Adventure of the Week
[The] Park is open 2-8 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1.
Where: Breakaway Village, at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Madison County.
Cost: Day pass is $24, not including bike or gear rental. Season passes are $179.
Highlights: Billed as the only mountain bike park at a ski resort in the Southeast, 26 West Mountain Bike Park officially unveils its 30 acres of downhill biking terrain, after a couple of months testing a “soft” opening, said owner/general manager Ryan Taylor.
Part of the bike park is on the ski slopes, while part is in the woods.
“The big difference between a bike park and a ski slope is skiers are limited to where they can clear the trees,” said Taylor, a professional downhill racer. “Mountain bikers happily welcome the trees.”
But the park is all about safety, Taylor said, and offers a safe environment for families as well as pro riders to practice their downhill skills. Emergency medical technicians are part of the bike park staff. Bikes, helmets and other gear are available for rental, and Taylor said once the park is up and running, he will offer clinics, camps and a venue for races.
One of the best features of the new park, he said, is the lift-assisted trail system.
“People can enjoy the chairlift up and their bikes get transported up by truck and trailer,” Taylor said. “You don’t have to worry about climbing up hills all day. It’s all about having fun.”
What to bring: Helmets are mandatory in the park. Also bring gloves, long pants, long sleeve shirt, arm and leg armor and running or bike specific shoes.
Directions: The park is 25 miles north of Asheville. Take Interstate 26 west to Exit 3. Turn right onto Bear Branch Road, then turn right at the stop sign onto U.S. 23. Take the first left onto Laurel Valley Road. Take first left onto Puncheon Fork Road. Go 3.5 miles and turn right onto Wolf Ridge Road at the Breakaway sign.
Information: Call Taylor at 553-5856 or visit www.26westmountainbikepark.com.
Pretty cool. Maybe this is something Carolina Mornings can add to our Mountain Discovery Pass - we currently offer free passes, for each day of your stay, to golf at Reems Creek Golf club, Asheville Historic Trolley Tour, whitewater rafting, and more... with plans for more to come! We started this amenity pass in April, and it is going strong. Every reservation with Carolina Mornings gets the Asheville Mountain Discovery Pass, free of charge. We love being able to offer this pass - the first of it's kind in Asheville & Western North Carolina!
Feedback is always appreciated, use this blog to provide us with comments about our offers or your stay! Thanks!
2 comments:
I didn't know about this opportunity; what a great activity and a wonderful way to celebrate the beauty of nature around you as you ride along.
isn't it cool? between this and the indoor ski slopes, i can't imagine what they'll think of next!!
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