[1] A gandy dancer was a slang term used for American railroad workers that would build and maintain tracks by hand.

The term likely originated from the Gandy Manufacturing Company based in Chicago which produced railroad tools.

These workers were known to sing and keep their voices and feet in unison which led to them being described as dancers.

The name Gandy Dancer was chosen to honor the railroad workers who built the tracks.

The Douglas County section in the northern segment also allows all-terrain vehicles year-round and horseback riding.