When the program evolved into "GMA" and moved to New York City, Story stayed in Los Angeles, where he continued working as a writer, producer, and reporter for several TV stations. After a brief stint on KNBC, he returned to KNXT (which later became KCBS-TV) in 1978 as an evening anchor alongside Marcia Brandwynne and later Sandy Hill. In 1985, Story retired and moved to Santa Barbara County's wine region, where he and his second wife, Diana, operated an art gallery in Los Olivos. In 1989, Ralph appeared in the television film, "Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain" which was shot in Disneyland. He volunteered for numerous civic groups, serving as a fundraiser for public television stations, narrator for the Hollywood Bowl and judge of the Rose Parade. In 1995, he wrote and hosted a program about Los Angeles landmarks called "Things That Aren't Here Anymore" for KCET and followed it up with a sequel.