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A Closer Look At John Wayne’s Custom Yacht, “Wild Goose”

Public Domain / Abhishake4, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

For the last 17 years of his life John Wayne enjoyed a good deal of that time with his friends and family aboard his custom yacht, Wild Goose.

The ship itself was a 136-ft. US Navy Minesweeper that the Duke purchased for $110,000 in 1962 and converted into a three-decker floating luxury.

The ship has extravagant wood detailing, murals, and the bridge table where Wayne would spend all day playing games near the end of his life.

Shortly after he took possession of the ship, the $3 million renovation began. Five staterooms were added, interior bulkheads were removed to give the yacht a more spacious feel, and overheads were raised to accommodate Wayne’s height. A wood-burning fireplace, poker table, and built-in wet bar were added to the saloon which seats up to 127 people.

Even with these lavish upgrades, Wayne was intent on maintaining the boat’s naval heritage and left many of her original military elements intact, like the old-fashioned swivel wall fans, the bell, and the brass wheel in the wheelhouse.

The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises located in Newport Beach, California. The company puts on different events and cruises in which fans of The Duke can actually step foot on his beloved yacht.

Wayne’s last trip aboard Wild Goose was on Easter weekend 1979. Before his passing the Hollywood legend used his yacht to entertain people like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. It was also in several films, including “Skidoo” and “The President’s Analyst.”

Get a full video tour of Wild Goose below.

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Duke’s Wild Goose Days

The Wild Goose anchored in the Pacific Northwest. Photo courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises

Written by Michael Goldman

If you ever wondered what John Wayne would be doing if he were alive today, with summer in full swing, there is no need—he’d be spending every available moment on his yacht, the  Wild Goose , with family and friends. The  Wild Goose  was a 136-ft. US Navy Minesweeper converted into a yacht that Duke purchased surviving in 1962 to replace the smaller boat he owned a few years earlier, called the  Norwester . As his oldest living son, Patrick Wayne said Duke purchased the  Wild Goose  principally to make it easier to have fun with his family and friends. And for many years, he did just that.

“We had a lot of fun [on the Norwester],” Patrick recalled, “but it wasn’t big enough with our huge extended family, so eventually he decided to buy the  Wild Goose .” The yacht has been described as “the central hub of John Wayne’s voracious social life,” and that’s accurate. The boat became such a powerful force in his life, for such a long time, that it remains famous today, long after Duke sold it just a matter of weeks before his death in the late 1970’s as he worked to put his affairs in order. Indeed, the yacht remains in use today, owned by Hornblower Cruises & Events, as a rental yacht for private events in Newport Beach, California.

John Wayne, Peggy Wayne, and Melinda Wayne aboard the Wild Goose in 1963. Photo courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises

But in and around the Wayne family, memories of the boat and its numerous voyages, parties, cruises, and the important snapshots from Duke’s life that played out on it linger. Patrick remembers dozens of adventures on Catalina, and “lots of water sports, fishing, diving for abalone, water skiing.” Daughter Marisa remembers “card games with family and friends on the boat, sailing to Mexico, Canada, or Alaska, fishing and playing backgammon.” In fact, Marisa continues, those times are among her most important memories. “For a long time, whenever I dreamed about him, we were on the boat,” she recalls. “Just enjoying the people you were with, the sights, being on the sea, and lots of playing cards.”

Ethan Wayne describes his dad routinely “putting on his shirt and shoes, or a pair of flip-flops, and then just diving in [off the side of the boat], swimming to shore, putting on his shoes, wet. He’d have something to eat or talk with somebody, and then swim back to the boat and hang out with his buddies.” His wife, Pilar, remembers “cruises to the Panama Canal, spending time in the sun, just relaxing.”

In other words, as Ethan says, days on the  Wild Goose  were the ones “when my father was the happiest.”

Bert Minshall, who served for many years as the ship’s first mate, and who even wrote a book in the 1990’s filled with his memories of his time on Duke’s boat, called  On Board with the Duke , certainly attests to that. He related to me that the feeling was one of family and esprit de corps for anyone on board the  Wild Goose . Minshall, in fact, points out that his primary role early in his tenure on the boat was to keep a watchful eye on the younger Wayne children. He remembers “water skiing and jumping off John Wayne’s cabin, about 25 feet in the air,” with Duke’s kids, and insists Duke used the Wild Goose more frequently when he had small children and grandchildren available to join him.

Indeed, Minshall is a veritable gold mine of Wild Goose memories, ranging from screening 16mm versions of John Wayne films on board the ship to watching Duke get a thrill driving the small Boston Whaler ski boat that often came along on cruises, “even though he had a hard time bringing [the ski boat] up alongside the  Wild Goose ,” according to Minshall. In his own book, Minshall also points out that John Wayne, himself, and Pete Stein were about the only regulars on the boat who “never got seasick” even in the heaviest weather.

“While others covered their mouths and sprinted for the side, the three of us would wipe our plates clean and help ourselves to seconds,” Minshall wrote. “During one particularly fierce storm in the Sea of Cortez, off Baja, California, we were forced to sit on the galley deck, our backs braced against a bulkhead, so we could steady ourselves long enough to wolf down a heavy breakfast.”

Wild Goose Engineer Ken Minshall, Dean Martin, and Wild Goose Captain Bert Minshall aboard the Wild Goose. Photo courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises

Of course, Duke occasionally conducted business meetings on the yacht, but more generally, he wove the boat into the fabric of all aspects of his life. Minshall says Duke took industry friends like actor Hugh O’Brien, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Jackie Gleason fishing every once in a while, and he let other buddies, including Sammy Davis Jr., charter the boat for Catalina cruises. But, for the most part, the  Wild Goose  was Duke’s primary personal playground. It was on board the boat that Duke took a three-week fishing trip to Canada and worked with journalist Wayne Warga on several chapters of his never-finished biography in the 1970’s. Among his private papers at the Edward I. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library at USC, Warga wrote about that trip, claiming it began with him getting “rip-snorting drunk with Duke” and was delightful and productive due to how relaxed Duke was.

Duke was also particularly fond over the years of the men, including Minshall, who crewed on the  Wild Goose . Letters in the John Wayne Archives, and the memories of family and friends, indicate Duke often battled it out with the ship’s longest-serving skipper, a chain-smoking sea veteran named Pete Stein, in “an interplay,” as Minshall puts it, that might have made them seem like they were at odds. But, in truth, as Ethan Wayne recalls, “they would drink together when the boat was not in operation. They really liked each other.”

When Duke was traveling for work, Stein would routinely write him letters, updating him on the boat’s condition and any issues as they arose. John Wayne appreciated that and, in fact, was so supportive of his crew that he became enraged in 1966 by a letter accusing Captain Stein of being unfit for duty by the owner of another yacht that had gotten into a minor collision with the  Wild Goose  in Catalina during a voyage in which Duke was not present. The owner of the other boat, in Duke’s view, insulted his friend by calling Stein “arrogant,” and he was having none of it.

“[Stein] recalls nothing discourteous in his actions, and says he took a ten-minute lecture from you without anger or reply,” Duke wrote the man. “It is unfortunate that the incident occurred, but I can’t feel that anything that happened gives you license to damn me and my ship and crew as arrogant. Quite frankly, the tone of your letter fails to invoke a sympathetic or apologetic attitude from me.”

According to Minshall, John Wayne took his final cruise on the boat in April 1979, just a matter of weeks before his death. Minshall says Duke was particularly weak during the trip, but still played backgammon, gin rummy, and reminisced with his old friend.

“When we got back, he walked up the dock, and that was the last time I saw him,” Minshall says. But as melancholy as that memory is for him, it’s overwhelmed by the memories he has of Duke riding in the ship’s wheelhouse, enjoying the sea life and relaxing.

“Duke loved to be in the wheelhouse, usually having a drink,” Minshall says. “At least for the last 10 years or so of his life, he would be up there drinking his tequila or brandy on the rocks. The boat was a real getaway for him, away from the hassle of Hollywood.”

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John Wayne: Take a Tour of the Cowboy Icon’s Yacht Named ‘Wild Goose’

John Wayne had appeared in somewhere around 250 movies during his five decades in the entertainment world.

He had racked up a $50 million net worth through his extensive acting presence and other projects.

With that money, he decided to buy his very own personal yacht and named it “Wild Goose.” Here’s a look aboard John Wayne’s yacht.

Tour of John Wayne’s Yacht

The video is a compilation of the yacht over the years. That includes the construction process, as well as an inside look at some of the features of the yacht. It is a three-decker, 136-foot ship with some interesting amenities.

There is a full bar, microphone, seating for up to 127 people, fireplace room, dance area, and the bridal suite, amongst other features.

The boat has several framed photos of Wayne, the yacht itself, as well as memorabilia and other decorations. Several of the framed photos and paintings feature Wayne acting as some of his most popular roles over the years.

The ship has really extravagant wood detailing, murals, and the bridge table that John Wayne spent all day playing games at near the end of his life.

Another YouTube page, Daze with Jordan the Lion, gives a detailed walkthrough of The Duke’s ship. It includes intricate details and historical knowledge of the ship’s legacy.

Current Status of the ‘Wild Goose’

The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises located in Newport Beach . The company puts on different events and cruises that are often John Wayne-themed. This means fans of The Duke can actually step foot on his beloved yacht.

John Wayne used the ship a lot during the last 17 years of his life. He also put in a lot of major renovations on the former WWII minesweeper back in 1962. It cost more than $3 million. He had entertained people like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. It was in several films, including “Skidoo” and “The President’s Analyst.”

The 1993 book, “On Board with the Duke,” written by his captain Bert Minshall, details the experience of sailing the seas with the legendary actor.

According to The Orange Country Register, in 2011 the vessel was nominated for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. This designation is used for different locations that hold a significant impact on society. It also helps with preservation.

Hornblower has preserved the ship, but also added a lot of obvious shoutouts to remind people they’re on John Wayne’s yacht. The movie posters and self-portraits would have never been on the ship while Wayne owned it.

“Personally, I would have liked to keep the boat original, the way the Duke had it. It just doesn’t look like John Wayne’s boat,” Minshall said to the Register.

John Wayne’s yacht: A national treasure?

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The Wild Goose, the yacht once owned by actor John Wayne, is nominated for a spot on the National Historic Register. The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach.

From the grand stairway leading from the main deck of the Wild Goose to the upper decks visitors are greeted by a painted portrait of actor John Wayne, who bought the ship in 1965.

The master state room in the Wild Goose was added in a retrofit done by John Wayne just after he bought the ship in 1965. Interior bulkheads were removed to give the yacht a more spacious feel, and overheads were raised to accommodate Wayne's height.

A painting of John Wayne hangs in the fireplace room of the Wild Goose, the yacht that was owned by John Wayne.

A view from the outside of the bridge of the Wild Goose, a 136-foot former U.S. Navy minesweeper that was owned by actor John Wayne. Shortly after Wayne bought the ship in 1965, the actor began a retrofit to make the ship a more comfortable, family-friendly yacht.

The engine room of the Wild Goose holds two 500 hp engines, the original engines installed when the ship was built for the Navy at the beginning of World War II.

The brass wheel in the bridge of the Wild Goose is the orginal from the ships days as a U.S. Navy minesweeper during World War II. The yacht was owned by John Wayne, who left many of the original military elements intact .

The bar on the main deck of the yacht Wild Goose, which was owned by John Wayne. The ship, currently owned by Hornblower Cruises, is nominated for a spot on the National Historic Register.

The original engine order telegraph in the bridge of the Wild Goose, a 136-foot former U.S. Navy minesweeper that was owned by actor John Wayne. It was used by the pilot on the bridge to order engineers in the engine room to power the vessel at a certain speed.

A wood-burning fireplace was added to the Wild Goose by John Wayne in a retrofit he did shortly after buying the yacht in 1965. Wayne entertained passengers such as Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin on this yacht.

Carved-wood appointments to the Wild Goose, the yacht formerly owned by actor John Wayne who bought it in 1965. Wayne sold the yacht just before his death in 1979 to a Los Angeles attorney. The yacht is currently owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach.

Elser Morales, fleet manager for Hornblower Cruises walks past the many gauges in the engine room of the Wild Goose, the yacht that was once owned by actor John Wayne.

A poker table that was used by John Wayne and his guests sits in a room that was added to the Wild Goose after it was sold by Wayne in 1979.

The Wild Goose, a yacht owned by John Wayne for many years, is currently owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach and is nominated for a spot on the National Historic Register.

Undated photo of John Wayne with daughters Marissa and Aissa aboard the Wild Goose.

A photo of legendary actor John Wayne, in the wheelhouse of the "Wild Goose," the 136-foot yacht once owned by Wayne.

NEWPORT BEACH – Amid the weddings, dinner cruises and tours that take place aboard the Wild Goose, there are unmistakable nods to its most famous owner.

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Hornblower Cruises, which currently owns the vessel, maintains the boat as a homage to actor John Wayne, who bought the World War II minesweeper in 1962 and refurbished it as a yacht, using it to travel and entertain until his death in 1979.

Now the vessel is nominated for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, an honorary designation meant to recognize places with a certain significance, such as ties to an entertainment figure like Wayne, and encourage their preservation, said Paul Lusignian, a historian for the National Register.

The boat is already pretty far from its original state. The owners who came after Wayne put the Goose through more than $3 million in renovations, the most noticeable of which are an upper deck and a room on the main deck.

Hornblower bought the boat in 1997, and has since tried to maintain its historic integrity, said Chandler Bell, director of marine operations.

“We wanted to preserve the history of the vessel,” he said. “We felt the boat deserved it.”

Remnants of Wayne’s presence exist both through efforts to preserve the boat as he had it, and modern touches that remind visitors whose yacht they are on.

The balance is apparent in the Fireplace Room. A naval battle mural Wayne commissioned faces the wood-burning fireplace, while framed movie posters of his films line the worn, white walls on either side.

The painting and fireplace are original, but the posters most certainly are not from the Duke, said Bert Minshall, who started on board as a deckhand in 1963 and rose to become the ship’s captain in the 70’s, until the actor’s death.

“Mr. Wayne would never have had that stuff on board,” Minshall said of the posters.

Instead, the walls sported at least two dozen plaques from army units he visited in Vietnam, he said.

Minshall, who wrote a book about his experiences with Wayne aboard the Wild Goose, returns to the ship from time to time for events, mingling with visitors and sharing stories of his years on the boat.

He took part in some of Wayne’s transformations to the former minesweeper, and often notices further changes that have been made since he worked on the boat.

Minshall was a member of the team that built the actor’s state room on the main deck, with a doorway that was 6’8″ to accommodate the man who stood at 6’4.”

They’ve kept the state room mostly as it was, he said, but changed the color of the bed from a speckled brown and yellow to a darker varnish.

He recalls being like a nanny for Wayne’s three youngest children, especially Marissa. He watched them jet ski behind the boat around Catalina Island, and jump off the roof of their father’s state room, a 20-foot plunge.

“Those three children were my responsibility,” he said.

Now there is an upper deck atop the main one, covered by canvas and windows, and an additional room that covers a porthole looking out from the kids’ room.

Hornblower nominated the vessel for a place on the National Register last year. It’s passed through the state level, and will now be reviewed by a historian at the national level. The decision as to whether or not the Wild Goose makes the list will come out some time next month, Lusignan said.

Ninety percent of submissions that pass through the state level also pass through the national review, he added.

Hornblower has been trying to highlight the boat’s historical presence since before its nomination to the National Register, Bell said.

They preserved one bunk room, which used to house guests including Sammy Davis Jr., and are planning to convert another bunk room back to its original state, Bell said. The company was using it as a liquor room.

Minshall said any steps to make it resemble its former glory would be good ones. To him, the boat is almost unrecognizable as John Wayne’s yacht.

“Personally, I would have liked to keep the boat original, the way the Duke had it,” Minshall said. “It just doesn’t look like John Wayne’s boat.”

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A Behind-The-Scenes Look At John Wayne’s Custom Yacht, 'Wild Goose'

Dec 20, 2021 by apost team

When it comes to remembering the best to come from Hollywood’s Golden Age, John Wayne is by far one of the most famous stars to come out of the era. Born on May 26, 1907, he was an actor and filmmaker who shot to stardom during this era by landing several starring roles in Western and war films. 

Wayne’s career really flourished during the silent era in the 1920s up through the end of his life in 1979. The established actor appeared in more than 200 movie and television productions and was easily seen as an American icon, making him a box office success through and through.

While many people know Wayne for his on-screen performances, others have been entranced by the late actor’s personal life. He was married three times and divorced twice, and had a total of seven children. Wayne also raked in plenty of money from his time in the spotlight and used that to help publicize some of his hobbies, such as his love for tennis. He even built the John Wayne Tennis Club in 1973.

One of Wayne’s most prized possessions was his custom yacht known as Wild Goose. Wayne kept it docked in Newport Beach Harbor in California, and it has gone on to become one of the most historic places for people to visit. The yacht is filled with plenty of amazing detailings and add-ins, showing almost as much star quality as Wayne himself. Read on to find out more about Wayne’s beloved yacht and all of its intricate features.

Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video :-) 

Wild Goose is a World War II minesweeper that  Wayne  bought back in 1962, according to the  Orange County Register . He refurbished it as a yacht and used it to travel to several beautiful places and also entertain his friends and family until he died in 1979. Hornblower Cruises, the owners who came after Wayne, bought the boat in 1997 and invested more than $3 million to renovate the yacht, with the most noticeable newer features being an upper deck and a room on the main deck.

A  video  from April 2018 has shown an inside look into Wayne’s beloved custom yacht called Wild Goose. According to  Outsider , the ship is 136 feet and is a three-decker, filled with some incredible amenities such as a full bar, microphone, fireplace room, dance area, and bridal suite.

Also, onboard the famous boat are several framed photos of Wayne himself in some of his most popular roles from his many years in the spotlight, as well as other memorabilia of the late star. The yacht also has wood detailing and murals. 

There is a naval battle mural that Wayne commissioned that faces a wood-burning fireplace, which are both original to the former state of the yacht, according to the  Orange County Register . The walls in the famous boat previously were filled with at least two dozen plaques from army units Wayne visited in Vietnam.

According to an  Outsider article  from March 2021, Wild Goose is currently owned by Hornblower Cruises, located in Newport Beach. The company puts on plenty of events and cruises that are Wayne-themed, opening up the doors for his fans to really get the full experience.

Maintaining Its Integrity

Chandler Bell, the director of marine operations, spoke with the  Orange County Register  about how Hornblower Cruises wanted to maintain Wild Goose’s historic integrity. “We wanted to preserve the history of the vessel,” he  said . “We felt the boat deserved it.”

Bert Minshall began working as a deckhand on Wild Goose in 1963 before becoming the ship’s captain during the 1970s, a position he held until Wayne’s death. He helped with some of the yacht’s transformations under Wayne, as per the  Orange County Register . The bed in the stateroom was changed from a speckled brown and yellow color to a darker color. Hornblower Cruises was also able to preserve one bunk room and wanted to convert another bunk room back to its original state. 

Speaking with the  Orange County Register , Minshall explained that he wanted to do whatever it would take to make Wild Goose return to its former glory and show its beauty as Wayne’s yacht. “Personally, I would have liked to keep the boat original, the way the Duke had it,” he  said . “It just doesn’t look like John Wayne’s boat.”

The famous yacht was previously used in several films and was even nominated for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. The  Orange County Register reported  that the National Register of Historic Places is an honorary designation used to recognize places with a certain significance and encourage their preservation.

According to  City Cruises , passengers that visit Wild Goose can embark on a dining cruise on the yacht and take pictures using the hashtag #JohnWayneGrit to help raise awareness for the  John Wayne Cancer Foundation . A portion of all proceeds is donated to the foundation.

What do you think about John Wayne’s custom yacht? Were you surprised to see what all it has to offer? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.

Please scroll below for more stories :-) 

Journeys of Discovery: Aboard John Wayne's yacht

Correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Captain Bert Minshall aboard the "Wild Goose," a yacht formerly owned by John Wayne, berthed at Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach Harbor in California.

Minshall signed aboard Wayne’s yacht in 1963 as a deck hand and first mate, before taking the helm as skipper in 1976 until Wayne’s death in 1979. Join Minshall as he recounts some of his favorite memories of his sixteen years serving aboard the "Wild Goose."

John Wayne was a 20 th Century Hollywood icon performing in more than 150 movies, with the 1969 film "True Grit" earning him an Oscar for best actor. Wayne’s first love was the United States Navy, but when he did not receive an appointment to the Naval Academy, he carried on with his film career.

His love of the maritime world spurred Wayne to purchase a converted World War II minesweeper (YMS-328), the "Wild Goose" in 1962. The 136-foot-long yacht served as a favorite getaway vessel for Wayne to spend time with his kids and friends. Mexico and Canada were two favored nautical destinations, but he also transited the Atlantic aboard the "Wild Goose" not long after purchasing the vessel. Hollywood celebrities who spent time aboard the yacht include Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Lee Marvin, and Tom Jones.

Hornblower Cruises, in partnership with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation , is hosting a series of Friday night dinner cruises aboard the "Wild Goose" in May and early June, 2019.

Wild Goose roosts on historic registry

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NEWPORT BEACH — John Wayne’s beloved yacht, the Wild Goose, is now among some 200 boats listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The Duke” would have been proud.

“While our focus has, and perhaps always will be, predominantly on buildings, the programs include a broad spectrum of property types, from archaeological sites to bridges, locomotives, lighthouses, historic districts and ships,” Paul S. Lusignan, an historian with the National Register of Places, said in an email.

The Hollywood icon and Newport Beach resident owned the 136-foot, wooden-hulled World War II-era minesweeper from 1962 until shortly before his death in 1979.

In May, the State Historical Resources Commission certified the boat’s nomination for a National Register listing by the U.S. Department of the Interior, noting that the Wild Goose had been “cited in Wayne’s biographies as his sanctuary and proudest possession.”

Two of Wayne’s children, Aissa and Ethan, used to sleep in bunk beds aboard the ship. The bunks are intact, and the siblings’ initials remain engraved in them.

“There’s just a real special connection he had. He just treasured that boat,” Aissa Wayne said.

The Wild Goose continues to ply local waters as a working vessel operated by Hornblower Cruises & Events. The boat is anchored in Newport Harbor.

The vessel was originally launched in the 1940s under the name YMS-328, and is one of four remaining minesweepers of the 481 of its class.

“He was a big buff of the Navy — not just how the movies portrayed him,” said Chandler Bell, Hornblower’s director of marine operations. “The boat meant a whole lot to him … He had it up [until] to two months before his death. It was a huge part of his life and his family.”

The Wild Goose was eligible for a listing because it met the criteria of being historically significant through its association with the life of an important person, official documents show. Wayne was deemed important because of his status as an icon of cinema history.

Wayne’s fame raised the Wild Goose’s profile when he bought it for $116,000 in 1962, but its own role and prominence in his life wasn’t lost on National Register officials who evaluated the nomination file.

“The Wild Goose stands as one of the most significant extant properties directly associated with the actor during his productive life,” their review read.

“Regarded as one of Wayne’s most prized possessions and an important focus of his family life outside of the movie industry, the ship embodied both his heroic-scale personality and iconic image,” the review continued. “Outside the various film studios and movie locations where he practiced his trade, the Wild Goose perhaps best reflects Wayne’s larger-than-life personality as an exceptional figure in American performing arts and popular culture.”

After Wayne bought it, the yacht went on to achieve notoriety on the silver screen. The Wild Goose appeared in 1967’s “The President’s Analyst” and 1968’s “Skidoo.” It also played a part in the 1960s TV show “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”

Wayne remodeled the yacht in 1965. The ceilings were raised to accommodate his 6-foot, 4-inch frame.

Aissa Wayne recalled many fond family memories aboard the Wild Goose.

Among them was time spent in Spain, where Wayne traveled to shoot 1964’s “Circus World.”The Waynes also traveled to Catalina Island, Mexico and Alaska.

“One summer Dad said, ‘We’re going to do something new,’ and we went up to Alaska. That was amazing,” Wayne’s daughter said, remembering dropping a fishing line into the water and, in a short amount of time, catching salmon. “Those are my really fond memories, the trips we took on that boat.”

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October 5, 2021 by Kelly

John Wayne Yacht Wild Goose Facts

To learn the incredible tale of John Wayne’s private yacht the Wild Goose, simply continue reading. As you’ll learn about its background in the US Navy, her time serving during WWII, and her life as the private yacht of one of the most famous western actors in the world. the legendary John Wayne.

It was once part of the US Navy’s fleet:

While the iconic actor, John Wayne named his ship the Wild Goose, it originally was a US Navy YMS-1 class ship known as a Yard Mine Sweeper.

She was active during WWII:

As a naval ship, the Wild Goose was stationed primarily in the Aleutian Islands, during WWII. Her job was to sweep for enemy minefields at Attu and the US minefields at Kiska.

She was supposed to be involved in the scheduled invasion of Parmishiru Island:

She was scheduled to be refitted to participate in the scheduled invasion of Parmishiru Island, however before the invasion could take place, Japan who was fighting with Germany as part of the axis decided to surrender. At the time the Wild Goose was on her way to be refitted for the canceled invasion. She was ultimately removed from the Navy’s register of ships in 1946 after which point she lived on as a private yacht.

She several sister ships:

The most famous of the Wild Goose’s sister ships is the Calypso, which was famously owned by Jaques Cousteau. Cousteau was a famous French naval officer, scientist, filmmaker, and author. Who was passionate about the ocean.

She was owned by Harold Jones:

The first civilian owner of the Wild Goose was Harold Jones, who was the owner of Vancouver Tug & Barge. Jones used the Wild Goose which he named La Beverie to multiple parts of the world. Examples of which included Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Hawaii.

She was also owned by millionaire Max Wyman:

Harold Jones kept La Reverie until his death, at which point she was sold to millionaire Max Wyman. At which point Wyman renamed La Reverie Wild Goose II.

She was brought by the actor John Wayne in 1962:

In 1962 John Wayne took ownership of Wild Goose II and renamed her Wild Goose. Under his ownership, the Wild Goose hosted numerous star-studded parties. Examples of some of the party guests who would attend functions on Wild Goose include two former presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. The latter of whom was formerly an actor before he became the President of the United States. John Wayne retained ownership of Wild Goose for 17 years before she was decommissioned.

She featured in a film:

Wild Goose made an appearance in the 1968 film Skidoo, in which she played the part of a boat named Mother which was owned by a gangster who was played by the famous actor, Groucho Marx.

So whether you are interested in WWII, John Wayne, or historical ships, hopefully, you found the article above about the Wild Goose’s incredible life interesting.

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Take a Rare Look at John Wayne’s Private Life at Sea

By Vanity Fair

John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Wayne Saenz in Palm Springs, Late 1920's.

Ethan Wayne and John Wayne on top of John's boat, the Wild Goose, in 1965.

John, Ethan, and Patrick Wayne in 1965.

By Chris Murphy

By Savannah Walsh

By Maxime Jacob

John and Ethan Wayne, 1965.

John, Peggy, and Melinda Wayne playing chess in Majorca, Spain, 1963.

Aissa Wayne in 1963.

John with Pilar Wayne.

With Aissa and Ethan in 1965.

Marisa, Ethan, John, and Patrick Wayne with Pete Stein in 1967.

John in 1978.

By Kase Wickman

By Katey Rich

By Maggie Coughlan

John Wayne’s Best Co-Star Was in All of His Final Movies

Western legend John Wayne wasn't horsing around with this favorite co-star.

The Big Picture

• John Wayne's best co-star was actually a horse named Dollor, who appeared in all of his Westerns from 1971 until his retirement.
• Wayne became enamored with Dollor later in his career, despite not particularly liking horses throughout his life.
• The film The Shootist poignantly captures Wayne's own battle with cancer and his legacy, with Dollor playing a crucial role in the story.

John Wayne made a lot of movies with a lot of actors, starring alongside the likes of Jimmy Stewart , Dean Martin , Robert Mitchum , Maureen O’Hara , Kirk Douglas , and Katherine Hepburn , and that barely even scratches the surface of the stars he worked with . Despite this, Wayne’s best co-star is actually a horse named Dollor , who was with him in all of his Westerns from 1971’s Big Jake until his retirement. Their partnership culminated in Don Siegel’s The Shootist in 1976, when Wayne insisted on script changes so that he could call the horse by its name, finally passing Dollor on to a young Ron Howard .

The Shootist

A dying gunfighter spends his last days looking for a way to die with a minimum of pain and a maximum of dignity.

John Wayne Didn’t Like Horses

Wayne told biographer Michael Munn in his book John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth , “I’ve never really liked horses and I daresay not many of them liked me too much.” It seems an odd feeling to have for the most famous Western star in the history of Hollywood , but even from the time he was riding his family’s horse Jenny to school, Wayne (who at that time went by his birth name of Marion Robert Morrison) never particularly liked horses. Throughout his lengthy career, Wayne rode a whole host of horses, starting with Duke the Miracle Horse in his early career B-movie Westerns. Often actors would just ride whatever horse the studio gave them; however, a hallmark that would stick with Wayne, who at 6’ 4” was a large man, was tall horses. The notable outlier of a small Appaloosa named Zip Cochise in El Dorado really highlights that he needed a big horse.

Is John Wayne's Horse Named Dollar or Dollor?

In the later stages of his career, The Duke found a horse that would be the last one he would ride in a movie. There is a lot of conflicting information swirling around about what movies this particular horse was in, but unfortunately IMDb doesn’t have a list of credits for horses, making it a little tough to pinpoint where it all started. It’s even pretty tough to tell if the horse was named Dollar or Dollor. A lot of sources claim that 1969’s True Grit was the first to feature Dollor, not throughout the bulk of the movie, but at the end after Wayne’s character Rooster Cogburn has to replace Beau, who dies in the climactic shootout . While he does indeed get a new horse, and one that looks very similar to Dollor, it is actually a different horse completely — adding to the confusion, this horse is possibly named Dollar. Beau had a distinctive wide white blaze down his face with a small deviation over the right eye, so when Cogburn turns up with a new sorrel gelding with a thin white blaze, many think this is Dollor; however, the blaze is wider at the top on this horse’s face and gets thinner towards the nose, while Dollor’s starts thin and gets wider at the nose.

John Wayne's Surprising Connections to Star Wars

Beau is the mount Wayne uses in his next few Westerns, but it is in the 1971 George Sherman film Big Jake that Dollor made his debut. He is then featured in every Western that Wayne makes until his retirement, namely The Cowboys , The Train Robbers , Cahill , Rooster Cogburn , and The Shootist . It’s interesting that it was in this late stage of his career that Wayne became so strongly taken with a horse when he had been riding them his whole life. According to a Chicago Tribune article, Wayne was so enamored with Dollor that he had a contract drawn up with the owner, Dick Webb Movie Productions, to ensure no one else could ride the horse on film. Wayne also stipulated that the script for The Shootist be changed to allow him to refer to Dollor by name , specifically calling him Ol’ Dollor repeatedly.

John Wayne’s Last Film 'The Shootist' Cemented His Legacy​​​​​​

Many of Wayne’s final films share similar themes of family, legacy, and a reckoning with an inevitable end, while also being among his best. In Big Jake , The Duke plays an estranged husband and father, pairing with not just his real-life son Patrick Wayne (something he did often), but also with his younger son Ethan Wayne playing his abducted grandchild. In Rooster Cogburn , he plays a man who hasn’t evolved with the times and has been left behind by a society that thinks it no longer needs him. In some ways, it’s fitting that he grapples with this in a sequel to True Grit , for which he won his only Oscar. It’s also interesting that Marshall Cogburn is the character who is least like the classic John Wayne persona , yet it wrestles with themes so pertinent in the way the film business had moved beyond what he offered. He also dies on-screen twice on film in just four years, which perhaps doesn’t sound like much, but it only happened nine times in almost half a century.

The film that most poignantly captures and mirrors the final years of The Duke’s life is his last, The Shootist . The movie is a surprisingly wrenching experience as an aging gunfighter (or shootist, as is frequently used) comes to terms with his imminent death from cancer and what his legacy will be once he is gone. When he gets the diagnosis from a doctor played by his long-time friend, Jimmy Stewart, he asks if he can cut it out. “Not without gutting you like a fish,” is the reply. It’s impossible to separate this from Wayne’s own battle with cancer, the first occasion being in 1964 when his diagnosis of lung cancer led to the removal of his left lung and a couple of ribs. The Duke would later die of stomach cancer in 1979 — something that many have attributed to the filming of The Conqueror . The way his character, J.B. Books, is received in the town in which he chooses to die is a mixture of awe, fear, and animosity, as his reputation and legend precedes him. Again, hard to separate the character from the actor, especially when the opening includes a montage of footage from previous Wayne films.

Throughout The Shootist , Dollor plays a small but crucial role , becoming a central part of the relationship between Books and his short-term landlady’s ( Lauren Bacall ) son, Gillom (Ron Howard). As soon as Gillom discovers that the man that moved into his house is the famous shootist, from markings underneath the saddle on Dollor, the young man is obsessed. As the film progresses and people try to make their name by taking out Books, Dollor is a constant touchpoint for Books and Gillom, with the young man alternating between feeding the horse his oats and trying to sell him out from under Books. As their bond grows, it ends with Books giving Dollor to Gillom the night before his death. Just as the film climaxes with a nod between the pair, The Duke closing out his career by passing his favorite horse to a young star like Howard seems like a fitting way to go out.

The Shootist is available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.

Rent on Prime Video

The 8 John Wayne Movies That Defined His Career

• John Wayne's iconic performances in films like Stagecoach and True Grit solidified his status as a Hollywood legend.
• Collaborations with directors like John Ford enhanced Wayne's versatility and deep impact on the Western genre.
• Wayne's ability to embody complex, morally ambiguous characters in films like The Searchers showcased his lasting influence.

Starring in over 150 movies, there are 8 films that epitomize the essence of John Wayne 's career, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's most iconic Western stars. From his breakout role in Stagecoach to his Academy Award-winning performance in True Grit , these films showcase Wayne's versatility, charisma, and enduring impact on the genre. Through collaborations with renowned directors like John Ford and Howard Hawks, Wayne brought to life complex characters that resonated with audiences and redefined the archetypal Western hero.

Films such as Red River , Fort Apache , and The Searchers not only chart the evolution of Wayne's career, but also highlight his ability to adapt to changing trends in the genre while maintaining his distinct screen presence. His later works, including Rio Bravo and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance , demonstrate his willingness to take on more nuanced roles and explore the deeper themes within the Western narrative. Looking at these landmark performances, it becomes evident that John Wayne's legacy extends far beyond his status as a Hollywood legend; he remains a timeless embodiment of the American spirit.

Stagecoach (1939)

Directed by john ford.

This career-defining performance marked the beginning of a legendary partnership with Ford that would shape the Western genre for decades to come.

John Wayne's portrayal of Ringo Kid in Stagecoach catapulted him from a B-movie actor to a Hollywood icon. Directed by John Ford, this groundbreaking Western elevated the genre from mere low-budget entertainment to a respected art form. Wayne's commanding presence and natural charisma shone through in his role as a wanted murderer who joins a diverse group of passengers on a perilous journey. Even though John Wayne isn’t portraying the hero , this career-defining performance marked the beginning of a legendary partnership with Ford that would shape the Western genre for decades to come.

Red River (1948)

Directed by howard hawks.

Director Arthur Rosson, Howard Hawks

Release Date September 7, 1948

Cast Coleen Gray, Walter Brennan, Joanne Dru, Montgomery Clift, John Wayne

Runtime 133 Minutes

Genres Drama, Western

John Wayne's portrayal of Tom Dunson in Red River is the film that demonstrated his exceptional acting talent, proving that he was more than just a one-dimensional Western hero. As the headstrong and tyrannical rancher, Wayne navigates complex emotional terrain, clashing with his adoptive son, Matt Garth, played by Montgomery Clift. The film's exploration of themes like the father-son dynamic and the subtle homoerotic subtext between Matt and Cherry Valance added depth to the narrative. Red River' s psychological complexity and Wayne's nuanced performance solidified his reputation as a serious actor, capable of bringing multifaceted characters to life.

Fort Apache (1948)

Wayne's portrayal of York demonstrated his ability to embody principled and multi-dimensional roles.

Fort Apache is the first installment of John Ford's " cavalry trilogy ," and it provided John Wayne with a platform to showcase his acting versatility. As Capt. Kirby York, Wayne played opposite Henry Fonda's Owen Thursday, creating a compelling dynamic that explored the complexities of frontier life and the tensions between military duty and moral integrity. Wayne's portrayal of York, a character who stood firm in his beliefs and challenged Thursday's misguided ambitions, demonstrated his ability to embody principled and multi-dimensional roles. This performance further solidified Wayne's status as a Western star capable of bringing much needed depth to the genre.

​​​​​​​

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon's success not only solidified Wayne's position as a box office draw, but also helped define the archetypal John Wayne character that would become synonymous with his name.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon played a pivotal role in shaping John Wayne's screen persona and cementing his status as a Western icon. The film's portrayal of Nathan Brittles as a mature and wise leader marked a significant departure from Wayne's earlier roles as a young, brash cowboy. This transformation helped establish him as a credible leading man capable of embodying complex, nuanced characters.

20 Best John Wayne Movie Quotes, Ranked

Additionally, the film's exploration of themes such as duty, honor, and the passing of the torch to a new generation aligned perfectly with Wayne's own off-screen persona. These monumental themes helped to further blur the lines between the actor and his on-screen roles . She Wore a Yellow Ribbon 's success not only solidified Wayne's position as a box office draw, but also helped define the archetypal John Wayne character that would become synonymous with his name throughout his career.

The Searchers (1956)

The searchers.

Director John Ford

Release Date March 13, 1956

Cast John Wayne

Rating pg-13

Runtime 119 minutes

A f ilm that has influenced the works of Martin Scorcese , The Searchers marked a turning point in John Wayne's career, as his portrayal of Ethan Edwards showcased his ability to embody complex, morally ambiguous characters. As the vengeful and racist Civil War veteran, Wayne delivered a performance that was raw, intense, and emotionally charged , demonstrating his willingness to explore the darker aspects of the human psyche. The film's unflinching examination of themes such as obsession, racism, and the blurring of moral boundaries challenged the traditional Western narrative and established Wayne as an actor capable of tackling controversial and thought-provoking roles.

Rio Bravo (1959)

Director Howard Hawks

Release Date April 4, 1959

Cast Walter Brennan, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Dean Martin, John Wayne

Rating Passed

Runtime 141 Minutes

John Wayne's portrayal of the resolute sheriff in Rio Bravo demonstrated his unparalleled ability to lead an ensemble cast in a classic Western. His chemistry with co-stars Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, Ricky Nelson, and Angie Dickinson showcased Wayne's talent for elevating the performances of those around him, showing that he is a true Hollywood professional. The film's blend of action, humor, music, and romance allowed Wayne to display more range as an actor, effortlessly navigating between intense confrontations and lighthearted moments. Rio Bravo 's impact marks Wayne's position as a timeless icon whose influence on the Western genre remains unmatched .

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Wayne subverted his own larger-than-life persona and demonstrated his ability to contribute to a story without necessarily being the central focus.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance marked a significant shift in John Wayne's career, as it showcased his willingness to take on more complex and contemplative roles in the latter stages of his acting journey. By playing Tom Doniphon, a character who operates in the shadows and ultimately sacrifices his own legacy for the greater good, Wayne subverted his own larger-than-life persona and demonstrated his ability to contribute to a story without necessarily being the central focus. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance stands as a testament to Wayne's enduring impact on the Western genr e and his ability to evolve.

True Grit (1969)

Directed by henry hathaway.

The film's success and John Wayne's Oscar win confirmed his status as a true Hollywood legend.

True Grit' s impact on John Wayne's career cannot be overstated, as it finally earned him the coveted Academy Award for Best Actor after decades of iconic performances. His portrayal of the gruff U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn not only showcased his ability to bring a larger-than-life character to the screen, but also demonstrated his skill at balancing humor and vulnerability . The film's success and John Wayne's Oscar win confirmed his status as a true Hollywood legend, proving that his influence on the Western genre was undeniable. John Wayne’s best movie shows the timeless appeal of John Wayne ’s quintessential cowboy persona.