Hello

Looking for some feedback from you on what your looking for in an off-road park. We are building a place now that has over 1000 acres and miles of trails with 80 acres section just for Extreme crawling area. ATV's, UTV's & Jeeps all welcome. We are also thinking of building some mud pits and racing strips and want some feedback how many boggers are tere that would be interested. We will be holding three day events with camping. The property is located in Athens, TN just off I-75 so please give me your feedback and how far your willing to travel so we can give you what you want.

Location: Athens Tennessee between Chattanooga and Knoxville

Thank and looking forward to seeing you soon

East TN needs more places to ride for sure. Athens is a short drive for us (Knoxville). So if its good I'm sure we would hit it up a lot. I don't really know anyone that is interested in mud. We try to avoid it. But I'm sure the more you have to offer the more people will come. We prefer the rocks. A nice camping area will diffently bring in people for a weekend vs just one day . Which means more money for you. Do you have a website yet?

x2 ^

There are not many places around Knoxville to wheel...Windrock being the closest and at $17 a person it gets really steep when your trying to bring along a few friends.

Thanks for the feedback, we are working on the site as we speak so I will keep you updated. Would you camp or do you tend to go for just the day?

Thanks

Some of us have RVs so hook ups would be nice. Some of us tent camp so Bath houses would be nice. If those were provided I'm sure we would camp. After a long day of wheeling its really nice to have a shower if your camping.
Once you get a website send me the link and I will post it on our web site under the places to ride.

Just south of Chattannooga and we would come for sure! Group of about 10 buggies and Jeeps all extreme. Harder the better. Visit Grayrock, Hale MTN. Golden Mtn. and Choccoloco for refferences

Sent you a pm

Thanks for the feedback the more info from people the better.

hey if you postup when u guys are buildin trails. im sure peoplewill show up and lend a hand. they bring there rigs and you can get a good idea how tuff the trails are. and its like free labor lol

If you build it we will come. (Hiawassee, Ga)

hey if you postup when u guys are buildin trails. im sure peoplewill show up and lend a hand. they bring there rigs and you can get a good idea how tuff the trails are. and its like free labor lol

X2...will be more than glad to lend a hand.

Also have to agree that the cost of windrock at $17 a head is pretty steep for a family of 4. Please charge per rig...

20 miles west of ATL. We could possibly make a club ride there a few times a year. www.gbr4wd.com.

We are about to put up storage buildings in Cleveland, Athens is barely a drive.

We are about to put up storage buildings in Cleveland, Athens is barely a drive.

Yes your right Cleveland is a hop, skip away see ya soon please stay tuned and any suggestions pm us

Could you post some pictures of the terrain?

My vote would be a wide variety of terrain and obstacles from mild to wild and crazy. I think to make a park a big destination for groups, organized events, and large masses of people a full service RV Park/Campground is a must. And, if you really want large events to use your park as a venue, a big pole barn for the vendor setup areas would be ideal. It's not 100% necessary, but it sure makes it nicer for paying vendors. Make it so Semi's can park on the outsides of the barn creating the walls and use their big fancy awnings for their cover. Then, everyone inside with smaller booths would be under cover and blocked by the wind and rain.

As far as per person costs, to me $17/day/person is reasonable for a day's worth of fun with friends and family. Sure, it adds up, but I can't even begin to imagine the cost of buying 1000 acres of land then setting up and maintaining it for us to enjoy, not to mention marketing it so people know about it.

As far as terrain goes, I could care less about mud, but a ton of people love it. If it was me, I'd establish a park for both ATV's, UTV's, Dirtbikes, and vehicles. I'd mimick what Highlifter has done in the mud world for ATV/UTVs with mud racing pits but for all types of vehicles(likely more than 1 pit). Then, depending on layout of the terrain and how natural it is for trails versus obstacle sections, I'd say great sections of rock crawling from mild to wild would be great. If scenery is available, mild to moderate trails are great too to capture larger audiences.

I think if you contacted all the different race series/promotors in the off-road scene you could also see what it would take to make your park a destination for their next season, as well. Essentially, you need to get yourself on the map as the ultimate off-roading place in the region offering everything you could imagine.

Sorry for my rant...but that's my thoughts. :) I'm biased...I live in Boone, NC, so I'm close. We need an awesome place to wheel.

Chris

Well RangerXP looks like we are on the same page so with time, support and alot of investment we will be there hopefully soon. As you are all aware that when you purchase a piece of property you pay alot but thats a kick in the bucket to what we are putting into it now to give everyone what they want and what is needed so of course everyone showing up in support and giving suggestions and allowing us time to improve will keep it alive and unlike your state funded places that can't stay open this will be your place and no worries of closing down. Keep all of the suggestions coming thats what we need and keeps us ecited knowing we are going in the right direction

It would be really nice to have a concrete slab with a roof over head to work on stuff that broke. Also nice restrooms with shower. As for trails make some gravel roads for the stock trucks and make some that look impossible for the buggies, but don't forget the muddy trails for built rigs that can't do buggy trails.

the more diverse the better...places for the crawler guys to play...maybe a big loop around the property for guys running smaller tires (~33)s (me :D), and some fields for ATV guys to really rip across. I ride quads and wheel my truck and its nice when going to a place that lets quads, mx, buggies, trucks wheel is if you can separate everyone out and on 1000 acres that should be fairly possible. Nothing sucks more than hauling ass down a trail on your bike and having to slam on the brakes to let trucks pass or having to keep your eyes peeled on the trail for quads hauling ass past you and making sure you don't clip a rider with your swamper.
Not saying that there needs to be and ATV only area, but cut some trails that ATV's and bikes can go down that aren't wide enough for trucks and that will keep a lot of the congestion down.

I'll be living in Gallatin TN as of next week so hopefully I can make it down there.

Crawfords Campground at Tellico was pretty cool as a point of reference. He had a nice metal building/shop to repair rigs with a full set of tools, welders, etc, which I've personally used before. Their pavilion to eat under was great too and could be in the same area as the vendor pole barn, as well. Their rock garden right in camp was cool too, but you wouldn't need that since the trails will all be right there, unless it was a competition We-Rock or one of the others courses front and center for all the buggies guys to play on.

Crawfords Campground at Tellico was pretty cool as a point of reference. He had a nice metal building/shop to repair rigs with a full set of tools, welders, etc, which I've personally used before. Their pavilion to eat under was great too and could be in the same area as the vendor pole barn, as well. Their rock garden right in camp was cool too, but you wouldn't need that since the trails will all be right there, unless it was a competition We-Rock or one of the others courses front and center for all the buggies guys to play on.

Yep...as far as the campground goes, Crawsfords was/is pretty sweet. Still think $17 a head per day is a bit much. $10 maybe but I still think per rig is better. Yeah, for a family of 4 is $68 for the day. Not bad but add in the cost of gas for the rig, tow rig and you will easily double that. I think per rig would keep people coming more often and that’s really what you want…correct? You may not think so but $20 a day per rig will get people making more trips.

Here’s a better idea, what about a season pass…$XXX amount for 90 days? Something like Harlan Ky. I know I’d more inclined to do that than pay per day. I keep a yearly permit for Royal Blue as it is.

depending on the camping, cost and crawling conditions I would probably make 2 trips per year with about 5-10 rigs per trip.

ROCKJUNKIE 4X4 is always looking for somewhere new to wheel.
Thanks for the opportunity and good luck with the build/setup.

FYI
"Mud is Mother Nature's Diarrhea"

FYI
"Mud is Mother Nature's Diarrhea"[/QUOTE]


Thats funny! thanks for the feedback and we are going to cater to all and that means Mud areas too I am sorry I am a Floridian and Mud is in my blood and when you see what we bring to Tennessee if nothing but for you to take a break and watch us playing in the mud with 2000 HP trucks on R2 tractor tires you will love it and beleive me I hate getting dirty but I love watching it and you will too. It will break up the weekend of riding to spend an hour watching....lol I promise you that. Thanks

FYI
"Mud is Mother Nature's Diarrhea"[/QUOTE]

the more diverse the better...places for the crawler guys to play...maybe a big loop around the property for guys running smaller tires (~33)s (me :D), and some fields for ATV guys to really rip across. I ride quads and wheel my truck and its nice when going to a place that lets quads, mx, buggies, trucks wheel is if you can separate everyone out and on 1000 acres that should be fairly possible. Nothing sucks more than hauling ass down a trail on your bike and having to slam on the brakes to let trucks pass or having to keep your eyes peeled on the trail for quads hauling ass past you and making sure you don't clip a rider with your swamper.
Not saying that there needs to be and ATV only area, but cut some trails that ATV's and bikes can go down that aren't wide enough for trucks and that will keep a lot of the congestion down.

I'll be living in Gallatin TN as of next week so hopefully I can make it down there.


Gallatin eh? Well as soon as I get back state-side I will be working on my Yota.. Im from Portland!

And I was more of a mud guy when I was younger but I am building my truck to be a little dual purpose...I like the idea of an annual fee or a by the truck fee. I think a good combo of all of the above is a great idea.

Just curious but whereabouts in Athens is this gonna be? I'm from there and I think it's gonna be nice for this town to actually have a place like this, you should have plenty of help if needed once the word gets out

Thanks and good luck!

ive seen some trails and i can say there is a section that built buggies will have a problem with. Im talking vertical rock ledges but they are at the top on a hill climb out of a bowl the grade is around 65% or greater then you hit the ledges. this place will truely have something for everyone. we are trying to make the trails where everyone can enjoy and have lots of opions as far as trail difficulty.

when is the park going to open im from cleveland,tn and looking for a place to ride

Keep us posted on the progress and opening date. I live in GA and am new to the rock crawling sport and don't really know of any places around here to go play at. Me personally, I like the idea of season pass prices and/or per vehicle. I am a single dad with 4 kids, so paying by the person gets pricey real quick. I would also plan on doing a couple day trips instead of a one day turnaround, so camping sites would be great.
As for the mud/rock course, I am glad to hear you will have both, since the only playing I have done in my younger years was in mud, so I will have to try them both out.

Keep us posted on the progress and opening date. I live in GA and am new to the rock crawling sport and don't really know of any places around here to go play at. Me personally, I like the idea of season pass prices and/or per vehicle. I am a single dad with 4 kids, so paying by the person gets pricey real quick. I would also plan on doing a couple day trips instead of a one day turnaround, so camping sites would be great.
As for the mud/rock course, I am glad to hear you will have both, since the only playing I have done in my younger years was in mud, so I will have to try them both out.

It's a matter of knowing where to look, there are several places closer to you than TN. Here is a list of most, but it needs to be updated, it still lists Tellico and doesn't have the newer parks like Choccolocco and Hale mtn.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108554824603445950266.00044816414ffaff05de5&z=7

Yeah let us know if you need help cutting some trails. There is a pretty significant number of people within a hour or so drive from Athens that would help out. If you could get SFWDA involved with maybe a quarterly ride or something it could help it really take off.

I would also be for the per vehicle price. I think Harlan has it right with the way they do it. I think a yearly pass would be great too.

Speaking for myself I would like to see a part of your orv park set up for all-out racing like Badlands orv park in Indiana has (TREC series). Otherwise just a good mix of trails,rocks,and mud.
One more request and this may sound selfish but it's not meant to be-how about having a group ride on a Sunday and not just on a Saturday? I'm not anti-religious it's just I work Monday thru Saturday (as a mailman) so unless someone has a night ride I don't get to have any fun:bawling:

Still working on web site and about 100 acres of trails have been completed I am working on getting pics uploaded

Lots of good advice has already been posted. We have about 15 rigs that ride together most of the time. We all hate mud. Sorry. :D We do love extreme rocks. Our group is from Ky, Tn, Il, Wi, Mi, La, Al, etc so when we get together we wheel for 2 or 3 days so camping is critical for us. Shower facilities and restrooms are a big plus because some of the guys bring their women folk and they like to have a nice place to end the day. Primitive camping is ok but hookups for RVs would be great. You might want to consider putting up some small cabins like down at Windrock or Wheeling in the Country. They tend to be very popular. As for pricing I believe per rig is best but if you charge per person I can't see charging as much for passengers as for drivers. Say $10 for the driver and $5 per passenger. People that take their families need to be able to afford to take them along to continue our sport. Our trip to Windrock last Nov was prolly our last.

^ Yeah keep the price reasonable. There's a local private park near me that charges $20 a vehicle and $5 a passenger and they don't open till 10am on Saturdays and you got to be off the trails by dusk. I'd like to see a weekend rate instead of daily rates, since most of the business will be during the weekends outside of the locals. Maybe a $25 Fri/Sat or Fri/Sat/Sun pass would be reasonable which includes one passenger.

Price - Offer some packages to cover a family of 4 + camping and also individuals + camping. Also if your price is over $20 make sure your including stuff, camping areas laied out well etc..

Showers - I would make a separate outside shower area. Something you need to wear your swim trucks at. Easy to keep clean, hose out the mud/dirt etc.. I see so many really clean (and not so clean) places start off that way and end up filthy after the 50th person has gone through. If you keep the bathrooms separate from the showers it will help keep each cleaner. Make and keep the ladies area cleaned up well. If I can assure my wife there is clean ladies only areas shes cool with what ever else goes on, but if she has to deal with the filth and conditions that is typical of the mens areas she's not too happy..

Terrain - I'm sure you will figure that out..

Food - Everyone like the big catererd type events, but not everyone wants that all the time. Get hooked up with a local food place (or do your own) to sereve basic short order type meals for a fair price.

Using Harlan as an example there are several good places to eat for a fair price. Places are open early to get coffee. I don't plan to take/make as many of my own meals because the prices and quality are fair and its readily avaliable, more/less onsite or with in walking distance.

Camping areas - Set up designated areas for folks who want to be quiet and those who want to be loud. Sometimes I prefer each and I'd rather know up front that have the luck of the draw. Most place/people are curtious but there is never a gaurentee.

At least have power posts avaliable. That will cut down on the lound clanky clank generators.

Hey athens xtreme, Is the land you are referring to the old Jackson Pines parcel, im assuming it is, as ive lived here all my life and i cant think of another piece of land that big. If so, I have rode it (yrs. ago) and it was awesome. Anyway, we ride all the time, me and my buddies, and we ride rigs,quads and utvs sometime as much as 30 of us and if we can help in anyway, please let us know, we live very close by and are very excited about what u r doing. P.S. WE LUV MUD!!!!:D

Hey athens xtreme, Is the land you are referring to the old Jackson Pines parcel, im assuming it is, as ive lived here all my life and i cant think of another piece of land that big. If so, I have rode it (yrs. ago) and it was awesome. Anyway, we ride all the time, me and my buddies, and we ride rigs,quads and utvs sometime as much as 30 of us and if we can help in anyway, please let us know, we live very close by and are very excited about what u r doing. P.S. WE LUV MUD!!!!:D

yes thats where it is located. the rougher 4x4 trails are on the other side of the road from the pines.

Go over to Smorr (southern missouri offroad ranch) in Mo. They do it right w/ trails,camping,showers,cooking. Or at least check them out on the web. We run with 5-10 rigs with families can,t wait to see this place.

This is sounding interesting, any updates?

Sent ya a PM. Hope you guys open up soon, especially by fall and winter. Thats when I love wheeling, and Athens is 20 minutes away!

If you build it we will come. (Hiawassee, Ga)

x2 :smokin:

You should let people ride while you build trails. IT will generate some income and you will get feedback on which are your good trails and which way to go with new ones.

I'm from Cleveland & would definitely be up for some harder trails. We have a big group of mostly buggies that ride together.

this would be excellent!

I'm ready to see some pics

Any updates?

Heres some pics from a 100 degree day cutting trees, with a little riding. Thing are looking better all the time. Could turn out to be a great place to ride.:)

Tree cutting at 100 degrees, done a little riding this place is going to be great, just need lots of work!

Tree cutting at 100 degrees, done a little riding this place is going to be great, just need lots of work!

Plenty of offers, just post up a time, date, and meeting place for folks to show up. :smokin:

Keep us posted~!!!!

What happen to this?

What happen to this?

X's2 :confused:

I have a close couple of friends and we r a trail clearing machine. we have made 100's of trails and miles of trails since we were 16. we will knock out a bunch of work and clear trails fast and clean. please let us know and we will round up the team and head on over. Athens tn rocks!!!! I am there often. i knew that town was special.

There is also an awesome 4x4 shop right down the road from athens tn that has a dyno and everything. :) that could come in very handy as well.

Any new pics? Let us know whats going on!!!! we r ready.

the owners are dragging there feet in which way they want the park to go. i believe they are mud lovers. but we try to tell them they need something for everyone. they will have to bring in some rocks to have a nice rock course or two but all this hinges on how they go with it. it really pains all of us that work over the summer in triple digit heat on our days off and taking days off from work to cut tress and clear trails. but if there is any updates ill let pirate knowabout it. but right now nothin much going on
:shaking:

Well they are wasting time. They could already have tons of people wheeling there and tackling trails. There is only soooo much mud u can take. besides the mud will break parts and break ATV's down faster over time and weed out the ATV guys than the trails and rocks will. Mud and water holes create larva for insects and stuff noone likes to have around a weekend fun place.

If they built and opened this place they could have the town of athens booming. They just built another very nice hotel there. :) Now days in the economy more than ever "TIME IS MONEY". Tell them to build as they go. Thanks

we have expressed all these points and time is money and yes it would really boost the local economy.

the owners are dragging there feet in which way they want the park to go. i believe they are mud lovers. but we try to tell them they need something for everyone. they will have to bring in some rocks to have a nice rock course or two but all this hinges on how they go with it. it really pains all of us that work over the summer in triple digit heat on our days off and taking days off from work to cut tress and clear trails. but if there is any updates ill let pirate knowabout it. but right now nothin much going on
:shaking:

I thought the pics showed trails with rocks already there :confused: I'm not a huge fan of rock courses anyway. I'd much rather hit a trail in the woods and have the obstacles there.

there is rock there but only on one side mostly we were tryin to get some for some ditch lines and have some for a playground close to the camp sites to have some rock crawl comp at easy med and hard. basically tryin to help them build a profitable park for all riders

i would be glad to hop in my rig and come help i just need directions a time and date to be there.

I know a fair amount of people who know where this is and i got my unit together. We r all ready to roll out and clear trails and build trails u just need to give us the GREEN light. Winter is the best time to clear trails!!!!! No bugs and snakes and ticks and other things that r dangerous. All the equipment and tools are stockpiled and ready. We are waiting on you. Unleash us all and we will have that place done in NOTIME. Thanks


PS. update us on pics of areas you want cleared and or trails running through. Directions for most would be a nice thing as well. Help Bring money into the city as well while everyone is in town working.

Any new updates?

they havnt said anything about it to us and have stopped working on it. dont know the reasons. they may have had to do work esle where. but either way it stinks

after all these people are willing to help, they still don't want to work on it?

We would definately show up a few times a year. A nice flat grassy area to camp and let the kids play safely at night is always nice, while we enjoy the campfire!

We would definately show up a few times a year. A nice flat grassy area to camp and let the kids play safely at night is always nice, while we enjoy the campfire!
pm sent

the park owners are in a hold waiting on cash flow for park. its still a go just dont have time table on it yet.

what is the deal here? We r all willing to work and wheel and TIME IS MONEY!!!! They are missing out on making money the longer they wait. There are a lot of us willing to work and do trail work and stuff for free. What are they waiting for???

Realise they have to think of liability if someone gets hurt and may have been told by their Attourney to hold off till he can get a waiver made up. I know yall are ready to work and help but legalities are something to think about. Be patient, when they are ready they will call for backup.

Keep us posted. Always looking for new places to wheel and would like to help get the park ready.:grinpimp:

were from illinois and will head your way when you get the bugs out Illinois sucks so traveling is second nature Model your camp area after the one at SMORR its the best we have seen Good Luck

Hope this works out. I'll keep checking in for updates.

I'm in for free labor. Have tools, trucks, trailers, dump truck (1T).
Hope owners take up free labor offers, we'd all sign any waiver if that is a hold up.

hell i live in benton about 20 miles away and i am more that ready to go help get this going its a needed park around here after tellico got shut down it limits our places to ride

This is just unreal.:shaking: Someone getting hurt who is willing to spend there own time money and hard labor to help open and build a park is NO reason to stall. Get that Lawyer to work up a sheet of paper we can sign and lets stop wasting time. Tons of people willing to help and no update? not even a word?

Do these owners realize how lucky they are to have all this help at their fingertips?

GET IT GOING!!!!!!!

all that me and my guys need is some woods and some bad ass trails. the big rock gardens and nasty climbs are good too. just give us a remote spot to throw some tents and build a fire and were set. no need for showers, do that when you get home. I like paying a yearly fee if its reasonable. otherwise 20 or 30 for a weekend is doable if its a good fun place. hope to see this come together. were from louisville and drive to harlan so i dont think your much farther.

I am considering moving from NY to the Knoxville area. This would definitly go in the 'pros' column.

if it were to open i would defintally come there often (depending on price) and if it was more rocks than mud. im in a somewhat built tj and would love to have a place to wheel closer to where i live. windrock is great dont get me wrong ubt its pricy and about 2 hours away. it would be cool to have more places to go. with tellico closed the trails are getting limited around here. so the more the better

When u move down here let me know. I know of a couple really awesome places close by to wheel besides this "never going to happen park"

yeah cj7 we have alot of places down here (not as many as we used to ) that are good places like eatna and windrock if you get down to the aera let me know and i can direct you in the direction of some good wheelin. but this place dosent look like its going to happen any time soon if ever

I am considering moving from NY to the Knoxville area. This would definitly go in the 'pros' column.

so would windrock

From Hendersonville N.C. Build the park we will come. What is the latest update on the park?

Updates... Is this goina happen

wners put up cables and land is for sale now. they backed out.

Are you kidding me? Everyone here was willing to help and they chicken out.

what a waste I would have come loaded down with a skid loader and tools

there a link or anything to where the property is for sale and how much and wat not.....just curious

Now some real 4x4 luving people can buy this land and open the park and all of us will help them make it and be very popular and make money.

Someone buy it and let us know when we can do work weekends!!!!! :D

I'd be willing to help a bring a few guys down from ky...

so...since this deal fell through also I'll share a similar story....three guys from out of state owns 800 plus acres of billy goat bluff and worthless land for anything except ridin around here and told me to get some of my ridin buddies and do with it what we want....."cut all the trails in you want, use my dozzer and equipment all you want !" So, we bust our asses tryin to get the trails cut in and cleaned up since no one has been on any of the trails for 30+ yrs. Since the 70's most of this place has been un-touched by anything other than animals except for the oil well service roads being cleared for weekly travel. We had even discussed doing the bathrooms and storage buildings, concrete pad w/roof ect...with our own money !! We even told them that they could make several dollars $$$ in pocket by letting us charge a yearly or weekly fee for this...Things were looking awsome. Ravines, mud, rocks, big hills and for the Tim Cammerons and Wes Keens - straight up ballz to the wall bad ass hills! Then all of a sudden they decide they don't want us there anymore and changed the locks on the gate and have yet to give a good reason? We have offered signed legal documents to waive any liability they think they would run into ect... No luck yet and it has been a while since I have even had communication ??? This seems to be the story everywhere.