Trailblazer: America’s Forgotten Monorail

Trailblazer’s purpose was to attract interest in monorail technology — which, sadly, it didn’t.

Trailblazer monorail

America’s first commercially operated monorail was called Trailblazer. Built in Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, this suspended monorail operated from 1956 to 1964.

The ride didn’t amount to much. The line ran for just 1,600 feet, which, at a speed of around ten miles per hour, took a couple of minutes. Trailblazer’s purpose was to attract interest in the technology — which, sadly, it didn’t. Few commercial monorails were ever built in the United States.

After Trailblazer was demolished, a family in Wills Point bought one of monorail’s cars and turned it into a kitchen nook.

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