Sun sets on chance for local rodeo in 2017
Photo by David Kapitan
The Wills Point Riding Club announced the end of an era late last week, advising the community that the annual rodeo event would not be happening in 2017. The rodeo has long been a summer staple of the Wills Point calendar, drawing thousands to the area.
The Wills Point Riding Club delivered bad news to local residents June 7, announcing that this year’s WPRC Rodeo would not be taking place for the first time in 60-years after an agreement with the property owner of Bill “Ike” Allred Arena could not be reached.
Posting on Facebook June 7, the WPRC stated, “Well I have been given the go ahead to let everyone know and this comes with a heavy heart that Wills Point Riding Club will not be having a rodeo this year. This comes due to a conflict with owner of the arena and the agreement that we had as a club with him. This is a 60-year long tradition that has been a part of Wills Point and the whole Van Zandt County community.
“People come from miles away to this event done once a year and spend time with family and friends and to support us as a club to give back. There have been things said that no one cares or wants this rodeo and that the community could care less about it I myself know different. So we hope that something can be worked out so that next year we can come back bigger and stronger and put on a show. So please pass this along to all the cowgirls and cowboys.”
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