Annual Fiesta del Triunfo to honor volunteers, raise money

The 2000 La Fiesta del Triunfo, an annual benefit for the Stagecoach Inn Museum, will be Sat., July 15 at David Murdock’s Ventura Farms in the Hidden Valley area of Thousand Oaks.

Murdock and his wife and former ambassador Robert D. Nesen are honorary chairpersons.

Festivities begin 5 p.m. with a tour of the paddocks followed 5:30 p.m. by an equestrian presentation of national champion stallions, mares and foals as well as show horses from Ventura Farms.

Cocktails will be 6 p.m. to the bolero music of Los Romanticos. A southwestern buffet is at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. the ceremony presenting this year’s Don and Dona Triunfo — John C. Prescott and Geri Conlon — will be held.

Prescott, this year’s Don Triunfo, has worked for the city of Thousand Oaks for 26 years and has been a dedicated volunteer at the Stagecoach Inn Museum. A member of the Kiwanis Club, Prescott is active in volunteering his services to many community organizations including Meals-on-Wheels, Many Mansions, Fitzgerald House, Villa Esperanza, Hospice of the Conejo and numerous others.

This year’s Dona Triunfo, Geri Conlan, is serving as chairwoman of La Fiesta del Triunfo for the fourth year and has volunteered many hours in support of other museum projects.

In addition. Conlan has made significant and innovative contributions as a volunteer with many local organizations including the Alliance for the Arts, Conejo Future Foundation, Westlake High School, the Westlake Village chapter of the California Institute for Cancer Research at UCLA, and serves as a docent at the Reagan Presidential Library.

Stagecoach Inn Museum, originally known as the Grand Union Hotel, was built in 1876 in Thousand Oaks.

In 1964, the inn was threatened with demolition by expansion of the Ventura Freeway.

The Conejo Valley Historical Society was formed to save the building.

The museum complex centers around the main building and includes a one-room schoolhouse, coach house, pioneer house, a Spanish-Mexican adobe, Chumash cultural exhibits, a heritage rose garden and two nature trails.

The tradition of the La Fiesta del Triunfo, to support the Stagecoach Inn Museum, originated in 1965 with a Spanish Ball at the Rancho Conejo Airport Hangar followed by a buffalo barbecue and the "Last Great Stagecoach Race" the following day.

Ballots were sold at 10 cents a vote to elect a Don and Dona Triunfo.

Today, the Don and Dona Triunfo are selected and recognized for their contributions to the community.

Tickets are $85 and the reservation deadline is July 10. The dress will be Western attire. Opportunity drawing tickets are five for $10 and everyone in attendance will be entered in the drawing for door prizes.

For additional information and reservations, call (805) 495-8317.