A long-awaited west-central Iowa trail will be officially introduced to the public on August 1, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and bike ride hosted by the Audubon and Cass County Conservation Boards, Nishna Valley Trails and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
The event, at 8:30 a.m. that Saturday, will celebrate the T-Bone Trail’s grand opening after a 13-year journey. Everyone is invited to join those who made the trail possible at the Audubon trailhead near the Audubon Church of Christ parking lot on Highway 71.
“Even though the trail is not officially open, we are already experiencing groups from the cities using the trail, and we expect it to be a wonderful tourist attraction,” said Gene Karstens, Chairman of the Audubon CCB.
The T-Bone Trail, complete in Audubon County and expanding in Cass County, will eventually stretch 21.2 miles, from Audubon to Atlantic.
The process of its creation began in 1996, when INHF purchased the rail corridor connecting the towns from the Iowa Heartland Railroad. INHF assisted Nishna Valley Trails and Audubon and Cass CCBs in seeking and securing grant funding, and in 2000, Audubon County took ownership of the rail corridor.
Now, the trail winds it’s way along one of Iowa’s “scenic byways,” linking the communities of Audubon, Exira and Brayton, with the final connection to Atlantic soon to come.
“I’m so excited for them,” said Lisa Hein, INHF Program and Planning Director, “It’s a sweet trail that runs through gorgeous, rolling countryside and scenic towns.”
Hein, who has been involved with the trail since its beginning, said the trail’s establishment has taken a lot of time, effort and energy, but the trail’s popularity is already evident in the community’s adoption of the T-Bone and early activity on it. Karstens noted the trail’s potential for a weekend getaway.
“Very near to the Audubon trail head is our Albert the Bull campground with modern facilities for camping,” Karstens said. “Not only is it very close to the trail, it is also next to our community swimming pool, which would make an excellent weekend family camping experience.”
According to a 2002 Nishna Valley Trails release, the T-Bone Trail has been selected as part of the American Discovery Trail, which runs from Delaware to Oregon.
INHF is a nonprofit, conservation group that works with private landowners and other partners to protect Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect more than 100,000 acres of Iowa’s wild places.
Past INHF projects in southwest Iowa include the Raccoon River Valley Trail, Whiterock Conservancy and the Upper “Nish” Wildlife Area.
For more information, visit www.inhf.org or call 515-288-1846. Details on the T-Bone Trail and a map are available on The Iowa by Trail website at http://www.inhf.org/iowatrails/index.htm.