Iconic Central California music venue for sale after nearly 30 years in Bakersfield

Bakersfield's beloved Buck Owens Crystal Palace, designed by namesake's Country Music Hall of Famer, was put up for sale by the foundation that has run the music venue since the performer's 2006 death.

Citing increasing food and labor costs, the foundation posted on Facebook that it would seek new owners for the Central Valley institution.

"A combination of this business climate and the wishes of the Owens family members to step back from the responsibilities of management requires finding new owners to utilize this beautiful venue," the foundation wrote on Facebook.

All events and concerts will continue as planned until new owners are found, according to the Facebook statement.

Who was Buck Owens and the 'Bakersfield sound'?

A Texas native, Owens in the 1950s moved to Bakersfield, where he was introduced to a rough-and-tumble "honky tonk" musical style that was played in the area's bars and music clubs frequented by oil and farm workers. Other performers influenced by the "Bakersfield sound" were Merle Haggard, Jean Shepard and Tommy Collins.

Owens, playing with his band the Buckaroos, earned his first hit song in 1963 with "Act Naturally." Over the next four decades, Owens released multiple hit records, regularly appeared on the hit TV show "Hee Haw" and had 21 No. 1 hits.

He was named to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Who has played at the Crystal Palace?

Since opening in 1996, the Crystal Palace has hosted country music legends like Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, and Miranda Lambert. In 2007, a young Taylor Swift performed at the iconic venue.

In 2016, USA TODAY wrote that the venue was "equal parts honky-tonk museum, live music venue, restaurant and bar" and "a must-stop for a real Bakersfield experience."

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Buck Owens' Crystal Palace for sale after 28 years of music