February 6, 1998

Ed Campion
Johnson Space Center, Houston
Phone: 281/483-5111

Release: J98-5

Texas Independence Trail Riders to Stop at JSC

The Texas Independence Trail Riders will take their trail directly to the Johnson Space Center on their way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

For the first time these riders will stay overnight at the space center. Special events open to the public have been planned to mark the occasion.

The public will have an opportunity to see the trail riders as they travel from Egret Bay Boulevard down NASA Road 1 into the Johnson Space Center at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 10. The riders will enter through the Space Center Houston tram underpass near Rocket Park and the Longhorn Project pasture where they will be met by Johnson Space Center riders. About 150 horses and riders and 10 to 13 wagons will ride through the center, stopping at the Gilruth Center. The Texas Independence Trail Riders will set up camp in the wooded area around the pavilion and spend the night at the Gilruth Center.

The festivities begin later that evening at 7 p.m. when the NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood Subcommittee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Metro GO Texan Committee invites the public to join them and NASA at a Shuttles & Spurs Dinner/Dance at the Gilruth Center ballroom. A steak dinner provided by Sonny’s Crazy Cajun will be served from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Music will be provided by Willie Clements and "Down Under."

A limited number of tickets for the dinner/dance are available for $15 at the JSC Exchange Store or by calling Kevin Suedecor at 281-335-5370. Proceeds will go to the scholarship program of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

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