The Rock Island Trail

A better Boonville for bikers

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MTTwilly from Kansas City on 12/14/2005 4:54:57 PM:

Boonville is seeking to make itself more friendly/useful for KT Trail riders. What does it need? Camping? Storage, better route, etc

Thanks for your comments

The Dalton Boys from Austin, TX/Columbia, MO. on 12/15/2005 10:57:31 AM:

If you have something like the Roundhouse Campground at New Franklin you'll be good to go, but if memory serves that's close to boonville so... Maybe a business that is near/on the trail that has good "buy it and go" food that one might find in a natural health foods restaurant. Maybe a Springwater dispenser for free water bottle fill-ups bacause when their in the store to get that free spring/artesian water they will see that big tuna salad sandwich on rye, or wheat and buy it. Regards......Mark of the Dalton Boys

Nails on 12/15/2005 11:55:33 AM:

They need to somehow increase the radius of the curves between the actual KATY line and the bridge over the Missouri River. That and smooth out/widen the curb cuts (if I recall correctly). If your goal is to get me to spend money in Boonville, have a map as you enter the city that shows businesses within two blocks of the trail that would be of use to trail users.

Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 12/15/2005 1:59:44 PM:

I agree fully with the map idea. Our biggest challenge here initially was getting from the Comfort Inn/Holiday Inn area to the trail. We asked at the Comfort Inn and it was explained how to get there......but upon arrival the first time, it was pretty darn difficult getting through the moble home manufacturers maze without getting lost. And we did get lost several times...felt like a Candid Camera stunt was being played on us. Had we not entered the trail there, I doubt that we could have exited the trail and found our way to civilization in Booneville as there is nothing on or along the trail pointing the way. It would be of great benefit if the city of Booneville put signs up directing the way to and from the trail. Perhaps an explanation and map on this website would help also. We like Booneville and will return.....but we sure struggled the first time, all of which was very unnecessary.

Sarah from Denver on 12/25/2005 8:43:50 AM:

We loved Boonville and are thrilled that you are seeking to make yourselves more cyclist-friendly. We stayed at River View Suites, right on the trail, and it was wonderful--best place we stayed on the trail. We would like to see more restaurants downtown--which was nice downtown. It would be great if the downtown could have more "life".

gc from Columbia, Mo on 12/27/2005 2:18:35 PM:

Boonville is about to gain another restaurant and hotel right on the trail. The Frederick Hotel sits at the foot of the Missouri River bridge. It is about 100 years old and is undergoing renovation to bring it up to date. From what I understand, it will be somewhat similar to the Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia. If any of you are familar with Columbia, then you will be happy to know that the restaurant in the Frederick will be run and managed by some folks that are well known around Columbia. The Galloways, owners of Tratoria Strada Nova (spl?) will be managing it, and the former owner of Glenn's Cafe, Steve Cupp, will be running it and is developing the menu. The restaurant should be opening this winter -- sometime in January or February. Stay tuned.

ET from Columbia on 1/4/2006 7:08:06 PM:

While the current Missouri River crossing is OK, it is certainly not the incredible view/experience that the old Katy Bridge would be. I think that would make people consider Boonville as much of a "must see" spot on the trail as Rocheport is now. We have stayed in Boonville on a couple of Katy Trail rides, and really enjoyed our stay at the Officer's Quarters. I agree that more downtown restaurants would help--when you're there on a bike, driving out to "the strip" isn't an option. We wandered around for quite a while before finding something, but were very happy with the pizza place we found--I forget what it was called. It's fairly new, had a very pleasant patio in back, and was really good. By the way, we had a mechanical problem with a bike and called an elderly fellow who runs a bike shop. He came to his shop on a Sunday evening (I think it was) to meet us and help us out. I agree with the map idea with services such as food(restaurants and stores), lodging, bike shops, and any public parks, especially with pools for hot summer rides, labelled.

MTTwilly from Kansas City on 1/4/2006 9:27:20 PM:

Dear All,
Thanks for the replies to this post. The reason I originally submitted the query is I am involved with the City of Boonville and private developers trying to mahe B'ville more bike friendly.

There is a lot going on. Here's some of it:

The Frederick Hotel will open its bar and restaurant within a couple weeks. By summer they will have rooms open. The Frederick is planning to put a beer garden in back, bike lockers, shower, and a small shop/rental.

B'ville is talking about: better mapping, parking and signage, creating pocket camps as well as a group camp at the Kemper, downtown bathrooms, and converting a turn of the century wareouse into a museum/food and bevvie concession, biker hang. Of course, they want to save the bridge and add it to the trail.

Also, B'ville is mapping surrounding road rides for daytrippers, considering a riverfront bike path/greenway, and developing a levee ride west of the bridge.

In short, B'ville and the Frederick are making major committments to the biking community. Any further replies to this post will help these efforts.

Thanks for the help.

ET from Columbia on 1/10/2006 2:38:34 PM:

Sounds super! I'm already thinking of a great weekend getaway--ride from Columbia to Boonville, with a good dinner and a night at the Frederick, and then a lazy Sunday ride back with lunch at Les Bourgeois...

Brian from Managua, Nicaragua on 1/13/2006 10:25:55 PM:

I did the Katy for the first time in 95.
It was great. We pulled into Boonville late the first night and a police said it would be fine if we set up our tent in the park by a baseball field. We did and enjoyed every minute of it.
THe hospitality is what brings me back everytime.
BRian

Big Rick from St. Charles, Mo. on 2/2/2006 2:55:22 PM:

I think that bridge would be a huge improvement to the KATY experience in Booneville. I was very disappointed in 2003 when I was on teh annual DNR ride and found it blocked off.

Big Rick

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