# Tanglefoot Trail

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The **Tanglefoot Trail** is an [asphalt](/source/Asphalt_concrete)-covered [rail trail](/source/Rail_trail) in northeastern [Mississippi](/source/Mississippi). Ranging 43.6 miles (70.2 km) in the [right-of-way](/source/Right-of-way_(property_access)) of the [Ripley and New Albany Railroad](/source/Ripley_and_New_Albany_Railroad), it is the longest rail-trail in the state. It runs through three counties ([Chickasaw](/source/Chickasaw_County,_Mississippi), [Pontotoc](/source/Pontotoc_County,_Mississippi), and [Union](/source/Union_County,_Mississippi)) and is located within the [Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area](/source/Mississippi_Hills_National_Heritage_Area).

## History

A portion (the [Pontotoc](/source/Pontotoc,_Mississippi) to [New Albany](/source/New_Albany,_Mississippi) section) of the route's origin goes back to the [Chickasaw](/source/Chickasaw), who later called it the "King's Highway". The king in question was [Ishtehotopah](/source/Ishtehotopah),[1] the last king of the tribe, who, on June 9, 1838, led 129 followers from [Pontotoc](/source/Pontotoc,_Mississippi) to [Indian Territory](/source/Indian_Territory).[2] It was also used by explorers such as [Hernando de Soto](/source/Hernando_de_Soto) and [Meriwether Lewis](/source/Meriwether_Lewis) and was part of the original [Natchez Trace](/source/Natchez_Trace).[3][4] The section then became part of [William Clark Falkner](/source/William_Clark_Falkner)'s [Gulf and Ship Island Railroad](/source/Gulf_and_Ship_Island_Railroad) (G&SI) in the late 1800s. The name Tanglefoot comes from a [train engine](/source/Train_engine).[1] This section was later sold to the Gulf & Chicago Railroad (G&CR) in 1889.[5] In 1903, the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad (MJ&KC) started building north from [Beaumont](/source/Beaumont,_Mississippi), with the end goal that it would connect the town with [Jackson, Tennessee](/source/Jackson,_Tennessee). The MJ&KC ended up [leasing](/source/Leasing) the G&CR on July 1, 1903. The gap between the two railroads was completed in 1906 and the two companies merged to become the New Orleans, Mobile & Chicago Railroad (NOM&C) in 1909, marking the first time the current trail route fell into the ownership of one company. The NOM&C became the [Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad](/source/Gulf,_Mobile_and_Northern_Railroad) (GM&N) following reorganization on January 1, 1917.[6] The route changed ownership yet again in 1940, this time becoming the [Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad](/source/Gulf,_Mobile_and_Ohio_Railroad) following a merger with the GM&N and the [Mobile and Ohio Railroad](/source/Mobile_and_Ohio_Railroad). Ownership once again changed hands when the railroad merged into the [Illinois Central Railroad](/source/Illinois_Central_Railroad) on August 10, 1972, thus becoming Illinois Central Gulf Railroad (ICG).[7] ICG abandoned this route and sold it to the [Gulf and Mississippi Railroad](/source/Gulf_and_Mississippi_Railroad) in 1985. Struggling financially, the rail network was sold to MidSouth Rail in April 1988. [Kansas City Southern Railway](/source/Kansas_City_Southern_Railway) then acquired MidSouth in 1994.[8] At some point, [North American RailNet](/source/North_American_RailNet) acquired it for its [Mississippi and Tennessee RailNet](/source/Mississippi_and_Tennessee_RailNet) (now Ripley and New Albany Railroad), which marked the last change of the route's ownership when it was used as a railroad.

In 2003, after deeming it unprofitable, the railroad gave a notice of abandonment for the stretch between New Albany and [Houston](/source/Houston,_Mississippi). Garnering inspiration from [Hattiesburg](/source/Hattiesburg,_Mississippi)'s [Longleaf Trace](/source/Longleaf_Trace), officials for the communities the rail serviced expressed interest to convert this now-abandoned railway.[9][1] Prior to funding for the trail, the [Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks](/source/Mississippi_Department_of_Wildlife,_Fisheries,_and_Parks) granted $100,000 for the construction of [whistlestops](/source/Whistlestop) on the trail in March 2007. The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation provided an additional $40,000 for the facilities in December 2012. In August 2008, the [Mississippi Department of Transportation](/source/Mississippi_Department_of_Transportation) awarded a $5.1 million [grant](/source/Grant_(money)) for the development of the trail. Additional funds of $350,000 to assist with the development were allotted. In July 2008, the right of way was purchased. $4.5 million was granted in August 2010, this time to asphalt the length of the trail. Construction was completed in September 2013, and the trail was open on the 21st of that month.[10] The New Albany trailhead and Pontotoc rest area were completed at a later date.[9] The trail was designated as a [National Recreation Trail](/source/National_Recreation_Trail) in 2015.[11] A pavilion just south of New Albany was completed during the summer of 2016.[12] The arch located at the end of the trail in New Albany was completed in mid-November 2017 and the signage on the arch was installed around a year later.[13] On August 23, 2019, the [Rails-to-Trails Conservancy](/source/Rails-to-Trails_Conservancy) inducted the Tanglefoot into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, becoming the 33rd member. The trail received around 14,000 votes, more than half of all votes counted.[14][15]

## Route

The trail runs through seven rural communities, usually going through the [community's center](/source/Town_center).[16] Along the trail, sculptures and an [arch](/source/Arch) are made of [bicycles](/source/Bicycle). Businesses along the trail also adapt to fit the needs of cyclists.[1] An annual [bike race](/source/Bike_race), the Tour de Bodock, is held in autumn on the Tanglefoot.[17] Currently, the Houston trailhead is under construction.[11] The path throughout the trail is ten feet wide. The four whistlestops on the trail, located in New Houlka, Algoma, Ecru, and Ingomar, have [bathroom](/source/Bathroom) facilities. Public parking is located on the whistlestops as well as the New Albany and Houston trailheads and Pontotoc gateway.[4] The trail winds through [woodlands](/source/Woodland), open area and [ponds](/source/Pond). Wildlife such as [deer](/source/Deer), [rabbits](/source/Rabbit), and [squirrels](/source/Squirrel) are common throughout the trail, and even loose [goats](/source/Goat) and [sheep](/source/Sheep) from nearby farms can be spotted.[18]

Community Mile marker Facility coordinates Houston 0 33.894932°N 89.006918°W New Houlka 9.9 34.173678°N 89.030791°W Algoma 19.3 34.173678°N 89.030791°W Pontotoc 25.8 34.247789°N 89.00323°W Ecru 32.6 34.346864°N 89.024441°W Ingomar 37.1 34.409625°N 89.038938°W New Albany 43.6 34.493804°N 89.008424°W

## References

1. Stark, Laura (August 6, 2019). ["Mississippi's Tanglefoot Trail"](https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2019/august/06/mississippi-s-tanglefoot-trail/). *[Rails-to-Trails Conservancy](/source/Rails-to-Trails_Conservancy)*. Retrieved May 23, 2020.

1. Hilton, Mark. ["Ishtehotopah"](https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=96767). *[Historical Marker Database](/source/Historical_Marker_Database)*. Retrieved May 23, 2020.

1. ["About the Tanglefoot"](http://tanglefoottrail.com/trail-towns-info/about-the-tanglefoot/#.XsmeIzl7mpo). *Tanglefoot Trail*. Retrieved May 23, 2020.

1. ["Tanglefoot Trail® - Rails to Trails from Houston to New Albany, Mississippi"](https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/tanglefoot-trail.html). *Natchez Trace Travel*. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1. Howe, Tony & Price, David S. ["Gulf & Chicago Railroad"](https://www.msrailroads.com/G&C.htm). *Mississippi Rails*. Retrieved May 23, 2020.

1. Howe, Tony & Price, David S. ["Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City"](https://www.msrailroads.com/MJ&KC.htm). *Mississippi Rails*. Retrieved May 23, 2020.

1. ["Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad: "The Rebel Route""](https://www.american-rails.com/mobile.html). *American Rails*. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. ["Gulf & Mississippi Railroad / SouthRail"](https://hawkinsrails.net/mainlines/gmsr/gmsr.htm). *HawkinsRail*. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. ["The History of the GM&O Rails-to-Trails Recreational District"](http://tanglefoottrail.com/about-us/who-we-are/#.XsmvLTl7mpo). *Tanglefoot Trail*. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. Chatfield, Sheryl (September 27, 2013). ["Tanglefoot Trail Now Open"](https://hottytoddy.com/2013/09/27/tanglefoot-trail-now-open/). *Hotty Toddy*. Retrieved May 29, 2020.

1. ["The Tanglefoot Trail"](http://www.nrtdatabase.org/trailDetail.php?recordID=3879). *National Recreation Trail Database*. American Trails. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. ["Tanglefoot Trail Pavilion nears completion"](https://www.nemiss.news/tanglefoot-trail-pavilion-nears-completion/). *Northeastern Mississippi News*. June 20, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2020.

1. ["New Tanglefoot Trail signs installed in New Albany"](https://www.nemiss.news/new-tanglefoot-trail-signs-installed-in-new-albany/). *Northeastern Mississippi News*. November 16, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2020.

1. West, Lynn (August 20, 2019). ["Ceremony Friday to mark Tanglefoot Trail Hall of Fame inclusion"](https://www.djournal.com/new-albany/ceremony-friday-to-mark-tanglefoot-trail-hall-of-fame-inclusion/article_66c0faa9-f138-5f27-b828-96f4110825f3.html). *[New Albany Gazette](/source/Northeast_Mississippi_Daily_Journal)*. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. Overdeep, Meghan (July 24, 2019). ["Mississippi's Longest Rail-Trail Earns Prestigious Accolade"](https://www.southernliving.com/news/tanglefoot-trail-mississippi-rail-trail-hall-of-fame). *[Southern Living](/source/Southern_Living)*. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. ["Trail Towns"](http://tanglefoottrail.com/trail-towns-info/trail-towns/#.Xsr5CDl7mpo). *Tanglefoot Trail*. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. ["Tour de Bodock Bicycle Rides"](https://racesonline.com/events/tanglefoot-hub-bicycle-ride?fbclid=IwAR1WlzzH82-2KRtBCYyfoe753HIshI3FZDTwL1pbuVjeJmGiQt-PTopAF-0). *Races Online*. Retrieved May 24, 2020.

1. Markow, Amanda Manning (November 6, 2015). ["Adventures on north Mississippi's Tanglefoot Trail"](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/magnolia/2015/11/06/adventures-north-mississippis-tanglefoot-trail/75299540/). *[Clarion-Ledger](/source/Clarion-Ledger)*. [USA Today](/source/USA_Today). Retrieved May 26, 2020.

## External links

- [Official website](http://tanglefoottrail.com/)
- [Tanglefoot Trail on TrailLink](https://www.traillink.com/trail/tanglefoot-trail/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tanglefoot Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanglefoot_Trail) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanglefoot_Trail?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.