Children ride on the new Thickets mountain bike pump track at Brad Ragan Park on Saturday, May 22 during a special grand opening ceremony for the track. The track is part of the Town of Spruce Pine and Mitchell County Chamber’s continued efforts to expand outdoor recreation in the area. (Submitted)
SPRUCE PINE — The Mitchell County Chamber and Town of Spruce Pine’s efforts to expand outdoor recreation in the area yielded tangible fruits Saturday, May 22 as the new mountain bike pump track at Brad Ragan Park officially opened with a special grand opening ceremony.
The Town of Spruce Pine held the grand opening for the track, which is an endless loop of rollers and berms in which riders propel themselves through the track by shifting their body weight as the track banks, rather than having to pedal.
The Chamber has recently worked with the Appalachian Regional Commission to develop an outdoor recreation strategy plan for Mitchell County.
This past fall, the formation of a new task force for outdoor recreation became a reality and that task force helped continue to drive the local strategic plan.
Tim Kearns, a task force member, has remained focused on mountain biking and was instrumental in steering focus toward a local pump track.
Support from the Spruce Pine Town council and donations and volunteer hours from Tim Kearns, Chris Boone, TJ Kearns and others helped make the track a reality.
“This project will be the first announced since the task force began and we are thankful for the commitment of task force member Tim Kearns towards this project,” said Chamber Executive Director Patti Jensen. “He was the driving force and energy behind its success.”
The track, which is called The Thickets, sits near picnic shelter no. 3 in the park.
About 50 people turned out on a sunny morning on Saturday, May 22 to celebrate the opening of The Thickets, which is the first mountain bike asset in Mitchell County. The grand opening event started at 11 a.m. and ran through 1 p.m.
Interested riders brought their bikes and helmets and attendees met southeast trail builder TJ Kearns, record-breaking cyclist Chris Boone, international cyclist Marc Poland and others.
The grand opening celebration also had an official ribbon cutting and demonstration rides by guest cyclists.
The grand opening celebration featured an appearance from Growing Outdoors Partnership of Asheville with a new Made X Mountains display promoting outdoor recreation in Western North Carolina. Mitchell County is part of Growing Outdoors Partnership.
Sponsors of the track include the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce and Town of Spruce Pine and signage sponsors include the Dogwood Health Trust, NW Mountain Bike Alliance as well as the Town and Chamber.
The track will be utilized for recreational and skill development and is open to all ages and skill levels. There is no cost to use the track.
“We are also grateful to the Town of Spruce Pine for their support of the project and their interest in not only building new assets in the Town but also their interest in making improvements to current park facilities,” Jensen said.
The county’s outdoor recreation strategic plan is expected to be announced soon. The local task force, in connection with the ARC, hopes to develop the plan in June to have it ready to present and work on.
To submit feedback about outdoor recreation in the county, email pjensen@mitchellcountychamber.org or kyle.case@nccommerce.com.
Spruce Pine Town Manager Darlene Butler touted the track and added that the addition of the track is only the beginning of improvements she hopes will soon be at Brad Ragan to improve recreation opportunities in the area.
“We hope the momentum of the completion of The Thickets pump track continues with proposed upgrades to Brad Ragan Park, including the construction of a mountain bike and hiking trail,” Butler said.