I found this on pinkbike. Sound's cool!
How much is a good downhill park in the southeast worth to you? How far would you drive? Would you pay to use the park?
Here's what I've got to work with:
I have a some property an hour and a half east of Chattanooga, about 3 hours or 170 miles from Atlanta according to Google maps, that could potentially be turned into a bike park. There are approximately 1600 acres of land in a sort of half-bowl shape, with a ridgeline bordering one side going down into a valley and back up the other side of another mountain. 1000 ft of vertical to work with on one side, 800 ft on the other. The ridgeline and mountain link together at a low point around 300 ft from the base, where the only road passes through. There is also a cave on the property to explore.
Let's aim to keep options open and not limit possibilities, so the following stuff is a possibility but not necessarily feasible. I like to be imaginative though. Initial thought would be to have the larger ridgeline side be devoted to downhill, with a slopestyle, dual slalom, northshore/ladders and whatnot, fourcross areas also and possible jump park at the base. Which of those five (SS, DS, 4X, northshore, Jumps) are you interested in? If there's no interest, no need to waste space on it! The downhill has potential for trails over 1 or 2 miles long. The ridgeline would be accessed via shuttle truck, hike a bike/riding to the top, or chairlift (extremely unlikely). On the opposite side of the road and valley (mountainside) would be a more cross country/all mountain area with access to the top via a trail, and then various climbs, loops, and descents, very super D-ish for the most part, but with options to loop back up to higher points on other trails for those who like a climb.
All trails eventually run to the base in the valley, where parking and a lodge building with a cafe and a shop are. Camping will be available for those who wish, either in the valley or at a point on the top of the ridge for those who want to wake up and go downhill first thing. There are also multiple hotels between 10-20 miles away.
Now I think that is a pretty big operation to undertake and invest in, but would a more minimal park still be of interest if that much could not be accomplished? Same setup with downhill on the ridgeline side and xc on the mountain side, but access by trail only (push to the top to get back down) or only partial shuttle truck to 300-500 feet up from base on the ridgeline side, not covering the whole ridgeline. XC trails same, but downhill trails have no 4X, SS, DS, northshore or jump area. Parking and camping but no lodge/shop other than to buy trail access pass (would be cheaper obviously).
What is your opinion? Is it worth it to you? What would you change/add or what ideas do you think would be cool to implement? I want to gauge the level of interest in having a really good bike park in the southeast. I wish it was closer to a major city, but I can't change that. Would you be willing to help build the trails in return for free riding? Let me know! Also, please ask anybody you know that rides what they think and let me know, I would really like to get as much feedback as possible.
How much is a good downhill park in the southeast worth to you? How far would you drive? Would you pay to use the park?
Here's what I've got to work with:
I have a some property an hour and a half east of Chattanooga, about 3 hours or 170 miles from Atlanta according to Google maps, that could potentially be turned into a bike park. There are approximately 1600 acres of land in a sort of half-bowl shape, with a ridgeline bordering one side going down into a valley and back up the other side of another mountain. 1000 ft of vertical to work with on one side, 800 ft on the other. The ridgeline and mountain link together at a low point around 300 ft from the base, where the only road passes through. There is also a cave on the property to explore.
Let's aim to keep options open and not limit possibilities, so the following stuff is a possibility but not necessarily feasible. I like to be imaginative though. Initial thought would be to have the larger ridgeline side be devoted to downhill, with a slopestyle, dual slalom, northshore/ladders and whatnot, fourcross areas also and possible jump park at the base. Which of those five (SS, DS, 4X, northshore, Jumps) are you interested in? If there's no interest, no need to waste space on it! The downhill has potential for trails over 1 or 2 miles long. The ridgeline would be accessed via shuttle truck, hike a bike/riding to the top, or chairlift (extremely unlikely). On the opposite side of the road and valley (mountainside) would be a more cross country/all mountain area with access to the top via a trail, and then various climbs, loops, and descents, very super D-ish for the most part, but with options to loop back up to higher points on other trails for those who like a climb.
All trails eventually run to the base in the valley, where parking and a lodge building with a cafe and a shop are. Camping will be available for those who wish, either in the valley or at a point on the top of the ridge for those who want to wake up and go downhill first thing. There are also multiple hotels between 10-20 miles away.
Now I think that is a pretty big operation to undertake and invest in, but would a more minimal park still be of interest if that much could not be accomplished? Same setup with downhill on the ridgeline side and xc on the mountain side, but access by trail only (push to the top to get back down) or only partial shuttle truck to 300-500 feet up from base on the ridgeline side, not covering the whole ridgeline. XC trails same, but downhill trails have no 4X, SS, DS, northshore or jump area. Parking and camping but no lodge/shop other than to buy trail access pass (would be cheaper obviously).
What is your opinion? Is it worth it to you? What would you change/add or what ideas do you think would be cool to implement? I want to gauge the level of interest in having a really good bike park in the southeast. I wish it was closer to a major city, but I can't change that. Would you be willing to help build the trails in return for free riding? Let me know! Also, please ask anybody you know that rides what they think and let me know, I would really like to get as much feedback as possible.