Motorcycle Mania: Haas Moto Museum Reopens in New Location This Weekend
After turning heads for years in the Dallas Design District, the Haas Moto Museum is revving up for the opening of its sprawling new location this weekend in Farmers Branch.
Featuring one of the world's largest private collections of motorcycles, the two-wheeled showplace's new home is at 4301 N. Beltwood Parkway near Midway Road and Belt Line. The 230-bike collection offers an "unparalleled archive" of 125 years of motorcycle history— from a 1938 Brough Superior and a pristine 1929 Majestic to "rare racers that have either competed on board tracks or set world records as land speed machines."
But the true jewels of the Haas Moto Museum collection are said to be its 60 custom bikes from top builders around the world, including Craig Rodsmith, Max Hazan, Cristian Sosa, and others.
The bikes aren't the only things that will catch your eye: The museum also serves as a gallery for a wide variety of art works, including the world's largest collection of paintings by Japanese artist Makoto Endo—who creates his pieces using only chopsticks.
Venture capitalist, writer, and photographer became a devoted motorcycle collector
The Haas Moto Museum is the result of a passionate quest by venture capitalist and writer Bobby Haas, whose lucrative career enabled him the freedom to pursue other passions, including aerial photography. After writing bestselling books as well as s for National Geographic, he developed his motorcycle obsession later in life. Haas and his partner, Stacey Mayfield, began collecting motorcycles in 2016. To create what they called the world's leading motorcycle museum, they traveled around the world to work with top names in motorcycles. Originallly displayed in a small, 5,000-square-foot location, the collection moved to a larger, architecturally stylish home in the Dallas Design District in 2018.
Carrying on Haas' passionate legacy
After Haas' death at age 74 in 2021. the museum's future was uncertain. "After Bobby's sudden passing, there was a period of uncertainty in regard to keeping the collection and the team together," Mayfield, who remains the museum's director, said in a statement. "Fortunately, the continuance of the museum has been secured through a partnership with a group of investors who appreciate the history, passion and legacy we have worked so tirelessly to create."
The museum's 25,000-square-foot new showplace left room for more than the collection and the art works. It also houses a 10,000-square-foot shop for both Sparky Williamson, the museum's chief engineer and a former builder at Strokers Dallas, and legendary custom builder Craig Rodsmith. Visitors can see into the glass-enclosed space, witnessing the motorcycle restoration and maintenance process as it happens. (The museum said it plans to hold classes in the shop space starting in 2025.)
"Bobby is and will always be our guiding light," Mayfield said. "However, as we approach this new evolution of the Haas Moto Museum, we are looking forward with developments that are new and creative and prepare the museum for future growth." Those developments include the Biker Boy shop, which showcases Bobby Haas' photography books, custom merchandise, and hand-crafted gifts and leather goods. One featured item is the newlyl released photographic coffee table book, "The Motorcycle," which offers up-close looks at the 13 decades of motorcycle history housed at the Haas Moto Museum.
Haas Moto Museum officially opens this Saturday, November 9. Its hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and it's available for private events. For ticket information, go here .
