Our Plan: A Work in Progress
Our Goal Is Firm. Our Plan Is Flexible.
From the beginning, we told the community that our plan to save Katy Station would evolve as we learned more and better understood the challenges ahead.
Our original hope was to preserve Katy Station in its current location. However, through conversations with the new property owners, we learned that their development plans could not move forward with the station remaining where it is.
That reality led us to pursue relocating the original 1909 depot instead.
Our mission hasn't changed. Our approach has.
This is a working plan, not a finished blueprint. As we explore locations, engineering requirements, partnerships, and other challenges, we may need to adjust our approach again.
What won't change is our commitment to finding realistic solutions, keeping the community informed, and saving Katy Station for future generations.
Who we are:
We are united Columbians from all walks of life. We are apolitical. This is an alliance including conservatives and liberals, young and old, historians, business owners, non-profits, students and professors, townies, Lions, Tigers, Kewpies and Bruins, Spartans, Bulldogs and Trailblazers. We all share in common a love of Katy Station. You can view a list of our supporters here.
How can Katy Station be saved?
Our plan is to relocate the original 1909 brick depot, without the later additions,The station could be moved to a nearby location, ideally near or along The MKT Trail, possibly in or near Flat Branch Park.
We have spoken with experienced building movers who believe relocation is possible. Because of the building's size and weight, moving it farther would increase costs and complications.
Relocation is the path forward. Keeping Katy Station in its current location is no longer an option. What remains to be determined is where it will go and how we will accomplish the move.
We are actively exploring potential locations and welcome suggestions from the community.
Why is Katy Station worth saving?
Built in 1909, Katy Station is an important part of Columbia's history. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad helped shape our community and contributed to its growth.
Katy Station is more than an old building. It's a beloved architectural and historical treasure that cannot be replaced if lost.
Read more about its importance and visit our History Page to learn more.
What will be done with Katy Station if you are successful?
That decision has not been made. Possibilities include a café, trail destination, railroad history exhibit, visitor center, or community gathering space.
We want the community to help shape Katy Station's future. Our goal is to find a use that makes the building accessible to the public and financially sustainable for generations to come.
Who could pay for this project?
Our goal is to fund the relocation and preservation of Katy Station through private donations, grants, business partnerships, and community support.
We are working to establish a dedicated fund through the Community Foundation of Central Missouri to provide financial oversight and transparency.
Our goal is to save Katy Station without relying on taxpayer funding.
How Much Will It Cost to Save Katy Station?
We have received preliminary bids ranging from $400,000 to $600,000 to physically move the building. These figures do not include the new foundation, site preparation, engineering, utilities, or restoration.
We are now seeking comprehensive bids that include these additional expenses so we can develop a realistic total project budget.
We will share updated costs with the community as more information becomes available.
Next: What Is the Timeline for Saving Katy Station?
Our timeline will largely be determined by the developer's construction schedule.
The good news is that the developers want to see Katy Station saved and relocated just as much as we do. We share a common goal and are working toward a solution that allows both preservation and redevelopment to move forward.
Time is limited, so our priority is to secure a new location, develop a relocation plan, and raise the necessary funds.
We are working together to give Katy Station a new home and a new future.
How Can I Get Involved?
We have established five working committees focused on relocation, future use, historic preservation, fundraising, and community outreach.
Whether you have professional experience, community connections, or simply a willingness to help, there's a place for you.
Doesn’t the building’s status on the National Register of Historic Places protect it?
No. The National Register of Historic Places does not protect a building from demolition. The register only provides incentives, like access to tax credits and grant funding. Just being placed on the register does not add any legal obligations to the property owner.
Do You Respect the Property Owners' Rights?
Absolutely. We respect private property rights and recognize the importance of continued downtown development.
Our goal is to work with the property owners and developers, not against them.
Relocating Katy Station allows us to preserve an important piece of Columbia's history while allowing redevelopment to move forward.
Are you against downtown development or student housing?
No. We take no position on these issues, we are only focused on preserving Katy Station.
Isn’t the building in bad shape?
Actually, Katy Station is in remarkably good condition for a building that is more than 115 years old.
Experts have examined the building and confirmed that it is fundamentally sound. While some repairs and restoration will be necessary, those repairs do not need to be completed before the building is moved.
Katy Station can be relocated in its current condition and is well worth preserving.
What do the words “MKT” and “Katy” mean?
The "Katy" railroad's nickname was derived from the initials of the states it was founded to serve: Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. The railroad began as the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railway (MK&T) before an early-1920s corporate reorganization subtly renamed it to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT). The "Katy" nickname may have come directly from these names, or from the railroad's stock symbol (KT), but it quickly became a universal shorthand for anything to do with the MK&T or MKT.
In the mid-1890s, the Katy built a new main line along the Missouri River that passed through western Boone County and gave the railroad access to St. Louis. Soon thereafter, an 8.7 mile spur was built from the Town of McBaine to serve passengers and freight customers in Columbia. This generated enough traffic that the original wooden depot was replaced in 1909 with the current brick structure that still graces Downtown Columbia. Today, the main line serves as the backbone for Missouri's 240-mile cross-state Katy Trail State Park rail trail. The Columbia spur serves as a connecting trail named the MKT Trail, allowing cyclists and other users to connect with the main trail, just as passengers and freight once did.
How can we help preserve and protect structures in the future?
Our local historic preservation non-profit, CoMo Preservation, has an excellent list of resources and tools here: