The Trail of Tears Memorial and Herbal Gardens near Jerome, Missouri, reopened Earth Day to the public after months of extensive restoration work by new owner Marie Ryberg, nearby artist Chris Richardson and other volunteers.
About 75 people braved rainy weather to attend the ribbon-cutting with Waynesville Chamber of Commerce officials at the entrance. Jax Welborn recently uploaded this illuminating 12-minute video from the festivities.
The celebration included commemorative T-shirts from the event that marked the complex’s 60th year.
The Trail of Tears complex will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. It will be closed entirely during the months of January and February.
Ryberg said during a phone interview she was impressed with the determination of Route 66 enthusiasts to attend.
“It was (Route) 66 roadies that supported it, mostly,” she said. “They didn’t pay the weather no mind.”
Ryberg said she and Richardson will continue working on the property’s stonework and repairs to a collapsed retaining wall. Ryberg also said she’s working on renovating a building that will become a Longevity School. She also plans to open a raw-foods cafe sometime next year.
Originally owned by Larry Baggett, the property was set up as a sort of monument to the Cherokee Trail of Tears, which crossed his land. Baggett created his own sculptures and elaborate landscaping using concrete and native rock. He even built a hot tub in front of his house.
We visited Baggett a couple of times before his death in 2003. He came across as a self-taught mystic, using astrology, numerology, Edgar Cayce teachings, Native American lore and natural healing.
Baggett told us he’d suffered two heart attacks and suffered from diabetes in his 40s. Because he thought he didn’t have much time left, he built the Trail of Tears as a resort so his wife would earn income after he died.
But all that hard work building the site — plus, he said, consuming cider vinegar and Jerusalem artichoke — cured him of his diabetes and heart troubles. He outlived his wife and thrived into his 70s.
After Baggett died, his Trail of Tears site deteriorated. Retired military veteran Ryberg, who befriended Baggett more than 20 years ago, bought the closed and neglected property in 2016.
(Image from the reopening of the Trail of Tears Memorial and Herbal Gardens near Jerome, Missouri, courtesy of Jax Welborn)
So glad this is happening we are Mr Baggett’s relatives
This is fantastic news. I’m going!
Was telling some friends about this place today. Was privileged to have met Larry back in 93-94. Interesting guy.