Reprint from the Progress Times - January 25, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Split Rail gears up for Citrus Fiesta Parade

 

"As soon as the last one’s over, that’s when we start thinking about the next one."

Elmo Martin and the residents of Split Rail RV Park have been working on their float for this year’s Texas Citrus Fiesta for the past two weeks. But they’ve been planning all year long.

"Once you know the theme for the next year you can start thinking about what you’re going to do," said Martin. "You kinda put that theme in the back of your mind and as the year goes by, things click."

According to Martin, it takes an entire team for the float to click.

"This is all a team effort," said Martin. "One person simply can’t do it. That’s what makes a good finished product, people working together."

Martin and his team hope to keep up the legacy of Split Rail RV Park, which won first place last year as well as in 2005 and 2003, with their latest creation, the Shary Express, which is an homage to John Shary and his efforts to bring northerners to the Valley via train.

"The name of the float is the Shary Express in honor of John H. Shary bringing people down to see the land in an attempt to get them to move down here," said Martin. "He would entice people to come down and the main transportation was by train. So he would get them down here and show them what we had and go from there. It’s really the foundation of the city."

Martin’s team of over 30 volunteers have a new wrinkle to contend with this year. For the first time since its inception in 1971, the Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges, set for Saturday, January 26, will be held at night. Judging for the floats will be done in the daytime to assess workmanship and again at night to judge appearance.

While this will make for a pretty sight come parade time, it’s proven to be quite a challenge for the folks at Split Rail. In addition to affixing hundreds upon hundreds of pieces of citrus, the team at Split Rail RV Park has been busy building three dimensional, backlit signs to make the most of the new parade time.

Most volunteers work on one facet or area on the float. Volunteers will wander in and sit down for a few hours wrapping lights around screws, cutting out letters for the signs on the side of the float or simply just adding another coat of paint.

Canadian Winter Texan Jim McLachlan says often the park residents motivate each other by simply working hard.

"I had a surprise when I got here today," said McLachlan. "A whole part of the train was painted. I don’t know who did it but I saw it and that I’d better get to work."

Martin is quick to point out those on his team who are invaluable.

"You got to have a person that has artistic ability," said Martin. "That’s Sharon Neil. She and I have worked together for the last few years. It takes somebody to draw this stuff out and make up the lettering. Then you have to have someone to push the issue."

That would be Martin’s job.

Originally from a town called Cottage Grove in Minnesota, Martin and his wife have been coming to the Valley to enjoy the relatively warm weather for eight years and both have been involved in making the park’s Citrus Fiesta Float for seven. Prior to that, Martin said he didn’t know the first thing about floats.

"The last float I worked on, prior to being down here, was when I was in junior high," said Martin. "You just have to be able to put things together in a perspective that makes it look real and enhance it so you can get the judge’s eye."

Bob Marsh, a Citrus Fiesta veteran, sums up the park’s attitude best.

"I’ve been coming here for 12 years," said Marsh. "I do a little bit of everything. I have more fun doing this than sitting around at home, and if I sit around at home I’ll put on weight in the winter."

The Split Rail RV Park float will be just one of many lining North Conway and rumbling from north to south at 6 p.m. January 26, all the while vying for first place and bragging rights.