An 'amazing' resource: Local leaders support growth of off-road riding industry in Schuylkill County

Feb. 23—From one end of Schuylkill County to the other, they are everywhere: all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and utility-terrain vehicles, either hitched to the back of a pickup truck or on a trailer, en route to an off-highway vehicle park.

Over the years, off-road riding facilities across the country have become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, many of whom, according to experts, spend several hours during each visit exploring the expansive trail networks.

In Schuylkill and Northumberland counties, community and business leaders have seen the impact of the off-road riding industry on the region, which they believe has potential to become a "hub" for riding across the country.

As riders from across the country visit the parks, communities can take advantage of their presence, promote businesses and invite the riders in as a way to boost the economy, said Minersville Mayor Sean Palmer, who has worked with Famous Reading Outdoors to do just that.

"I think that a lot of these municipalities are going to find that not only is it going to help these boroughs financially, but it's going to cut down on a lot of illegal riding and things of that nature," Palmer said.

Those topics were discussed at the Republican Herald's 17th annual Economic Roundtable, conducted by Zoom on Jan. 31. Participants included Palmer; the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Nathan Reigner, director of outdoor recreation, and Jake Newton, executive energy project coordinator; Andrew McNulty, operations manager of Famous Reading Outdoors; Rob Feldman, general manager of Rausch Creek Powersports; Kyle Knosp, former operator of Paragon Adventure Park and current operator of Badlands Off Road Park in Attica, Indiana; Regina Gargano, executive director of Explore Schuylkill; Gary Perna, Kline Twp. supervisor; and state Reps. Jamie Barton, R-124, East Brunswick Twp., Joanne Stehr, R-107, Hegins, Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp. and Dane Watro, R-116, Kline Twp.

Off-highway parks

In Schuylkill and Northumberland counties, one common thread ties the formation of the region's three major off-roading parks: a concerted effort to stop would-be vandals and thieves, and to eliminate illegal riding.

McNulty said that was what led to the formation of his park in 2006, when the Reading Anthracite Co. began taking active measures to protect its property.

Initially catered toward hunters, the program now known as Famous Reading Outdoors began its focus on riding in 2017, when late owner Brian Rich Jr. saw an opportunity to convert the 20,000-acre property — which included 650 miles of trails — into a dedicated off-road riding facility.

About two years ago, McNulty said, FRO had about 8,000 members. Today, it has 11,000.

Rausch Creek Powersports, headquartered in Valley View, consists of two facilities: Rausch Creek Trail Riders, which accommodates dirt bikes, ATVs and UTVs; and Rausch Creek Off-Road Park, more commonly known as the "Jeep" park.

Feldman said the park, like FRO, formed from efforts to bolster security in the area.

Ridership at the Rausch Creek parks focuses on seasonal memberships; although Feldman does not know the number of riders who visit the park per year, he estimates at least 2,000.

Meanwhile, the DCNR is developing a new motorized recreation park, called the Catawissa Recreation Area, which will encompass 5,600 acres of land in the Weiser State Forest District in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties.

The facility will be located at the site of the former Paragon Adventure Park, which was owned by Kyle Knosp, the current operator of Badlands Off-Road Park in Attica, Indiana.

Newton said that DCNR is unsure when the park will open as there are still "significant access and infrastructure issues that we have to resolve first," but said the initial infrastructural work will begin later this year.

He added that the Catawissa Recreation Area represents a "new concept" for DCNR, with the agency taking over an already established recreational area and focusing solely on OHVs.

"We haven't taken on any projects like this before, or any types of management structures that are already in place like this," Newton said.

Another park, the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, near Shamokin, has also gained a reputation as a top off-roading destination over the years. It is located on 8,000 acres of abandoned coal mining land. Like the facilities in Schuylkill County, AOAA has a similar backstory: In 2013, the Northumberland County Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Authority was formed to address the issue of illegal riders on the county-owned forest and coal lands.

A growing industry

Many roundtable participants remarked on the growing popularity of the off-highway vehicle industry, particularly in Schuylkill County, where the topography, terrain and history combine to form an ideal setting for the activity.

Reigner said there are numerous benefits to outdoor recreation that are especially important to the off-highway vehicle parks in the region.

He noted that outdoor recreation "doesn't just happen in the woods or out on the river, but it connects us," adding that when done right, it improves the quality of life in communities and makes them economically competitive.

"It brings those experiences in the field together with experiences in towns," Reigner said. "And it is a pathway toward economic development and community vitality."

He cited outdoor recreation, cultural services, downtown areas and preserved heritage as among those characteristics that can contribute to a "high quality of life" and attract new residents and businesses.

"The power of motorized recreation that we see, particularly in this part of the state, is the way that it can connect visitors into towns, that it can give residents in those towns opportunities to recreate after work, in the evenings and on the weekends," Reigner said. "I think part of what you sense in our enthusiasm for the Catawissa Recreation Area is the opportunity to merge our resource management mission with our mission related to community prosperity and the well-being of Pennsylvania."

McNulty said although most FRO members are from Pennsylvania, many come from New Jersey, Maryland and New York, including city residents who hear about the facility through word of mouth.

Knosp said the location of the parks in the anthracite coal region makes them particularly well-equipped for use as motorized recreation facilities.

"Your topography and terrain is some of the best in the United States for what you guys are trying to do," he said, adding that outdoor recreation is a "phenomenal" second use for the properties.

Knosp said the parks in Schuylkill and Northumberland counties boast a wide selection of trails that vary in difficulty, type and terrain, which makes the region appealing to all kinds of riders.

That variety, combined with the history of the anthracite coal mining region, makes for an "amazing" resource for visitors, he said.

"You guys have the ability to capture literally the entire off-road audience," Knosp said.

Knosp added that the success of an off-roading venture often depends on how readily it is "embraced" by the surrounding community. If communities work together to support the venture in various ways, including through tourism, its impact on the area can be "massive," Knosp said.

Community involvement

Some municipalities in the region have worked with nearby OHV parks to accommodate riders into the community.

In 2021, Minersville Mayor Sean Palmer followed an example set by an earlier initiative in Shamokin. During one weekend that October, the borough invited hundreds of ATV, dirt bike and UTV riders onto its streets for the inaugural Famous Reading Outdoors Minersville Revitalization Benefit Ride.

After the first part of the ride, which ended at the Minersville soccer field, riders were invited onto the borough's streets, where many stopped at eateries, markets, pubs and convenience stores.

Throughout the event, riders donated more than $10,000 in proceeds, which were later used for revitalization efforts in the borough.

Palmer said the event was extremely successful, noting that there were more pedestrians in the business district than he had seen in the past 20 years.

In September, the borough approved an ordinance that allows people to ride ATVs on the streets at set hours, and Palmer wants to expand to a "full-time" schedule soon.

While Palmer understands the concerns associated with off-highway vehicles, he said that welcoming OHV riders can help develop the region as an off-road tourism destination and help revive local businesses.

"These smaller towns in Schuylkill County — Minersville, Saint Clair, Ashland — they are in really great locations to really flourish and benefit from the off-road tourism," Palmer said.

He noted Minersville's proximity to Famous Reading Outdoors property lends itself well to the off-roading venture, and vice versa.

Twardzik echoed Palmer's comments, noting that off-roading is a "great way to grow our economy."

He mentioned that some realtors in the area are selling properties to people who are looking for a long-term residence or a garage to store their OHVs.

"Down the road, some of our small towns will make very nice garages, good security and keep these vehicles in there," Twardzik said. "Instead of their Pocono adventure home, they will have their home outside Ashland or in Saint Clair to store their vehicles and continue to come into the communities and have fun."

Stehr, whose district encompasses parts of Northumberland County and western Schuylkill County, said she has seen the positive effects of AOAA on business in her area. Riders patronize area businesses, she said, such as restaurants, car washes and bed-and-breakfasts, while supporting and giving back to fire and ambulance services.

Barton praised the "sustainability" of the off-highway park business model, noting that most riders in the area visit the parks several times each year.

He mentioned two families — one from New Jersey, another from Maryland — who had met at FRO and bonded over their trips together, and he notes that such examples are a testament to the "withstanding" relationships produced by off-roading.

Community concerns

Perna, a member of the Kline Twp. board of supervisors, said residents have expressed concern over the proposed Catawissa Recreation Area, which will be partly located on township property.

Perna said the township wants to ensure the protection of its waterways and properties and to ensure there is no damage "that could potentially lead to issues with some of our property and our resources."

"Anything that would bring in revenue is always going to be good for any municipal leader or state leader," Perna said. "But we want to make sure that it's done in a fashion that's not going to harm the current folks and current properties that surround it."

He said many property owners have voiced concerns about off-road vehicles at previous supervisors meetings, particularly regarding riders who trespassed or damaged parts of their property.

Perna also said the recreation area will likely "put a little bit of a hurt on our emergency services personnel."

"It will also probably increase call volume for our police departments," he said. "And some of us don't have 24-hour police protection, so that will also reflect back onto the Pennsylvania State Police."

Watro, a Kline Twp. resident, said he understands Perna's concerns. A rider himself, Watro said the recreation area poses a concern for many groups, including hunters, who want to know how their activities would be affected by the installation of the new facility.

He said that while the city of Hazleton has had problems with illegal riding in the past, recent efforts by the Hazleton Police Department have "really cleaned that up" and curbed the issue.

McNulty said that, as a park operator, "you have to do your due diligence as well" and that FRO members are reminded not to leave the property boundaries when riding.

He added that the park has a good working relationship with local EMS providers, and actively donates UTVs to agencies, such as the Saint Clair Police Department, as a way to give back to the community.

Feldman said Rausch Creek is also on good terms with EMS, stating that the company is "adamant about the community relations." The company's recent initiatives included a benefit lunch for Sacramento, Hegins Valley Fire Rescue and Joliet fire companies, which drew riders from across the region.

'Slam-dunk' operation

Asked what advice he would give to DCNR for its new recreation area, Knosp cited the success of his previous off-roading park, Paragon. Knosp said Catawissa has the potential to be "a slam-dunk operation" due to its favorable location and terrain.

He said Paragon was very successful, noting that restaurants and hotels in the area were often packed on days with high ridership.

He added that resident concerns regarding illegal riding and trespassing were remedied over time as the park became more popular and more established in the area.

Knosp said that having a wide selection of off-road parks in the region will benefit communities, and he compared it to choosing from a group of restaurants.

"Each park is going to be different also," Knosp said. "It's how you manage it, it's how you run it, it's the clientele you're looking for, the structures that you provide, the atmospheres, all the amenities. You're going to be able to produce the type of customer base or clientele that you want."

He said the proximity of nearby businesses, along with interstates 80 and 81, is a major advantage for parks in the anthracite coal region.

"That particular park, the gravel, the type of terrain is very conducive to this type of use," he said. "So it's just excellent."

Reigner said that in planning for the undertaking, DCNR has taken into consideration the "desirability" of the park connections to communities, as well as how the trail networks would influence the surrounding towns, emergency responders and neighbor relations.

He noted that off-highway vehicle parks have become a big part of Pennsylvania's revenue. Outdoor recreation contributes about $14 billion, or 1.6%, of Pennsylvania's GDP every year, which he said is greater than the contribution of mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction combined.

About $300 million of that $14 billion comes from ATV and off-highway motorcycle use, not including the associated travel and tourism costs, Reigner said.

"I think all of that speaks to the benefits of a holistic approach to planning and managing these sorts of things," Reigner said.

Newton also weighed in on the phenomenon: With about 275,000 active ATV registrations statewide, he said, off-roading is an industry on the upswing. According to DCNR studies, he said, riders visit parks up to 10 times each year, usually spending about four to eight hours with groups of three or more people.

He said DCNR is working on the "natural resources" aspect of the project, which includes collaborating with the state Department of Environmental Protection for acid mine reclamation and cleanup on the property, along with a treatment facility for Catawissa Creek.

"As Kyle said, this is kind of a slam-dunk type of situation for us," Newton said. "There was already infrastructure and things that already existed there. There was already the whole site. ... but also, all these new opportunities that we're stepping into that kind of combine the different management structures that we've had throughout DCNR, both on the recreation side of things and the conservation side of things."

Tourism

One benefit of the parks in the anthracite coal region, according to roundtable participants, is their combination of terrain, history and heritage, which is unique to off-roading destinations across the country.

Because of this uniqueness, Feldman said, the parks do not directly compete against other off-roading destinations in the Mid-Atlantic, and can keep developing these qualities to their advantage.

Gargano compared the region to the Poconos, which, over the years, has gained a reputation as an outdoor recreation destination, particularly for skiing in the winter.

She noted the Poconos was not always a ski hub, however, and that it took a concerted effort between communities to build and promote it as one.

Likewise, Gargano said, the anthracite coal region could become the "Poconos" of off-road riding if communities work together to develop the industry.

"If this were done right ... and if there was a lot of communication, we could take this whole region and be a premier destination on the Eastern Seaboard," she said.

To do that, communities would need to "sit down together and come up with a plan," which would likely involve a lot of communication and compromise, Gargano said.

It will also be important, she said, to consult other riding destinations across the country and have the correct data and facts on off-roading.

She noted that a project of this scale is "very long-term" and that it took the Poconos decades to achieve its status as a skiing hub.

"This would have to have a huge project plan with many areas to develop," Gargano said. "The list for development areas is huge, but also affords great potential for new businesses, economic growth, job diversity. It is a very big project, but obviously is doable since other communities have banded together, embraced their natural landscape resources and natural strengths, and managed to do it."

Working toward that goal, she added, would help "feed the economy and the towns" and contribute to job growth in the region.

"You're also going to see a lot of job diversity, which is something you don't always see a lot in Schuylkill County," she said.

Due to the region's anthracite coal mining history, Gargano believes there are several ways to incorporate its lore and heritage into the attractions as a further draw to tourism.

She proposed installing historical markers or signage on the off-roading properties as a way of showcasing the rich history interwoven with the land.

"I love that our coal mining is put into our off-roading," Gargano said. "I think that's special. I think the more history that can be incorporated in that, the more entertaining the off-roading is, personally."

Knosp agreed with Gargano's statements, noting that the historical aspect provides another dimension to off-roading in the region. That, along with the variety of trails, terrain and riding opportunities, he said, makes the region appealing to riders of all interests and skill levels.

In comparison, he said, some OHV destinations, such as the Hatfield-McCoy Trails in West Virginia, focus on the "easy tourism" side of things and do not have as much to offer.

Knosp, who calls himself an "extreme" riding enthusiast, encouraged community leaders to take advantage of the region's unique offerings and lead the charge in developing it as a riding hub.

"Living there and now moving away, sometimes you forget what's in your backyard," Knosp said. "You guys have an amazing resource there."

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085