Off road park?

[HeadDamage]

What do you guys think of this? Worth getting in on?

http://www.can4x4.com/offroadpark.htm

Western Canadian Off-Road Park Concept
From Albert Vandervelde:

In the last few issues of 4WD I have brought up the concept of a privately owned off-road area somewhere in south central BC. This concept is not a new one. There are several private landowners in Ontario that are allowing events like the Jeep Jamboree to build and maintain trails on the land. There is also the Safari Park in Edmonton where Lee Shonart does guided trail rides and four wheeling events and training on a 160-acre property.

In the USA there are private off-road areas all over the country. Some you may know such as Rubicon Springs – saved by Mark Smith and a group of off-roaders. This area was kept open by purchasing the Rubicon Springs from a logging company. Paragon Adventure Park is a popular area on the East coast. Area BFE that was once Upper Helldorado in Moab. It was purchased by BFE films and is maintained as a free wheeling area and also hosts events of all kinds. There is also Superlifts off-road park and the list goes on.

Some of these areas are private business ventures – others are four wheelers trying to keep trails open. There is a fight going on right now about access to Panamint City and the Surprise Canyon trail. Four wheelers have bought areas around Panamint City and are now asking for road access up the old Surprise Canyon Jeep trail. This trail was closed by environmentalists for some reason or another.

In many area’s we are blessed with open access of a sort. If logging has taken place we can access the area on existing roads – but on Federally owned Crown Land we cannot legally cut new trails. This is getting difficult for Hunters as well who shoot animals during the season and can’t create access ways to the animal in question.

There have also been major closures on Vancouver Island, the destruction of the road way to Little White in Kelowna – the re vamping of the Ghost Area Management plan in Waparious which has essentially cut these areas off to off-road use. The Jeep Jamborees held each year in Rocky Mountain House also had to bend to pressure from Forestry and no longer takes place.

Unfortunately in Canada environmentalist rule over any multiple use and off-road areas will not be created by government. In the USA they were fortunate enough to have many of the off-road areas created long before vehicle use off-road became such a target – yet they still fight to keep traditional area’s open.


Ok so what can we do about it? Buy our own piece.
The concept of privately purchased off-road parks is not new as I mentioned. However it seems everyone else is waiting for someone else to do it. In a world of ever-escalating property values it only gets harder as time goes by. Plus to make a profitable business out of such a venture would be difficult.

I am not promoting a business venture per-say but a large land mass purchased by a group of four wheelers for use by four wheelers.

I have talked to a lot of people about how much land is needed for an “off-road parkâ€

[DaveB]

Hmmm, the Blair Ranch in Armstrong might be a good spot...

Dave

[Whistler110]

I think it is a good idea. With the demand for land use by various outdoor groups increasing the 4x4er's will be the first to lose out in most cases.

Plus, you could build some pretty cool stuff that you wouldn't find out on the trails. I work in a Mountain Bike Park and it's great being able to build what you want when you want without having to deal with the delays or arguments of other interest groups each time.

[ANDYD]

Hey great idea, this has a lot of good concepts!

Better to grab a chunk before it all becomes too expensive or becomes off limits to our user group!

And..... way more fun than RSP's..... :D (investment or expense) Land prices only go one way...up...up..up

PS..Can I be park ranger :wink:

[nakedbarra]

Would you get a gun Andy?