| The Mountain Goat Trail is a
rail to trail community outdoor recreation project to convert an
abandoned railroad right-of-way into a multi-use
recreational corridor between Grundy and Franklin
Counties on the Cumberland Plateau in Middle
Tennessee.
The Mountain Goat Trail Alliance is
working to revitalize the historic Mountain Goat
train line as a premier hiking and biking trail.
The first phase, 1.8 miles
from Sewanee to St. Andrew’s, was completed through
the efforts of Ian Prunty. In 2001, Ian, a senior at
SAS, received word that his three plus year effort
since 1997 to get funding for a bicycle and
pedestrian trail on the “Mountain Goat Railroad”
right-of-way had been successful. After a visit to
the proposed site by Governor Don Sundquist, the
county was awarded a $50,000 grant, with $10,000 to
be raised locally. After the story was featured in
the SAS alumni magazine, Richard Manship, a SAS
trustee, made the donation to the project, which
qualified the trail for matching funds.
Ian explained the initial
motivation. “I was at an SAS Earth Day lecture. A
speaker said ‘somebody ought to clean up that old
railroad and make it into a trail.’ This trail
incorporates the Mountain’s history while providing
progress for the future.” Research began with the
help of County Commissioner Monty Adams, and the
project became a reality.
Since this initial phase,
the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance was created into a
non-profit organization dedicated to the development
of the trail by many volunteer individuals and has
been funded by many generous donations from both
individuals, landowners, other non-profit
organizations, and foundations.
Plans are now underway for
the next two phases from Sewanee through Monteagle
to Tracy City. This 14-mile section will link
communities, their schools, and the Plateau’s
natural areas and historic sites.
$582,560 Awarded
$145,640 in Matching Funds Needed
Funding for construction and maintenance will be
provided through matching grants, gifts, and
donations. We will need your help.
Please contact us at:
Mountain Goat Trail Alliance
P.O. Box 968
Monteagle, TN 37356
For more information, please contact:
The Monteagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce
931.924.5353
Please
contact us and we will notify you when the web
is updated.
Thanks for your interest and participation.
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