Connecting Communities.
Designing the Trail Ahead.
A leadership baldwin rails-to-trails initiative
Imagine stepping out your door and onto a trail that winds through the heart of Baldwin County — from bustling downtown Foley to the county seat of Bay Minette, connecting communities, neighbors, and generations along the way. That trail already exists in our imagination. Now it's time to build it.
The old Louisville & Nashville Railroad once stitched Baldwin County together, carrying timber, crops, and settlers along a corridor that helped build the towns we call home. Today, that same corridor holds the promise of something new: a rail-trail that honors our past while investing boldly in our future.
More than a century ago, a Chicago businessman named John B. Foley rode a train south and fell in love with Baldwin County. He bought up to 50,000 acres of land, founded the city that bears his name, and then — because settlers needed a way to get there — used his own money to lay the rails. The "Pine Knot Special," a wood-burning locomotive that chugged between Bay Minette and Foley, became the heartbeat of a growing community, carrying farmers to market, families to church, and newcomers to their new homes.
When the Louisville & Nashville Railroad discontinued service to Foley in 1971, that chapter closed. But the corridor remains. And thanks to a national movement that has transformed more than 26,000 miles of abandoned rail lines into beloved public trails, we now have the opportunity to write the next chapter — one that turns this historic right-of-way into a trail for everyone.
History
more about US
The Trail Ahead is a project of the 2026 Class of Leadership Baldwin County, a group of community leaders committed to shaping the future of the county we love. We believe that a connected, walkable, bikeable Baldwin County is within reach — and that the old L&N rail corridor is key to making it happen.
We are building a broad coalition to make this trail a reality, bringing together organizations like the Baldwin County Trailblazers and municipal bike-pedestrian committees from across the county. We know that trails like this don't get built by one person or one group — they get built by communities that decide, together, that the future is worth working for. We'd love for you to be part of ours.
Who We Are
Support Our Work
The trail won't build itself — but it can start with you. Every great community project begins with a simple show of hands: people saying yes, this matters, and I want to see it happen. Adding your name to our petition tells elected officials, planners, and funders that Baldwin County is ready for the Trail Ahead.
Whether you're a cyclist, a walker, a parent, a business owner, or simply someone who believes in building a better Baldwin County, your voice matters. Sign our petition today, and if your organization shares our vision, we'd love to have you join our growing coalition. Together, we can turn a century-old railroad corridor into a trail that serves this community for the next hundred years.
Ready to make it happen?
JOIN OUR COALITION
SIGN THE PETITION
