Event History

Choo Choo Shag Tracks (now called Chattanooga Shag Trackx)  started in 1995 as a subset of Choo Choo Shag Club.  It was a small one-day  party at what was then Ramada Limited in Eastridge, TN.

There were probably about 150 attendees, and they had a ball.  Understand that everyone that was there was 31 years younger than what they are now.  Needless to say, they had a lot of energy, and even more thirst.

The second year they moved to Howard Johnson because they had a pool and the club had a luau and said "we gotta make this a two-day deal", and so they did.  Needless to say, another batch of energy and thirst made it even more exciting.  The only problem was that the facility was a bit too small; so they had to move the party again.

So, the third year they contracted with Best Western (now Comfort Inn) Conference Center in Eastridge to host the party, and it went crazy.  The party has been there ever since excepting a Covid year that canceled it and the next year the hotel was in the middle of a major rennovation and the party had to be held elsewhere.

Once they got to the convention center with more rooms and a bigger pool, they expanded to three days, and it got even crazier.  Dancers started bringing canopies to set up around the pool, and chairs filled the canopies.  Some girls from Nashville who did duck races and shooters at their party suggested they do the same at Shag TrackX.  Everyone agreed, and things have never been the same.  The races became (and still are) the signature event of the party.  Many people commented that this party was the one they were looking for because you could come relax, have fun, dance, and meet folks from other clubs as well.  Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Then the club board decided they needed a chairperson to specifically coordinate this party because it had gotten so big and so involved.  Rose Kellar made the mistake of saying "I'll do it", and immediately it was in her lap.

Because the party had outgrown the dance area the hotel, they contracted with Alhambra Shrine Temple to have the dance party there, and run shuttle service to and from the hotel.  That worked like a charm, and the club raised lots of money to donate to the Shriners.

The party became an annual charity to support the Alhambra Shriners of Chattanooga to raise money to help kids with disabilities to have a better life. The party theme became "We dance so kids can walk".  And to this day, the theme is the same and so is the service that the Shriners provide.

Rose had to take a hiatus for the last three years, and Bill Moran stepped in to keep things going.  Then Bill needed rest, but the club couldn't convince anyone to take the reins.  They worked with Rose again, and both parties agreed to have Rose take the reins and work independantly of the club with no ties involved.  The club vowed to be supportive, and it has turned out be a very nice solution.

And now it has creeped into a four-day party.  We now start on Wednesay with social time around the pool with DJ music.  

On Thursday, the pool again has festivities with DJ music before we all load up the shuttles and head to the Temple to eat dinner, dance, and party.

On Friday, it ramps up even more with the pool party, lunch, DJ music,  and festivities.  Again, we load up the shuttles and head to the Temple for more of the same including another dinner.

Saturday comes, and you'd think we're DONE.  Nah.  Just tired, but not done.

Saturday kicks off early with bloody Marys, DJ music, lunch, duck races, and even more festivities.  Shooters are flowing, and everyone is having a great time.

So now you think we're done.  Nah.  We load up the shuttles one more time and head to the Temple for a final night of dancing and having fun.  Oh, believe it or not, another dinner is also served.

It takes many people working together to pull this thing off; so, when you see them working, give them a pat on the back.

Amongst all these activities, we also manage to have time for 50/50 raffles, booze raffles, and specialty drink service at the pool for only one reason, and that is to raise money to say "We dance so kids can walk".