It's TrailFest Time!

Along with beautiful fall foliage, crisp air, and sparkling streams, October brings thousands of off-road riding enthusiasts back to southern West Virginia for TrailFest.

From October 8-12, 2009, Hatfield-McCoy Trails is proud to host the premium off-road event of the year which includes riding the safest and largest trail system on the East Coast. Factory demo rides, manufacturer and equipment expos, mud bogging, drag racing, poker runs, kids’ track, entertainment and special guests – not to mention thousands of dollars in give-aways – are all part of the fun for the whole family. Saturday evening includes a new event this year with Fisher’s ATV World “Mud Run for Prizes” and a fireworks show in the town of Gilbert.

As in previous years, the Larry Joe Harless Community Center will serve as the event headquarters for the weekend, and campsites throughout the area are expected to be at capacity. “The whole event has really developed a reunion-like atmosphere,” said Jeffrey Lusk, executive director of the Hatfield-McCoy Recreational Trail Authority. “Our new online-community of riders has a large number of folks that identify themselves as ‘family adventurers’ or people who just like to ‘hang with friends.’” The Trails marketing director Mike Pinkerton agrees. “I think a lot of people who meet in person this year are going to feel like they already know each other, thanks to the online community.”

A 2006 economic impact study estimated the Hatfield-McCoy Trails added 146 new jobs to southern West Virginia’s economy, as well as $2.7 million in income and $7.7 million in output. Lusk says updated numbers would certainly show continued growth, as money is spent by a growing number of visitors each year in restaurants, at gas stations, and on equipment rentals and repairs. “TrailFest started in Logan in back in 2000 and then moved to Gilbert the following year. Attendance at TrailFest has grown steadily to nearly10 times that of the original event,” he said.

Hatfield-McCoy Trails made a special push this summer to open new single track trails for dirt biking; the miles of single track trails on Buffalo Mountain have increased from 4 to 17 – Buffalo now has more miles of single track than any other Hatfield-McCoy trail, representing almost 40% of all of its single track trails on all six systems combined.

“We have something for everyone,” said Pinkerton “TrailFest 2009 is revving up to be incredible fun.” Register online at www.trailsheaven.com, or call 1-800-592-2217.

Are You Single and Looking? Try Buffalo Mountain!

If you're into dirt biking, then we have some great news for you! We've significantly expanded the amount of single track trails on the Buffalo Mountain System, making a whole new section of Southern West Virginia scenery and challenges available to you.

We’ve increased the miles of single track trails on Buffalo Mountain from 4 to 17 – Buffalo now has more miles of single track than any other Hatfield-McCoy trail, representing almost 40% of all of our single track trails on all six systems combined.

Our field crew was sweating away all summer, hanging off the side of mountains, and using everything from pick axes to gas-powered jackhammers to get the work done, so be sure to give a tip o' the helmet in appreciation when you see them on the trail!

The Town of Gilbert Misses You

The Town of Gilbert is still here... So where the heck are YOU?

The chances are good that this picture looks a lot like the last pictures you saw of Gilbert, West Virginia. With streets flooded, businesses trashed, and lives ruined, the town's residents barely had anywhere for themselves to stay, much less have room for visitors.

One thing about West Virginians that everyone knows, however, is that they do not give up easily! As far as the Town of Gilbert is concerned, the water is gone, the mud is cleaned up, and the businesses are back. The only thing missing now is YOU.

Gilbert is a premiere example of what the Hatfield-McCoy Trails can do, but it’s been seeing a lot fewer ATVs roaming the streets since the floods on May 9 damaged businesses and homes throughout the town.

Well, the ol’ McBlog is here to let you know that Gilbert is back and better than ever. All of the trails accessible from Gilbert are up and running, and the town is back with more lodging and food offerings than ever before......perfect timing, with Trailfest coming up in a month!

See you on the trails!

1,000th User Signs Up For Trailsheaven Online Community

Congratulations to Craig Fox of Somonauk, IL, for being the 1,000th person to sign up for the new Hatfield-McCoy Trails Online Community. For being the lucky user, Craig and a lucky buddy got some free trail permits and a merchandise prize package. Thanks to Craig and the other 999 of you social networkers out there for making riders.trailsheaven.com so successful.

Book Your Spot for Trailfest '09

If you haven't done it yet, now is the time to make your plans for Trail Fest 2009.

Taking place October 8-12 at the Larry Joe Harless Center in Gilbert, WV, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails showcase event is back for a ninth year. With more than 1,500 guests showing up for the 2008 edition and even more expected this year, plan on campsites going fast.

Trail Fest '09 features ATV drag racing, poker runs, mud bogs, casino night, demo rides from some of Hatfield-McCoy's corporate sponsors, thousands of dollars in giveaway prizes, and of course, the best off-road trails in America. Packages start at just $20.

Check out the Trail Fest event site and Hatfield-McBlog regularly, because we have more details to come soon!

We've Updated Our Website!

Well, not the Ol' McBlog, per se, but the mothership got a nice new face lift recently. Be sure to check it out! Stand by for the official blurb from headquarters:

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System has launched a redesigned website that incorporates the latest in social networking, helping extend the system’s passionate community from the trails to the Internet.

Not only does the site provide information and help visitors plan their trips, it also allows them to share videos and photos of those trips and Share Your Adventure encourages them to write about their experiences.

“There’s no substitute for riding the trails, but this upgraded and revamped website allows our visitors to relive the fun they had while here, and share it with others, as well as share in what other riders are doing,” said Executive Director Jeffrey T. Lusk.

“Plus, if you haven’t been yet, you can get a taste of what you’re going to experience once you get here,” Lusk said.

In addition to connecting fans to the Hatfield McBlog, social media tools include links to dedicated sites on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

Meet the Riders is the entry point to a online community that, among other things, helps connect enthusiasts who live near each other, making it possible for them to get acquainted with their neighbors and strengthen the Hatfield-McCoy community outside of West Virginia.

There’s also a comprehensive trip planning tool including package offerings, local accommodations and electronic permit application.

Although only recently active, the site has already built a dedicated online community of almost 800 members representing 32 states, including California and Alaska, as well as Canada.

The site also keeps fans up-to-date with the latest news about the trails and highlights of past and future events such as Dirt Days and Trail Fest.

The Trail Shop is a place where fans can purchase the latest in Hatfield-McCoy gear.

The site redesign is just one part of an expanded marketing effort by the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreational Authority to help generate more traffic on the trails and to benefit the vendors and communities where the trails are located.

Hatfield-McCoy to be Featured on the Outdoor Channel

An FYI to everyone out there in TV-Land:

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails are going to be featured on back to back programs on the Outdoor Channel on Monday, June 29th. On Dirt Trax TV at 8 p.m, they’ll be showing highlights of a celebrity ride with country music stars Michael Scott & Bucky Covington, and at 8:30, Fisher’s ATV World will be bringing you scenes from TrailFest 2008. Speaking of which, after you check out the show, it'd be a great time to register online for Trailfest ’09!