Vandalism Forces Banning Stagecoach Days To Cancel 2023 Rodeo

BANNING, CA — Banning Stagecoach Days is canceled for 2023 following a massive act of vandalism at the event's facilities and office over the weekend, rodeo organizers announced.

Amy Pippenger, Chairwoman of the nonprofit Stagecoach Days Association delivered the news in a video announcement. Fans of the rodeo — a community tradition for nearly 70 years — immediately stepped up to offer support, but the damage may be too great to recover from in time for this year's rodeo.

Pippenger walked fans and friends of the Banning Stagecoach Days through the vandalized office, in an Instagram video, showing the graffiti and damages, and fire extinguisher foam that covered every surface.

"Somebody has to know something," she said. "This is not okay."

Graffiti scrawled across the inside of the building ranged from "Shh I see you," "You a B----," "God Loves You," and even "Sorry. "

Inside, it's hard to breathe after 30 fire extinguishers used during Stagecoach Days were unloaded in the facility, she said.

"They took all the fire extinguishers for the event, close to 30 of them, and unloaded them inside the mobile home!" she said. "Our eyes burn when we go inside! I am broken….. just plain defeated at this point!"

It will take more than a few coats of paint to recoup years of carefully boxed and cataloged items that it takes to run the rodeo, she said.

Stagecoach Days have been a signature Banning event since 1957. For ten years, Pippenger and her volunteer committee have fundraised and worked to host the annual rodeo at the Banning location in Dysart Park. They built it into a thriving nonprofit organization that pours funds into improving the event each year. All of that is in jeopardy for 2023 after vandals wrecked, stole, and violated the mobile home that stores everything it takes to run the rodeo, she said.

Getting The Bad News

Pippenger's shock at the break-in has devolved into a simmering outrage as she timelined the events.

"On Saturday, I received a phone call from the Parks and Rec Director informing me that someone had broken into the building, and the alarm may accidentally not have been set," she said in the video. "I want to show the community what I walked into."

One window was broken though the bars remained largely intact. Inside, floor-to-ceiling graffiti marred the walls. Tables and chairs were wrecked, and much of the drywall was punched out and broken. Items necessary to put on the rodeo that took years to accumulate were demolished, she said.

"How did they gain entry into this mobile home?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion. "I hope someone knows something. I hope we can find whoever did this."

Pippenger shared that she had spoken with the Banning Director of Parks and Recreation about the vandalism and has consulted the event's insurance provider.

On Monday, however, she said her hope was lost and canceling was the only thing that made sense.

"I wanted to tell you guys... I wanted to tell you... I notified the director of Parks and Rec that Stagecoach Days needs to regroup," she said. "We hope to come back stronger in 2024, but there will be no Stagecoach Days this year, not from the committee."

Darkest Before The Dawn

Pippenger explained that Stagecoach Days, which premieres as a rodeo each fall, is run not by the city but by a nonprofit organization.

The committee spends nearly all funds raised each year on improvements to the grounds and upkeep along with some help from the city, she said. Most of the work on the ring, the stage and the VIP area was constructed by volunteers and the board members, she said. The city and parks department have helped, but everything it took to run the rodeo was inside that mobile home and has since been trashed, she said.

In the 24 hours since her message was shared, offers to help have been pouring in through comments to her post.

The California Circuit Finals Rodeo out of Palmdale has offered to help over a Facebook comment, while others have asked about fundraisers.

"My family will help any way we can," said one commenter. "Banning is home, and we won't let anyone take away what doesn't belong to them. Stagecoach Days is something we all love and we support you guys."

Still others have offered manpower to lend a hand with the physical cleanup effort.

"There's No BUCKING US OFF NOW," another commenter wrote. "Banning is small, it talks and the people who did this will be found. You have an army of support behind you!"

All of the Facebook and Instagram comments have lifted the committee's collective spirits and restored her faith in humanity, Pippenger said, but there is much still to do.

"Thank you to everyone who is reaching out and offering to help financially or physically," she said. "Right now we are in limbo waiting for information on how to proceed and what comes next. This is a heartbreaking situation and unfortunately an eye-opener for us and the city. The only good thing that may come of this is: things are going to have to change moving forward."