Bailey's Woods Trail. Photograph © Tripp Farris
Before 2002, the Bailey’s Woods Trail was left to nature’s hands. After the Museum and Rowan Oak staff believed improvements were necessary for the preservation of the woods and the safety of pedestrians, changes were made. Contractors added four bridges, steps to help with steepness and erosion control. In 2012, Bailey Woods was designated a National Recreation Trail.
It was 2:00 am as we laughingly stumbled drunk along the Bailey Woods Trail. Four or five guys and four or five girls partaking in what was to those in the known, an Ole Miss rite-of-Rebel passage to Rowan Oak. We didn’t strike out from the museum, but rather from one of those aforementioned tributary trails that began off the very back corner of the last tennis court above and behind Swayze Field. Soon on the main trail, to the man himself’s house we went.
We lounged on the front porch, imagining sharing a drink with the only Nobel Laureate we’d ever be this close to. We carried on for a good bit until we began to wander the grounds. As several of us approached one of the back buildings we thought we saw movement inside. The last thing said was, “No matter what happens, don’t run!” We gathered closer and stared and then a single hanging light bulb showed brightly with a dark figure holding the pull chain and staring back at us. We ran like hell! Around the house and down the drive we tore. Before we knew it we were standing in the street, hands on knees, huffing, puffing, and laughing away. We made our way back to campus and to sleep.
Had we made it a day trip we’d have found William Faulkner doing that which he loved best.
—John Cofield
