele. Looking for information about his new acquisition, Rob connected with Lathan. What started as a simple exchange of information quickly grew into a friendship.
As Rob learned more about the museum and its future plans, his interest deepened. Eventually, he joined Mike and Lathan in Las Vegas, where Mike laid out the vision for what the Evel Knievel Museum could become on a global stage.
Rob didn’t hesitate—he was in. With that the team was complete.
THE LEGACY CONTINUES
What began as Lathan’s vision—and was brought to life through the partnership of Mike Patterson and Jim Caplinger—had now grown into something even larger. And just as the Topeka museum would not have existed without Jim, the move to Las Vegas would not have been possible without Joe Pennington and Rob Steele.
From a single jumpsuit… to Big Red… to a world-class museum… and now to Las Vegas—the journey of the Evel Knievel Museum that has evolved into the Evel Knievel Experience – Las Vegas is a story of bold ideas, unlikely partnerships, and a shared belief in preserving the legacy of an American icon.