Rail Car Motel, new trail enhances area

The  rst phase of a new trail constructed by the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area has been paved and already residents are taking advantage of the 10-ft wide paved trail that winds its way around the park area. Middle stripping will be completed in the near future. The trail is for non-motorized use such as walking, jogging, biking and in-line skating. (Photos courtesy of Gloria Albrecht)

Track 89 North, a railcar motel on the south end of Mt. Pleasant, has been an ongoing project for several years. The motel is closer to opening this year. A new trail has recently been added enhancing the area.

Rail car motel, new trail enhances Mt. Pleasant area

BY GLORIA ALBRECHT

MT. PLEASANT-- Good things are happening at the south end of Mt. Pleasant these days. The rail car motel, Track 89 North, is closer to being able to open with the remodeling of rail cars into motel rooms. In addition a 10-foot wide trail has been added to the area.

Tracks, wheels, the railroad cars and even a caboose, were brought to Mt. Pleasant, unloaded by crane and assembled on site. Now there are a total of eight rail car motel rooms and the caboose, with some of the cars coming from as far away as Montana.

Track 89 North contractor Bill Burgoyne is eager to point out the repurposed railroad trestle wood used for the deck on one of the cars, and the 1 ½” oak planks salvaged from a semi-trailer was used as the living room  oor in another car. Burgoyne says the windows and doors of the cars are purposely positioned facing west, insulating them from any traf c noise. Each car has its own front deck facing the mountains with amazing views and sleeps two to four people. A kitchenette, living room, bedroom, full bathroom and ample closet space are in each unit. Craftsman details like bead board paneling, tongue and groove vaulted ceilings and tile bathrooms are different in each rail car. And of course they all include modern amenities such as heat and air conditioning.

New trail

In addition to the rail car motel, a new trail has been added to the area, constructed by the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area. The trail winds around the baseball  eld, weaves around the back side of the Track 89 North Railway Car Motel, around the horse arena, past Mt. Pleasant City Park and turns west by Carter’s RV Park before heading north toward The Depot café, which serves as an information center for the Highway 89 corridor, and back to the beginning.

The trail has already been paved, and  nal details like the middle line stripe and signage will be completed within the next few weeks. This is the  rst phase of the trail. The trail is for non-motorized use such as walking, jogging, biking and in-line skating. The second phase will continue its way toward Spring City. Mt. Pleasant City will host a contest of naming the trail in the near future.