Ackerman

For over a year while planning this multi-state tour, I looked at the map between Kemper and Ackerman with genuine dread. On paper, that route seemed to cut straight through an isolated 'no-man's-land' with zero services, questionable pavement, and endless isolation.

Thankfully, that fear turned out to be completely false! The ride was fantastic. I passed through a series of charming, welcoming small towns with beautiful scenery and great roads. As I rolled into Ackerman, I felt an incredible sense of relief—like everything on this trip was downhill from here.

Ackerman sits directly across the road from another facility: the Red Hills power plant, a privately owned coal plant.

Ackerman itself used to be privately owned as well. Quantum Choctaw Power originally built and maintained it before our organization acquired it in 2015.

Recognizing the strategic value of the facility, our teams put Ackerman through a massive, comprehensive operational rebuild in 2023, upgrading its systems to ensure long-term grid reliability for decades to come.

Travel Reflection: Sometimes the routes you dread the most during trip planning turn out to be the most enjoyable miles of the entire journey.

Read more about Ackerman Here, Here, Here, and Here!