Offroad park

[AllGoNoShow]

I have seriously been thinking about opening up an offroad park on my ranch. I am just wondering if there is enough demand for an offroad park in this area (southwestern South Dakota). I have alot of different terrain. I have been clearing alot of areas also, with alot more to do. Some of you guys have seen some of the pics from me wheeling the 79 on my place. I have access to rocks the size of honda's to build a rock garden. I was also thinking about adding rocks in my dam runoffs to make them more difficult. I have the equipment to move and transport the rocks pretty much wherever I want them. I know I could build some courses/obstacles that buggies would have a very difficult time trying to pass. I could offer camping, firewood, and a shop to repair vehicles if needed. I also have heavy equipment for extractions/recovery. Do you guys think there would be enough demand for an offroad park with people willing to pay? I would have something for everyone in one area. Everything from stock 4X4 to buggies. I was thinking something like $25 per rig and driver per day. $10 per spectator/passenger per day. I could post some more pics of the wheeling areas if needed. I want to get some input before I go talk to my lawyer and what not for the legal issues involved with this. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome.

Here is a link to some wheeling pics on site...

http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...d.php?t=189037

[Loftis61]

How much land do you have available?

I suggest you PM DJ Gaston (he's more frequent on pavementsucks.com) as I know he's currently helping one of his friends open a park in northern Arkansas. He would be able to give you some insight as to the paperwork/insurance aspect of it if you needed a hand.

[AllGoNoShow]

Thanks for the advice. I have about 1400 acres right now but I am working on buying more as well as leasing more...

[ToxicToy]

It would be awesome to have an offroad park in each state of the U.S.

[Mach2_nh]

Originally Posted by ToxicToy

It would be awesome to have an offroad park in each state of the U.S.

No shit. But it gets hard to pull that off on the northeast.

[ExtremeCJ]

I would be interested and would travel from Montana to wheel. I have had some experience with Paragon off road park in PA that is no longer open. It was one of the best places i have ever been. It was a 7 hour drive for me when i was living in NY and the wheeling was great. They did not allow camping, which kept people in the local hotels and in the local restaurants. At 8:30am the gates opened and they would allow people in once they paid and watched a safety video and signed a waiver. once you watched the video and signed the waiver you got a key chain bar code thing(like a grocery store value card) you would never need to do it again. this place allowed groups to wheel by themselves and if a obstacle/trail was taken by one group nobody else would run the trail until it was clear. The park had trail guys driving around and helping or patrolling to watch for litter, abuse, etc and if you were drunk and stupid they would kick you out. There was no alcohol allowed in the park.... The gates were then closed at 6pm. it was run like a business and in my opinion it needs to be like that, if you allow camping on site you might have issues with keeping people off the trails after they have had some drinks. It is your land and people need to respect that.

Scott

[AllGoNoShow]

Originally Posted by ExtremeCJ

I would be interested and would travel from Montana to wheel. I have had some experience with Paragon off road park in PA that is no longer open. It was one of the best places i have ever been. It was a 7 hour drive for me when i was living in NY and the wheeling was great. They did not allow camping, which kept people in the local hotels and in the local restaurants. At 8:30am the gates opened and they would allow people in once they paid and watched a safety video and signed a waiver. once you watched the video and signed the waiver you got a key chain bar code thing(like a grocery store value card) you would never need to do it again. this place allowed groups to wheel by themselves and if a obstacle/trail was taken by one group nobody else would run the trail until it was clear. The park had trail guys driving around and helping or patrolling to watch for litter, abuse, etc and if you were drunk and stupid they would kick you out. There was no alcohol allowed in the park.... The gates were then closed at 6pm. it was run like a business and in my opinion it needs to be like that, if you allow camping on site you might have issues with keeping people off the trails after they have had some drinks. It is your land and people need to respect that.

Scott

Thanks for the good advice. I live right on the place where the park would be. I kind of figured people would be trying to go out on the trails after dark. I live right on the park so I could patrol it pretty well. The park would be 30 miles from any restaurant/motel so I figured I would need to offer camping. No alcohol allowed. I was thinking about putting on some events also and allowing spectators. Some bajas and TTC type events would be fun.

[Loftis61]

[QUOTE=AllGoNoShow;12731064]Thanks for the good advice. I live right on the place where the park would be. I kind of figured people would be trying to go out on the trails after dark. I live right on the park so I could patrol it pretty well. The park would be 30 miles from any restaurant/motel so I figured I would need to offer camping. No alcohol allowed. I was thinking about putting on some events also and allowing spectators. Some bajas and TTC type events would be fun.[/QUOTE]

I would be game pending how I do at the event July 17th here in Iowa and if my rig survives it.

[MiniKrawler]

I'd be game. I live in Rapid City. I know alot of guys from Colorado that have comp buggys that would be in also. Always looking for different types of wheeling. I think those prices are fair but would it include camping also? And by no alcohol i assume you mean on trails right? If you cant have a beer after a day of wheeling at the campsite that'd defer alot of people from coming i'm guessing.

Good luck, Hope it happens!

[AllGoNoShow]

Yea that would include camping for the night. It would be ok to drink at the campground but none on the trails.

[4x4adik]

You would get alot of Nebraska there, we have nowhere to wheel,

[AllGoNoShow]

I am actually thinking about putting on a few events before I open it up to a full on park to see if there is enough interest. 10 replies on the biggest offroad forum on the net is not enough to justify opening a full on park. I need some input to see if it is worth it or not. Would you guys be interested in some TTC type events?

[jeepman75]

With 1400+ acres you could build a pretty sweet off road park. I would suggest posting on club forums around you and in neighboring states to spread the word. With no public parks in Iowa and the only private ones all located in SE Iowa you could get people from NW Iowa interested.

If you do an event I can post up info on the IA4WDC board along with the Iowa club boards. I was talking to someone that runs in TTC/W.E.Rock events and said they are always looking for more places to hold events. I would think if you build it, they would come.

For a benchmark, how far is this area from Des Moines, IA?

[AllGoNoShow]

560 miles almost all interstate.

[insty]

I know everyone in SD is ready and waiting. We'll be there to help out as we can too.

[crzyxj]

Sounds like a good idea, I would be in since we are not too far away. Also get ahold of wildhare here on the board. They are even closer to your area

[4x4adik]

lots of good guys that love to wheel out in north western nebraska. you should oist this up on nebraska4x4.org who knows maybe some people will even come help build

[AllGoNoShow]

I have been wheeling/building/clearing trails every night when I have time. I am making good progress. I have been killing 4 birds with one stone. Clearing trails, building windbreaks, giving my cattle more grass to graze, and wheeling allin one!

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[hardcore-want-to-be]

that would to sweet

[89hilux4x4]

id be in for it..sounds like a sweet deal