News

Oskar Blues ready to launch BMX park

Crews are moving dirt to make jumps at Shoals Falls Farm for a Red Bull BMX tournament in October.

By Bill Moss, Published: July 17, 2014

A bicycle riding camp started by Oskar Blues founder and mountain biking enthusiast Dale Katechis plans to host a big BMX race featuring some of the most challenging jumps in mountain bike racing and drawing thousands of fans.

Henderson County regulators on Tuesday recommended approval of the site plan for the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch, a bicycle riding camp that will host riders from across the country.
After the Red Bull BMX tournament on Oct. 10-11, Katechis plans to develop the farm into a fulltime bicycle destination. Eva Surls and Cashion Smith are running the camp. Katechis bought the 145-acre Shoals Falls Farm on Crab Creek Road near the Transylvania County line in March for $3 million, Henderson County land records show.
The 145-acre farm will serve bicycle riders "as an epic beer and bike-fueled destination," Oskar Blue says.
Anne-Fitten Glenn, a Brevard-based marketing manager for Oskar Blues, said the owner is applying for a permit to serve beer.
"All signs point to that being able to happen," she said. The camp wants to offer overnight stays for biking and jumping and guided bike rides through the adjoining DuPont State Forest. "We're trying to make it a bike destination," she said.

"The REEB Ranch/Bike Farm team envisions creating a world-class biking destination for the whole family at the site, which will offer a bike park and direct trail access to Dupont's miles of single track," Oskar Blues says. "Cycling has always been a huge part of Oskar Blues' culture and was a huge reason that founder Dale Katechis chose Western North Carolina as the home for a second brewery."
Not everyone is enthusiastic about the development.
"I'm just dismayed and disheartened by what's going on," said Donna Knott, who lives in the area. "I think a lot people don't have a clue what's going on. ... They may be completely within their rights to do exactly what they're doing but it's just really sad that it's happening. As long as Henderson County says grace over it, that's fine. But I think people have no idea what's going on."
The county's Technical Review Committee, made up of planners, health regulators, code enforcement officials and the DOT, on Tuesday recommended approval of the use of the property as a camp.

Shoal Falls Farm on Crab Creek Road at DuPont Road is expected to attract several thousand BMX fans for the Red Bull Dreamline tournament Oct. 10-11."The only real discussion was about the road," said Henderson County Code Enforcement Director Toby Linville. "It's a state road now. DOT wants to do an encroachment agreement for a little wider entrance and potentially a connection to DuPont Road."
Shoals Falls Road is a one-lane farm lane leading to the property, which contains a house, barn and other outbuildings. On a hill rising up toward DuPont Road contractors are building the jumps for the Red Bull riding competition. The BMX event organizers will have to apply for a temporary permit for the Oct. 10-11 competition, Linville said.

"Conceived by pro athlete Anthony Napolitan, Red Bull Dreamline is a way to showcase the best of dirt riding, by the riders, for the riders," Oskar Blues said in a news release. "While some elements will be under wraps until riders arrive on site, the course guarantees to be the most challenging to date, including 10 jumps, with the largest sending athletes up to 35 feet in the air."
Tournament organizers have invited 28 riders to the event.
The Red Bull Dreamline tournament is expected to draw thousands of spectators to area. Last year's Dreamline in Angel Fire, N.M., was broadcast live on NBC.