Rocheport, MO — More than 50 trail town supporters, entrepreneurs, and advocates gathered in Rocheport on June 25 for the inaugural Katy and Rock Island Merchants Summit, a landmark event celebrating Missouri’s Rails-to-Trails communities and their growing potential.
Sponsored by Friends of the Rock Island Trail State Park (FoRIT), Magnificent Missouri, and Brett Dufur of Pebble Publishing, the Summit aimed to share insights, foster connections, and help position Rock Island Trail communities to thrive as the 450-mile Katy-Rock Island loop takes shape.
Brett Dufur, author of The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook and The Complete Rock Island Trail Guidebook, and former mayor of Rocheport, hosted the event. Dufur encouraged towns along the Rock Island Trail to lean into their identities:
“Be your own community — highlight your uniqueness,” Dufur urged, emphasizing the bright future of the interconnected trail network. “Trails are great for small towns. What a wonderful way to enjoy nature and spend time with family. Plus, trails bring wonderful people to town, which creates jobs and a lot of new opportunities.”
The Summit kicked off with a welcome from Drew Lemberger of the Rocheport Area Merchants Association, followed by opening remarks from State Representative Bruce Sassmann (District 61), who represents many communities along the Rock Island corridor. Sassmann highlighted the long-term economic and cultural potential of the trail system. He reminded the trail supporters that “Persistence beats resistance”.
Kim Henderson, owner of Kim’s Cabins in Windsor, offered practical guidance in her presentation, “Trail Opportunities at the Katy Trail and Rock Island Crossroads.” Her business success story underscored the impact of thoughtful investment in trail tourism.
FoRIT President Rick Mihalevich updated attendees on recent Rock Island Trail progress—including trail openings in Gerald and Owensville, a groundbreaking in Belle, and new digital resources and funding efforts.
David Kelly of Magnificent Missouri shared updates from trail towns like Peers and Treloar, and exciting news about the forthcoming Ted and Pat Jones Bridge in Pleasant Hill, a major connection in the trail system.
Representing Missouri State Parks, Deputy Director Justin Adams introduced trail coordinators Cassie Brandt (Katy Trail) and Ron Bentch (Rock Island Trail), both of whom help oversee state-wide trail integration.
Lunch, catered by Frosty Dog BBQ and sponsored by Magnificent Missouri, included a lively presentation by Luke Harris, Director of Fun at Crossroads Bike Tours. Harris, who leads bike tours nationwide, emphasized that small towns can make a big impact:
“Welcome bikers with specials, sweets, and smiles. Trail towns can attract riders—just make it easy with shuttle options and creative marketing.”
Additional speakers included Mike Denehy, Director of the Pedaler’s Jamboree, who provided an inspiring overview of the music-and-bike festival’s growth and future potential.
Afternoon roundtables enabled attendees from both trails to share successes and brainstorm ideas, followed by breakout discussions and a volunteer opportunity to develop Rock Island Trail campsites. Dufur offered a free 50-page online guide and volunteer team to assist property owners interested in hosting trail-friendly camping sites.
The day concluded with a Silent Auction supporting Cole Camp’s Community Betterment grant match effort, which has already raised half of its $120,000 goal.
The day concluded with a viewing of a video highlighting the heritage and history of the Rock Island Railroad and their communities. https://youtu.be/jUGiROmhupE
By all accounts, the Summit was a resounding success in connecting trail stakeholders and energizing trail town development. Plans are already underway to hold future events, with Dufur noting, “This is just the beginning,… we have tentatively scheduled Merchant Summit 2.0 for Wednesday September 16th in Gerald Missouri.”
Contacts for More Information:
Brett Dufur
Pebble Publishing
📞 (573) 698-3903
📧 brettdufur@gmail.com
Friends of the Rock Island Trail State Park (FoRIT)
🌐 www.rockislandtrail.org
📧 info@rockislandtrail.org | president@rockislandtrail.com
Magnificent Missouri
🌐 www.magnificentmissouri.org
Missouri State Parks
🌐 https://mostateparks.com/park/rock-island-trail-state-park
Rock Island Heritage Sites Tour
🌐 https://theclio.com/tour/2784