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.