Mineral Bluff, Ga. – Were you missing the soothing clip-clop of hooves on Main Street this Fourth of July? Were you wondering where the long parade of riders and gloriously adorned horses were? Did you have the distinct feeling you needed a new route for adventure?
After 17 years traveling Andrews’ avenues and taking trail rides in and around Valleytown, the Western North Carolina Wagon Train spent this year in new territory.
Wayne Dutton, president and wagon master, said it’s nothing against the area, just that “there’s been a loss of available trails and access to private property due to sales, development, family switch-ups and even divorce in some cases.”
The summer 2023 ride was centered around northern Georgia for its week-long ride, with day excursions varying from 11-20 miles. Though crowds have dwindled in recent years, the train still draws third- and fourth-generation riders, who enjoy the camaraderie and family atmosphere.
“We had 22 wagons and 49 horseback riders; that’s low numbers for us for the summer ride. We usually have upward of 40-50 wagons and around 200 participants. The spring and fall rides are usually smaller, averaging 100 participants, 12-15 wagons and 25-30 horseback riders,” secretary/treasurer Samantha Dutton said.
Now in its 64th year as one of the oldest wagon trains in the nation, the WNC Wagon Train’s mission began to emphasize “the need for good roads through the mountains connecting eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.” It was originally known as the Tellico-to-Murphy Wagon Train. Those beginnings in the mountains led to much interest, and the first trip in 1958 became an annual trek across the mountainous terrain from Tellico Plains, Tenn., into Cherokee County.
As interest grew and word spread in that first year, the wagoners “were greeted by a host of spectators all along the route, and on the Fourth of July, 67 wagons and 325 horseback riders were welcomed in Murphy by a cheering crowd of thousands. The next year, and for five consecutive years, the train used the same route,” Dutton said.
Dutton said the last three years have changed the train’s routes and schedules.
“In 2020, we added two smaller rides to our schedule. We strive to move to different places each ride,” Dutton said. “We called Andrews our home for 17 years, having the same rides every year. That became a problem when our routes were getting sold, developed and we were left with too little options to have our big ride there.”
With board members from four surrounding states and six of the far-western counties of North Carolina, the WNC Wagon Train strives to encourage interest in “fair treatment of equine livestock” by fostering a penchant for traditional travel and the rustic camping atmosphere by providing a diversity of routes through the area.
“We will come back to Andrews, we just wanted to give our members more scenery,” Dutton said. “We ride in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We will consider any of those locations when invited.”
Details about the fall ride will be announced soon. Details: Visit wncwagontrainnc.com.