PLACERVILLE, Calif. — By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. March 25, 2026
The future of one of El Dorado County’s most enduring traditions is in question after state budget decisions eliminated a key historical event grant supporting the Highway 50 Wagon Train, organizers confirmed this week.
The nonprofit group behind the event now faces a dual financial strain: the loss of expected grant funding and a reported $20,000 increase in escort fees from the California Highway Patrol, a critical component required to safely guide the wagon train along busy stretches of U.S. Highway 50.
For nearly eight decades, the wagon train has retraced a portion of the historic route tied to the California Gold Rush, drawing residents, tourists, and history enthusiasts to communities from Placerville to South Lake Tahoe. The annual journey is widely regarded as both a living history lesson and an economic driver for local businesses.
“This is more than an event—it’s a moving piece of our heritage,” organizers said in a public appeal for donations. “If you value this amazing tradition, we need your help to keep the train rolling into its 78th year.”
The Highway 50 Wagon Train Association, a registered nonprofit, is now asking the public for tax-deductible contributions through its website, digital payment platforms, or by mail. Without sufficient funding, organizers warn that scaling back—or even canceling—portions of the event remains a possibility.
Local stakeholders, including small businesses and tourism advocates, are watching closely. The wagon train has historically generated foot traffic and overnight stays, particularly during peak travel periods, reinforcing its role as a cultural and economic asset in the region.
The funding gap also underscores broader tensions in state budget priorities, where smaller, community-driven heritage events often compete with larger infrastructure and public safety allocations. For rural counties like El Dorado, such cuts can have outsized impacts.
“we need to raise an additional $35,000 per year now to continue as it always has been with the loss of the county grant and now having to pay CHP. We are hoping to make this happen as long as possible.”
As the deadline to finalize logistics approaches, organizers say community support will determine whether the tradition continues uninterrupted—or becomes another casualty of tightening budgets. Donations can be made at hwy50wagontrain.com, via Venmo (@highway-50), or by mailing checks to Hwy 50 Assn, P.O. Box 454, Placerville, CA 95667.
