Bigfoot Encounters Bigfoot museum founder, Mike Rugg behind on taxes, hopes attendance will rise; county sets June 29, 2012 deadline By JONDI GUMZ - Santa Cruz Sentinel |
06/09/2012 -- FELTON, California - Michael Rugg, owner of the Bigfoot Discovery Museum at 5497 Highway 9, Felton, California was surprised to learn the Santa Clara County had set a deadline of June 29 for him to pay back taxes of $4,368 or see the property sold at auction. He thought he had more time. After seven years of operation and gaining local and international recognition, the museum sees 30 to 60 people a day in the summer. Rugg says only now is he seeing revenue, and he had hoped a contact from a Hollywood producer could turn his Felton Bigfoot story into a reality television show. Meanwhile, a balloon payment on a loan he took out before the economy crashed will come due next year. "Maybe people will rally and help us," Rugg said, noting the museum is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Tuesday. The county tax collector's office posted a legal notice in the Sentinel Tuesday warning a dozen commercial property owners to pay back taxes or set up a payment plan by June 29 to avoid a tax sale. Delinquent taxes from 2008-09 exceed $600,000, according to the tax office, which was closed Friday for furloughs. Follow Sentinel reporter Jondi Gumz on Twitter: @jondigumz Source: Santa Cruz County Tax Collector
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