A welcome party will be held for Phil Keoghan, TV celebrity and host of the hit series, The Amazing Race, as he rolls into Greater Des Moines for an overnight stop on his national Ride Across America. The public is encouraged to attend the festivities at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 at the State Capitol West Terrace. A rain location has been set for the Iowa State Historical Building, 600 E Locust Street, across the street from the State Capitol West Terrace. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at the Capitol by 5 p.m. to meet and greet Keoghan and enjoy preliminary activities. This event is free.

Greater Des Moines is one of only 30 major stops on Keoghan’s first-ever, coast-to-coast, 3,500-mile ride across the nation to raise awareness and funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS) and healthy living, presented by GNC. Television crews are filming his Ride Across America and will be capturing the Greater Des Moines celebration, giving Central Iowa a chance to showcase our unique community spirit and extensive regional trail system.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, the Isisserettes Drum and Drill Corp, GNC Stores, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Downtown Community Alliance are inviting Iowans to come out to show Keoghan and his film crew, Central Iowa’s warm hospitality. Keoghan will be on hand for autographs, book signings and handshakes following the welcome party.

Central Iowa bike teams will join Keoghan as he enters the Central Iowa Trail System in Redfield, Iowa. Bike teams of 10 or more riders will continue to join the ride as it winds through Adel, Waukee, Clive, Windsor Heights and Des Moines’ Gray’s Lake. He will be joined by Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, MS Area Director Mark Davis and GNC Regional Sales Director Kyle Widerspan at Gray’s Lake.

The growing crowd of bike riders will leave Gray’s Lake and continue the ride along the Metro Trail System including Meredith Trail, through Downtown Des Moines and end at the State Capitol West Terrace where the celebration begins.

The Central Iowa Trails the Ride Across America will be traveling on include:
  • Trail from Redfield to Clive—Raccoon River Valley Trail
  • Clive to Windsor Heights—Clive Greenbelt Trail 
  • Windsor Heights to Des Moines—Colby Trail  
  • Downtown Des Moines—Walnut Creek Trail, Bill Riley Trail, Kruidenier Trail, Meredith Trail and John Pat Dorrian Trail
Trail map links for Central Iowa Trails are:

http://greaterdesmoinestrails.org/newtrails/images/Central_Iowa_Trail.htm

http://greaterdesmoinestrails.org/newtrails/images/downtown.htm

http://greaterdesmoinestrails.org/newtrails/images/map2_r1_c1.gif

For more information contact Amelia Hamilton Morris, City of Des Moines Public Information, at (515) 283-4795, (515) 202-8337 or akmorris@dmgov.org. Shekinah Young may also be contacted for additional information at (515) 283-4057.