Bailey Mountain Bike Park Permanently Closes

 you drove the bus up that road?

 I believe it is; at least according to the local group rumor mills. The property was originally slated to be developed into housing when the owners got financing/capital/whatever from a bunch of conservation funds to turn it into a bike park. Only open like 6 years abs now back to housing development. On one hand I get it; just a couple running a bike park that’s quite large with a lot of unused land, only open on weekends with weather always an issue means probably small profit margins and a lot of work. But it’s the only year round park within an hour of my house abs makes me sad. Also kid of icky that used special financing meant for outdoor recreation and I’m just guessing have turned a tidy profit selling back for development. But who knows.

 @FMHUM: No. They did not use conservation funds. There was a separate purchase that had nothing to do with this property or ownership.

The article you reference was wrong. Bailey Mountain Bike Park was a private purchase, no grant.

 @cuban-b-can-blow-me: If I'm mistaken, then my bad. Reaching back into the memory. I know it was privately owned and purchase and finance of something that large is probably a lot more complicated than a single source. But I was under the impression the bulk of financing came from The Conservation Fund when it was purchased.

 @FMHUM: The conversation's funding was for this.https://muddysneakers.org/news/new-generation-enjoys-access-to-bailey-mountain-for-outdoor-exploration
"Bailey Mountain " is what you refer to. It happened at almost the same time, but was NOT the bike park or the same people

There was an article passed around online that mistakenly reported it as "Bailey Mountain Bike Park ".

That stupid article caused unwanted animosity toward the park owners. They used their own money to buy it.

 @cuban-b-can-blow-me: Well if that's true, then I've been walking around for several years miss informed. I believe Bailey Mountain (or at least Bailey Mountain Preserve) is partially owned by the the city of Mars Hill and partially owned by a private foundation. I thought that was purchased partially way before the bike park in the 90s and much more recently (just few years ago). I was curious so I dug up the old local newspaper about the bike park and it seems to indicate that the bike park was not purchased using the owner's own funds. www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/outdoors/2015/06/27/mars-hill-gravity-mountain-bike-park-unique-se-usa/29398219
If that's the article you were referring to, than that's a pretty poorly research piece from a reputable local newspaper.
But either way, it's was great to have for a few years, and I very sad to see it go. Especially for development into what I'm guessing is going to be expensive housing. There aren't many slopes like that available for gravity parks north of Asheville.

 @FMHUM: yep. Worst written article by Citizen Times ever. The exact opposite slope on the same mountain and the acquisition happened at roughly the same time.

If you doubt me stil, the conservation map outline and it's history are featured on their site:
baileymountainpark.org

The opposite side of the mountain was purchased with private funds and for profit bike park:
baileymountainwnc.com

So yeah, there are people who have the wrong impression that they used public money to build a bike park. Shitty article.

 that one took me a sec.

 @savagelake: bit of a stretch I’ll admit

 Maybe they move it to Kanuga?

 If your talking about the Go Nuts series, they changed it to a 'rake and ride' in Sequatchie Tennessee.

 @iwitness: Oh, sweet thanks