Drivers with trailers carrying side by sides and ATVs onward to Indian Mountain ATV Park this weekend: be warned, Prior Station Road is not the way to go.

Polk County Commissioners approved during a special session on Tuesday evening a resolution to close down Prior Station Road from Highway 100 North onward to the state line to thru traffic – meaning only local traffic to homes is allowed – as the Indian Mountain ATV Park is set to host a Memorial Day weekend event, the Rough Riders Rendezvous.

Those who planned on taking Prior Station Road will instead need to use Highway 278, and then take Cherokee County roadways to get to their destination.

County officials put out roadway closed barrier, and the Department of Transportation brought out signage at Highway 100 and on the turnoff to Prior Station Road from Adamson Road/West Avenue. Police are expected to be out in the area over the weekend to prevent thru traffic from coming through, and one official did report tickets were already handed out earlier today.

Traffic wasn’t closed on the Alabama side of Prior Station Road for the weekend event.

Large trucks pulling side-by-side and ATVs to Indian Mountain have been a problem on Prior Station Road since the venue opened several years ago. Drivers who live in the area have complained to County Commissioners about the traffic, who have in the past put up signage directing drivers not to take Prior Station Road but without closing the roadway.

The measure, per Assistant County Manager Connor Hooper, is meant to help provide safety to local residents and avoid issues during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.