Solved! The Mystery Behind Saratoga's Mystery Machine
How one local entrepreneur is bringing his favorite cartoon to life in the Spa City.
A couple of weeks ago, we shared a photo of what appeared to be the Mystery Machine—yes, the rig in which Scooby Doo and friends drive around—stopped at a traffic light in downtown Saratoga. We got a tip from an After Hours reader on who its owner was, and Cierra Orlyk, Saratoga Living’s new senior writer, got the scoop:
When most people think of a mid-life crisis, they think of chopped hair, sports cars, and exotic trips. Not Roger Sharp. When the co-owner of High Peaks Event Production and High Peaks Canna (he owns both companies with his wife, Christine) started approaching 50, he had only one thought: Mystery Machine.
Roger’s roots with the Mystery Machine, and the Scooby Doo franchise in general, stretch back to his childhood. It was one of his favorite cartoons, and he even named his childhood cat Scooby. (Rest in peace, Scooby, who acted more like a dog than a cat, following young Roger around outside.)
As Roger entered his 20s and the music industry, he named his first business Scoobie Entertainment (giving it a proper twist with the -ie). He also sold weed. His dealer name? Scooby. “Everything was code words and whatnot,” he says of his bygone undercover business. “I couldn’t even really talk on the phone.”
Last summer, things came full circle for Roger when he and Christine opened High Peaks Canna, a cannabis dispensary on Maple Ave in Saratoga. Around the same time, Roger’s itch to pay homage to his favorite childhood cartoon resurfaced, and the hunt for a Mystery Machine began. After a month of searching online, he found his destined vehicle: a 1997 Honda Acty, which was being sold by a fellow in Florida. The seller had painted the van and wrapped it himself after importing it from Japan (where the model is a popular work vehicle in cities due to its small size; it’s not sold in the USA). His attention to detail made it special: Even the wheels have orange flowers on them. It wasn’t the seller’s first Mystery Machine—he had created one before, too.
Roger fell in love with Mystery Machine No. 2 and its compact size (“It was really cute,” he says). In October 2024, he sealed the deal, and the vehicle was shipped up to him in Saratoga. It caused a little bit of debate at the DMV, given that the drivers’ seat was on the right side and Roger would have to shift with his left hand.
“They definitely scratched their heads at first,” Roger says. “They had to call somebody to make sure it was OK for me to register it in New York State.”
Luckily, that somebody gave the Mystery Machine the green light, and the vehicle became registered in the Empire State. After some repairs (it took a while to get some parts in given the fact that Actys aren’t exactly common vehicles here in the US of A), the van was ready to go. Roger, ever-committed to the bit, bought costumes for his whole family, and the Spa City’s very own Mystery Gang made one of its first appearances at the 2024 Saratoga Harvest Fest.
“People loved it,” Roger says. “Everyone was taking pictures. It created great conversations.”
Encouraged by their first outing, the Sharp family dressed up again and drove up the Northway for Fright Fest at Great Escape, on the way learning that the van doesn’t do well over 55 miles per hour. Now, Roger mostly sticks to back roads, driving the Mystery Machine for some deliveries for his production company, and taking it out casually on the nicer November days to spread some joy—which, really, was the whole point.
“The purpose of the Mystery Machine is fun,” he says. “It’s to perpetuate happiness. Saratoga is a happy place. Why not live life as best as we can while we can?”
It’s no surprise that one of Roger’s main goals with the Mystery Machine is to make people happy—that’s exactly what he strives to do with High Peaks Event Production, a company that provides everything from lighting and sound to mobile stages and customizable video wall panels for music festivals, high end corporate clients, nationally touring bands, colleges, and municipalities. “I don’t get on stage, and I don’t play anything,” he says. “And I’d be terrible if I did. But I love to be a part of bringing that joy to people through live music and shows.”
As someone who is used to functioning behind the scenes, Roger says he’s still adjusting to the spotlight that comes with driving the van. “You gotta get used to people staring at you,” he says. “Which is kind of funny—my whole life I had to try to stay hidden in the shadows.”
Obviously, though, Roger is willing to step into the spotlight to make people’s days a little brighter. Well, some people’s.
“I feel bad; sometimes people get stuck behind me,” he says. “And I can only go so fast. So when I see someone freaking out, I’ll hit the horn a couple of times—give them a little beep-beep.”
With the days getting longer and warmer, expect to see the Mystery Machine and the Scooby Doo crew a whole lot more around town. Roger might even take the van to some car shows. His ultimate hope? To spur conversation and wholesome interactions.
“If you can’t start a conversation when you see the van,” he says, “that’s your problem.”
—Cierra
Drink of the Week
I’ve never been one for green juice, but throw a little wine and a whole lot of mint in there, and I’m sold. Familiar Creature’s Green Spritz, a concoction made with Cocchi Americano, green juice, lemon, and Cava, is my current obsession. This week, the Phila Street bar expanded its hours and introduced new happy hour specials, which are offered Tuesday-Thursday from 4-5:30pm.
Flight of Fancy
We have a late addition to our 6 Food & Drink Flights to Try in the Capital Region story: This week, Stewart’s announced that it’s now serving three-flavor flights of its beloved ice cream. I’m pretty sure you could just ask for a bowl with three scoops of different flavors before, but now it’s socially acceptable.
It’s a Mall World
There’s been a changing of the guard at Wilton Mall, the exit 15 shopping center that—side note—is home to a rabbit sanctuary. The Albany Business Review reports that the mall has been purchased by the local group that owns Clifton Park Center, which has plans to modernize the mall and bring in new upscale retail tenants. “Give us a ZARA,” Danielle DeSantis commented on an @AroundSaratoga post about the sale. “GIVE US A SKYZONE, D&B, ACTUAL GOOD RESTAURANTS, & give us A GODDAMN CHILI’S!!!!!!!!!!!”
Win Two Tickets to Overdress to Impress
The 4th annual Overdress to Impress is just around the corner (T-9 days, people!), and you have a chance to win two free tickets. We teamed up with Saucy Suraci on a giveaway—click the Instagram post above and read the instructions to enter. The winner will be selected Monday!
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