The Furthur Down the Road Foundation

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Ken Kesey’s Furthur Bus, featured in Tom Wolfe’s popular 1968 book, Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, is one of the seminal cultural icons of the 20th Century and a project that Kesey considered one of his “best works,” along with his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. The bus played a huge role as a symbol of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. It was the “prime mover” for Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, and can even be said to have had a role in the launch of the Grateful Dead, perhaps the greatest band to have grown out of that era.

Founded by Stephanie Kesey, the Furthur Down the Road Foundation is an Oregon 501c3 nonprofit corporation established to “restore the original Furthur Bus to it’s 1960s condition, and to promote and preserve the legacy of author Ken Kesey.” The bus is currently rusting away and we’re in danger of losing this important artifact forever.

The Furthur Down the Road Foundation was founded in 2008 and plans to raise it’s first $1 million dollars. Funds raised will be used to…

  • Fully restore the Furthur bus to it’s original 1964 splendor. The restoration will be completed by a talented team of artists, automotive restorers, period experts—and, of course, with the help of original Pranksters.
  • Provide for the ongoing maintenance, transportation, and storage of Furthur for an ongoing event and museum loan program.
  • Fund the day-to-day operations of Furthur Down the Road, such as administrative staffing, fundraising, and online presence.
  • Establish an endowment to fund the Foundation for many years to come.

We aim to involve the original Pranksters in the restoration efforts, and have the support and involvement of the Kesey family, including Zane and Stephanie (Ken’s son and daughter-in-law), Caleb (his grandson), and Faye (Ken’s widow), who all have roles as officers or board members at Furthur Down the Road.

Won’t you help us with your contribution so we can share this important artifact and get future generations “on the bus”?