Details Worked Out to Keep Massive Trail Ride/Reunion Here

Fayette County Judge Dan Mueller approved a mass gathering permit for the Real Deal Family Reunion trail ride scheduled for Sept. 25-27.

The three-day event with live music and a trail ride that Saturday takes place on private property off FM 3011 in the Nechanitz area. Organizers expect it to draw 3,000 to 4,000 people.

Fayette County implemented the mass gathering permit process following last year’s Real Deal event after several neighboring property owners complained about traffic, litter and loud noise.

Judge Mueller led a proceeding to review the permit application last Friday, Sept. 12, in the district courtroom at the Fayette County Courthouse. Organizers Ronald Addison, Roderick Devaughn and Nathaniel Patterson were present to answer questions, as were several Fayette County officials including Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom, Sheriff Keith Korenek, Sgt. Ron Naumann of the Sheriff’s Office, EMS Director Josh Vandever, County Attorney James Herbrich, and Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn. Donald Jirasek of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was also in attendance.

“We want an event that’s safe and one where everyone in the County can come out and enjoy,” said Devaughn.

Two neighboring property owners signed in to speak at the hearing.

“Last year we had trash and bottles spread out on our property that we had to clean up ourselves,” said Larry Pietsch, a neighbor to the property.

Pietsch also complained of loud music that went on into the early morning hours last year.

“I’m not against the people having it,” Pietsch said. “It’s just so many people in that little area.”

Another neighbor, Robert Rabalais, raised numerous questions about health, safety and traffic issues.

“I admire them upholding the cowboy traditions,” Rabalais said. “This is a very popular event and they’ve been very successful in growing it to a large scale.”

However, Rabalais said he feared the large number of people gathered at that location could lead to a tragedy like the one that happened at the Houston Astroworld music festival in 2021.

Rabalais suggested that the Fayette County Fairgrounds would provide a much more suitable location for the event.

“It has infrastructure for the people, the music, the water requirements, camping, parking – I don’t know why we can’t have the event there,” Rabalais said.

Vandever said the organizers agreed to pay for expanded EMS coverage during the event to include three ambulances and two paramedicequipped ATVs on site. In addition, there will be a first aid station staffed with trained personnel at the event.

Sgt. Naumann of the Sheriff’s Office said there will be a security fence around the event with checkpoints. He said deputies and private security officers will search for and remove any weapons found in the crowd. Deputies and security personnel will use decibel meters to measure sound levels at the edge of the property.

“They’ve agreed to not let it get anywhere around 85 decibels, and if it does, they’re going to shut it down real low,” Naumann said. “It’s going to be checked and monitored by numerous people who are part of the security team.”

Naumann said he has worked with the private security company hired for this event in the past and said he is confident in the professional service they provide.

Mueller asked Addison how organizers will address any litter that gets thrown along the roadway during the trail ride. Addison said organizers have hired a crew to pick up trash along the trail ride route and on the property throughout the weekend.

Organizers also changed the route of the trail ride on Saturday to limit the time they’ll travel down FM 2145.

Jirasek said organizers agreed to provide at least 60 restroom units on the site with more that can be called on if needed based on the crowd size. In addition, Jirasek said FCC&PT 3 x 10.25 ad.qxp_Layout he and other HHS staff will be on-site to make sure food vendors are properly licensed and all health and sanitation regulations are being followed.

After the public discussion, Judge Mueller and the government officials retired to his office to review the application and the comments made at the hearing.

During the break, Pietsch and Rabalais spoke with Addison and his fellow Real Deal organizers. Pietsch and Rabalais said that despite the concerns they raised earlier in the meeting, they hope the event will be safe and successful. Addison extended them both an invitation to the event and offered them free admission.

Judge Mueller and the officials returned about 30 minutes later. Mueller announced that he approved the application with some stipulations. Mueller said that in addition

1 9/10/25 6:46 PM Page 1 to all the preparations already discussed, the organizers would need to provide a first-aid station staffed by two trained people. Organizers met with Vandever after the hearing to discuss the first-aid station.

Addison told the Record that the Real Deal Family Reunion started out over a decade ago as an actual family reunion in the Houston area. Over time family members invited friends to attend. It has since grown into a Zydeco music festival and trail ride celebrating cowboy culture. He said everyone in the community is invited to come out and enjoy good food, Zydeco music and the trail ride. Admission is $25.

Addison said proceeds go toward youth scholarships, and he said they hope to provide a scholarship to a local student this year.