35 East Texas high school students to welcome visitors for Azalea and Spring Flower Trail
Published on Tuesday, 21 March 2017 16:06 – Written by EMILY GUEVARA, [email protected]

The 58th Azalea & Spring Flower Trail kicks off Friday with ribbon cutting. With the launch of the 58th Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, visitors will find more than just flowers in some East Texas yards.

Thirty-five freshman and sophomore high school girls are serving as this year’s Azalea Belles, wearing antebellum-style dresses, greeting visitors and answering questions.

These young women serve as ambassadors for the trail and are always happy to visit with guests and pose for photos in any of the beautiful gardens along the trail.

The first Azalea Belles served in 1964 when the Chamber of Commerce decided guests needed to be welcomed in true southern style, according to a news release about the event.  That year, two Chamber secretaries dressed in their own handmade costumes and distributed brochures to guests along the trail.

Now, girls must go through an application process, antebellum-style dress fittings, and an orientation where they learn how to answer frequently asked questions along the trail.

This year’s Azalea Belles were chosen from the following schools:

Cumberland Academy, The University of Texas at Tyler’s Innovation Academy, East Texas Christian Academy, A Beka Academy, King’s Academy, Brook Hill, Good Shepherd, Grace Community, Early College High School, Robert E. Lee High, Lindale High, Whitehouse High, and home-schools.

“We have a great group of girls this year, and we can’t wait to get them out on the trail to greet visitors,” Susan Travis, Visit Tyler’s vice president of tourism and servicing, said. Ms. Travis has been in charge of the belles for the past 13 years and said the competition was tough. “This year we had more girls apply than ever before, so these girls were the best of the best,” Ms. Travis said.

The Azalea & Spring Flower Trail kicked off Friday and ends April 9. The belles participate on the weekends.