Off-Road Park Near Brainerd, Minnesota?

The "A" pin is Brainerd, Minn.

If Gordy Hardy can get a few questions answered and hammer out the specifics, Minnesota may get another off-road park (specifically designed for dirt bikes and ATVs). Hardy, a powersports industry veteran and advocate, has been racing enduros for 30 years and currently is a sales representative for Marshall Distributing out of Cass City, Mich. His off-road career began in 1968 when he started selling suzuki motorcycles, acting as a replacement (substitute) dealer. The dealership soon grew and Moto Guzzi, Triumph and Ducati bikes were all added over a nine-year span (1971-1979). In 1978, Hardy also joined Bell Industries and worked there for 25 years. His last eight have been with Marshall.

I ran into Hardy at the local corn and pork chop feed here at the fire department in Alexandria, Minn. One thing this part of northwest Minnesota is missing is OHV riding areas. Hardy says his family and friends currently ride on 90 acres of private property outside of Brainerd, Minn. It’s made up of tight, twisting trails and currently consists of seven miles of trails. He said the amount and type of trails could change if they choose to convert the riding area to an OHV park and open it to public use. He also stated that there’s another 320-acres near Leader, Minn., (owned by his father-in-law) that could potentially be used as the park.

Hardy has to speak in a “what-if” tone because right now they are only in the “talking about it stage,” as he says. “The major concern is the liability issue,” he said. “It’s something you have to be aware of. While you’d like to provide a place to go riding, we also have to protect ourselves. There are too many lawyers out there.”

Hardy is a walking encyclopedia of off-road information and has many contacts that should help him take the next logical step (decision), provided that’s the direction his family wants to go. One area where he’s not well versed is opening an OHV park and the tricky area of liability insurance. Part of the reason why he spoke with me was to share his idea of an off-road park and to gauge the public’s interest for such a place. And, most importantly, establish more contacts who have experience opening and insuring an OHV park.

If you’re experience with opening, operating and insuring an OHV park (private/public/or even partially leased from the state), share your thoughts here.

Hatfield-McCoy Trails: Wayne County Update

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails has announced that its officials have recently met with the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers to discuss a new trail system. The U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers controls the East Lynn Dam Area in Wayne County, W.Va.

East Lynn Lake Area

Now, the trail system need to write a formal proposal, which includes both trail routes and trailhead sites. Once this is complete, Hatfield-McCoy with set the license agreements in place and begin construction.

For more info visit, TrailsHeaven.com or read the HMT blog