After nine years of boot-scooting fun, the owners of The Wild Rose country line dancing club in Kresgeville have announced the sale of the building and their retirement.

“We decided it was time to close and enjoy our grandchildren and other family members,” said Judi Schuler.

She and her husband, Ken, accepted an offer on June 11 and closing was planned this week.

Because of the quick turnaround, the last night of dancing occurred on June 12.

Schuler broke the news to her clientele via Facebook, explaining that “we did not expect to have things move so quickly and had expected to be able to have a final farewell dance, but this simply isn’t possible. Saturday evening was our last of dancing.”

As the sale and closing are pending, Schuler could not disclose the purchaser’s name or their intent for the business.

“I feel it was a one-of-kind place. I’m sad to see them go, and not see them out in the community dancing,” said Jen Rufo, who danced at the club throughout the years and attended Night in the Country line dance fundraisers held at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School.

The Schulers bought the building in April 2011 and spent the next year renovating and getting occupancy permits. Their soft opening was in May 2012.

“We bought The Wild Rose because there were no country line dancing clubs in the area. We bought it, grew the business and had a lot of plans for it,” Schuler said.

Patrons could bring their own alcoholic beverages and food. Snacks and soda were available for purchase. The building’s interior was decorated with cactuses, Western memorabilia, cowboy boots and roses.

Beginner and advanced dancers alike found a place out on the dance floor each week. There were dances to do alone in a line, and there were couples’ dances to do.

“Our patrons looked forward to the dancing, exercise and camaraderie. It was a lifeline for some people. There is not anything else around like what we do here,” she said.

It was a place to go to meet old friends and make new ones.

“The Wild Rose was one of the only places I could go to hang out with friends and meet new ones,” Casey Zimmerman said. “I enjoyed dancing there and was always impressed by Judi’s patience and energy. They will be sorely missed.”

The Schulers, who will celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary this month, used to teach line dancing at Montana West in Quakertown.

Then it shut down and they got to work looking for a place of their own.

The Wild Rose, which had formerly been J&J Family Restaurant, became that home away from home for many.

“We had a niche. We had dancing,” Schuler said. Closing it and retiring is bittersweet. We know we are not getting any younger.”

Ken has been struggling with back problems and has not been able to dance. Maintaining the business has been very hard on them, she said.

“We will stay in Pennsylvania, where our family is. We have a lot of catching up on lost time to do with family and our house projects,” she said.

Over the nine years, the Schulers hosted a number of celebrations, including weddings, bachelorette parties, holiday parties, birthdays and the love of country line dancing. They hosted a community yard sale in the parking lot once a year.

“I will miss the great times with friends and learning new dances. Ken and Judi are sweet, and I consider them good friends and wish them luck and happy retirement,” Shannon Egry said.