Wagon train passes through Coosa on annual trek to Montgomery
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The Forney Trail-Blazers Wagon Train stops at Union Church at the intersection of County roads 18 and 40 for lunch before continuing its journey. Photo(s) submitted
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A wagon train once again passed through Coosa County this year, making stops in the county along the way on their annual journey to the rodeo in Montgomery.
The Forney Trail-Blazers Wagon Train stopped at Union Church at the intersection of County roads 18 and 40 Tuesday for lunch, as they do every year before continuing their journey to Montgomery.
The Forney Trail-Blazers Saddle Club makes the journey a 10-day trek with camp stops along the way, starting in Centre on March 9, and with the last camp in Wetumpka before going to Montgomery. Camp sites eight and nine were in Coosa County, with one at Alan Burroughs’ farm in Kellyton and the other at Sybil Kellum’s farm in Equality.
Wagon train participants come from all over Alabama, as well as out-of-state riders from Tennessee, Louisiana, South Dakota, Illinois, and more.
This is the fifty-third annual Montgomery Wagon Train, which began March 9 and arrived at Montgomery yesterday evening for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo at the Garrett Coliseum.
The wagon train began as a challenge 53 years ago and originally took just five days, requiring horses and mules to travel up to 40 miles per day. Now the ride is spread over the course of 10 days, with a layover day included halfway through to allow participants to rest and restock supplies as needed.
The Saddle Club members ride together each year, but they also welcome new participants to join them while continuing their decades-long tradition passed down through generations.
Approximately 20 wagons began the journey in Centre, with about 15 wagons expected to arrive in Montgomery for the rodeo yesterday as riders come and go along the route.
A police escort accompanied the wagon train along U.S. Highway 231 to Garrett Coliseum for the final stretch of the journey, with the wagon train’s arrival part of the traditional festivities of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo.
For more information on the Saddle Club, upcoming events and to follow along for future ride details, see the Forney Trail-Blazers Saddle Club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ftbsaddleclub.
