Here is what you need to know about registering for our Annual Reunion in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Welcome, Soule Kindred in America members!

This is a joint meeting with the Soule Kindred in America, so this information applies to both Delano Kindred and Soule Kindred attendees.

There is a combined registration form for the Delano Kindred Annual Business Meeting and the Annual Reunions of both the Delano Kindred and the Soule Kindred of America. Here is what you need to know to plan your trip.

DELANO KINDRED MEETING-ONLY OPTION: Delano Kindred members may attend the Annual Business Meeting via ZOOM if they desire. To select this option, members MUST be logged on to the Delano Kindred website; the ZOOM option will not be selectable otherwise. If you do select this option, you will receive an email with instructions for accessing the ZOOM meeting a few days prior to the meeting time, which is 10 AM Eastern time on Saturday, September 14. There is no charge for this service.

LOCATION: Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane, Maggie Valley, NC 28751. This is a "remote location" and, as such, please plan on driving to and from events not held at the Center. The form will ask you if you have your own transportation to/from the off-site events, whether you have room to give others a ride, or if you will need a ride to those events. The Biltmore Estate is about a 30-minute drive and Delano, Tennessee, is about 2 1/2 hours from Maggie Valley.

REUNION DATES: Friday, September 13, 2024 and Saturday, September 14. The Delano Kindred Annual Business Meeting will be held at 10 AM Eastern time on Saturday morning at Living Waters.

OPTIONAL DATE: Thursday morning, September 12 - MISSIONARY RIDGE LOCAL train ride in Chattanooga.

This is a 65-minute, 6-mile round trip train ride from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (4119 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, TN) to the East Chattanooga Depot where Soule Shops is located. The trip includes a tour guide providing local history throughout the experience, crossing four bridges, passing through a pre-Civil War, horseshoe-shaped tunnel, an historic turntable demonstration, and a brief tour of the railroad's excellent restoration facility, the Soule Shops.

The Soule Shops stand as one of the best-equipped facilities of its kind across the nation. Dedicated to the meticulous repair and rebuilding of old train equipment, this shop is North America's sole location housing the three vital machines required for the proper maintenance of steam locomotive driving wheels, all under one roof! These machines are:

• A Niles wheel lathe measuring 90 inches,
• A quartering machine, and
• A journal lathe.

It takes about an hour to drive from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum to Delano.

OPTIONAL DATE: Thursday afternoon, September 12 - DELANO DAY on the Tennessee Valley Railroad in Delano, Tennessee.

It all starts in Delano, Tennessee, at 9406 Hwy 411 where we'll board our train. On this exciting afternoon trip, we'll experience a 50-mile, 4-hour round trip train ride through the beautiful lower Hiwassee River gorge. We'll reach the top of the famous Hiwassee Loop, where the tracks cross over themselves as they corkscrew up the mountain near Farner, Tennessee. There are only 6 of these loops in North America, and this is the only one East of the Mississippi River.

Supper at the Savannah Oaks Winery, 1817 Delano Road in Delano, Tennessee, is included in the cost of this event.

AIRPORTS

The closest airport to Maggie Valley is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), located in Fletcher, North Carolina, about 9 miles from downtown Asheville and 35 miles from Maggie Valley (almost all of which is interstate). It is served by most major carriers (American, Delta, United and Allegiant); rental cars are available from Budget, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National/Alamo, and Thrifty/Dollar. Taxis are available, but are prohibitively expensive ($250 one way to Maggie Valley). The airport is undergoing a major expansion program, and there may be more options in September.

The closest major international airport is Greenville-Spartanburg International AIrport (GSP), about 100 miles away, and an hour and a half drive. The other major airports are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL, 180 miles away or about 3 hours) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT, 160 miles away, or about 3 hours most times of the day because of Charlotte traffic). These are served by all major carriers and car rental agencies.

ACCOMMODATIONS

There are two options for accommodations at Living Waters. Both have double beds, so what's the difference? The Couples option includes the tickets and meals for a second person sharing the room. PLEASE NOTE: As a Catholic Retreat House, Living Waters can only permit married wives and husbands to share a Room or Bed. If that affects you, you can either select individual rooms or make arrangements to stay elsewhere. If you elect to stay elsewhere, you should still register just as you would if staying at Living Waters, except you should also check the "Are you staying somewhere else?" box (that will deduct the room charges from your registration, but you will still have all the meals and tour tickets).

Here's what's included in the accommodations cost (and it is a lot!):

• Unless you're staying somewhere else, a room with a double bed for 2 nights (Friday and Saturday);
• Tickets to the Biltmore grounds and the house tour on Friday;
• Dinner on Friday evening at J. Arthur's Restaurant in Maggie Valley;
• Breakfast, lunch at the Collins Creek Picnic Area in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and a BBQ supper on Saturday evening;
• Breakfast on Sunday.

You can extend your stay at Living Waters by 1 or 2 days either before the 13th or after the 15th... rooms only, no meals are included for the extension days.

There is a lot planned for this meeting! You've probably seen the brochure in the newsletter, but in case you missed it, click here to view or download it now. Please register as early as you are able, it makes planning a lot easier for our Reunion Coordinator.

Come join us in Maggie Valley this September!