Rooster Tail Ride This Weekend!

This weekend is the Rooster Tail Ride from Mineola to Shenandoah (and back) on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. This ride was started in 2017 by the Wabash Trace as a fundraiser for the trail, and to raise exposure to the Wabash Trace from Mineola south for those who have maybe only experienced the Taco Ride. We also wanted to provide a fun, busy weekend for the local businesses that support us and our riders all year long. We invite you to join us - and have provided a summary of what you can expect below!

This year's Rooster Tail Ride is a tribute to Brian Seago, who we tragically lost in 2025. Brian had a love and enthusiasm for bikes, music, friends, and fun - and we hope that everyone can channel that and his authentic, kind spirit for this ride.

We plan to hold an informal memorial service for Brian at Sportsman's Park in Shenandoah at 6:45 PM. We hope that you can stop by and share stories of Brian, and be in the company of his friends and family who will be joining us on the ride.

The Rooster Tail Ride is a semi-supported medium-length ride experience good for riders of all experience levels. The route is 35 miles each way on our mostly flat, tree-lined rail-trail. Saturday features live music in all of the towns (plus a few in-between stops), and Sunday on the way back there will just be music in Malvern and Silver City. Overnight camping is available at Sportsman's Park in Shenandoah, with bathrooms and indoor floor space available at the Armory compliments of Shenandoah Parks & Recreation, plus showers and PHAT Room rentals provided by Pork Belly Ventures. We will also do a luggage drop/pickup to Shenandoah Inn & Suites downtown. Luggage must be on the trailer by 10:30 AM on Saturday morning and then back on the trailer/in the Shenandoah Inn & Suites meeting room by 10 AM on Sunday.

Below are more details about the ride's band schedule and bar/restaurant hours!

If anyone reading this has been in the bar or restaurant business, you know that things aren't always sunshine and lollipops...but one of our goals with the Rooster Tail Ride was to bring a little 'thank you' and some new customers to our trail town businesses that support the Wabash Trace and our riders all year 'round. Please see the below 'schedule' of offerings in each town.

Friday night in Mineola is Bill & Kathy Good's Farewell Party at Tobey Jack's Mineola Steakhouse. After more than 15 years, they are passing the torch. Give thanks to Bill & Kathy for all they've done for the trail and the community, and meet the new owners, Colin & Jennifer! Farewell party starts at 6, Music by John Watt starts at 7, and registration will be available from 7 - 9 PM.

You might notice that there are some gaps in our businesses in a few of our towns. In Silver City, Richard Roenfeld has stepped up to fill the hospitality and hydration gap there, and will be hosting the band outside of his "Man Cave" on both Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Also in Silver City on Saturday, the Silver City Farmer's Market is happening from 8 - 11 AM and the Silver City Historical Museum will be open from 9 AM - 1 PM.

The addition of the Silver Creek Bridge as a stop has been a hit, and this year MK2 and Brian Holland will be joining us on the bridge with live music from 10:30 - Noon. Bring your own beverages and snacks here, folks - there are no services.

As always, Malvern has a lot going on! Music at Heritage Park downtown by Ridin' High will be from Noon - 2 PM. Check out the new Wabash Coffee Co. between the trail and downtown, open from 8 AM - 3 PM. The Classic Cafe will be open for bar & food from 11 - 2 and 5 - 9, The Salty Heifer Cafe will have Cheeseburger Saturday starting at 11 AM, and Tee'd Up Tavern and Mezzo Bar will be serving up drinks starting at 11.

In the ghost town of Strahan, aka Monroeville, Stephen Monroe (Mayor of Monroeville) will be bustin' out the tunes from 2 PM - 3:30 PM. No food, but there will be some limited beverage options at this oasis.

In Imogene, Joe Nebel and the Shamrock Theater will again be our hosts for the music (Two Dollar Pistols on stage from 3:30 - 5 PM), with the Sons & Daughters of Imogene, a local non-profit, providing hospitality and hydration. We are excited to welcome Iiawah Grill food truck (how old were you when you learned that Hawaii spelled backwards is Iiawah?!) to Imogene from 3 - 6 PM. The beautiful, historic St. Patrick Catholic Church up the hill in Imogene will be open for tours from 3 - 3:45 PM, with Mass at 5 PM on Saturday (and also mass at 8:30 AM Sunday).

We will host a memorial gathering for Brian Seago at Sportsman's Park as you enter Shenandoah at 6:45 PM on Saturday. If anyone has stories about Brian to share, we encourage you to do so and help give others the strength to share theirs. We would be honored to hear how Brian and his love of bikes, music, friends, and fun has made a difference in your life. After paying tribute to Brian, we will all gather at the Depot for food, drinks, and music by this year's headliner - Bad Friends!

On Sunday morning, the Depot in Shenandoah opens at 6 AM for breakfast. Be prepared for a 'lighter' music day, with the only music locations being in Malvern and Silver City. We will have some light refreshments at the hospitality tent in Imogene, but otherwise you're on your own for those first 22 miles to Malvern. Once you make it there, though - The Classic Cafe will have breakfast burritos and biscuits & gravy from 10 AM - 1 PM, Wabash Coffee Co. is open from 9 AM - 3 PM, The Salty Heifer and Mezzo open at 11 AM, and the Tee'd Up Tavern will open at Noon. The Polka Police will be on the stage at Heritage Park from 11 AM - 1 PM.

In Silver City, Richard will again open the doors of his Man Cave for us, while Jack Davis joins us with live music from 1:30 - 3:30 PM.

Finish the ride strong at Tobey Jack's Mineola Steakhouse, and stay and celebrate for Bill & Kathy's last day as owners!

We encourage you to join us on the Rooster Tail Ride, help fundraise for the trail, and support all of the local businesses and hosts along the way.