Callalantee Update 11-9-2011

J.C.

J.C.

Volunteer
Moderator
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Location
Greensboro, NC
The owner of the Callalantee OHV property in Mountain City, TN, Paul Brown, passed away last night :(

I spoke with one of the executors of his estate this morning by phone. Right now everything that was in the works as far as the OHV park is concerned is on hold until the executor's of his estate straighten everything out.

According to one of the executors, the park is closed, but hasn't been locked up, yet. The plan is to gate/lock the property and put up "No Trespassing" signs.

It is possible that the park might be able to remain open at some point. At a future date, after everything is straightened out, the estate might be willing to lease the land to a group that might keep the park open. They would require AT LEAST the tax appraisal of the property, which is about $28,000 a year. At a meeting I had with them last week in Mountain City they told me utilities have run about $400 a month ($4,800 annually) on the campground. I figure it would take a minimum of $35,000 + annually to run the park.

I am also in contact with the Mayor of Johnson County, TN about the possibility of some sort of cooperative effort between county/city government and the 4wd community to try and keep the park open.

There are a lot of possibilities but it looks like it will be quite awhile before anything happens as far as the park staying open :(
 
Sorry to hear about Mr. Brown.

Thank you very much for your efforts John. I hope something can be worked out with the park. The place has alot of potential.
 
JC,

Thanks for the work you have done, the work you are doing and the work you will do.

And thanks for the updates.

Some of us in the Lake Norman area went to Callalantee for the first time this fall and had a great time. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me know. Seriously.

Thanks,
Chris
 
GotLime? said:
JC,
Thanks for the work you have done, the work you are doing and the work you will do.
And thanks for the updates.
Click to expand...

x2

I knew I should have gone one last time a couple of weeks ago.
 
Thanks for working on it behind the scenes. I wonder if the there could be a tax discount or reappraisal to lower the taxes?

So minimum income would be about $3000 a month assuming no labor costs.

Is no labor costs a possibility? If not then double that to $6000 a month.

What about insurance?
 
Yeah, the numbers are actually pretty daunting once you get into it. Especially so when you look back at the "Callalantee is ripping us off" threads from back when they increased fees. It's easy to think that you only need a couple of people every weekend to make costs, but the reality is that lots of weekends will be dead. Most of the winter will be dead. So now you need a few big events a year to get the headcount up, and all of a sudden it's a make-or-break situation.
 
Shawn said:
Yeah, the numbers are actually pretty daunting once you get into it. Especially so when you look back at the "Callalantee is ripping us off" threads from back when they increased fees. It's easy to think that you only need a couple of people every weekend to make costs, but the reality is that lots of weekends will be dead. Most of the winter will be dead. So now you need a few big events a year to get the headcount up, and all of a sudden it's a make-or-break situation.
Click to expand...

I haven't been around that long but it doesn't appear "they" ever really promoted the place.

Maybe some races, some events, some advertising, someone active and promoting the park on various forums could up the headcounts.
 
R.I. P. Mr. Paul Brown

Thank You John Craven for you extraordinary efforts to keep this area open and available.

Sadly my list of lost places to ride seems to be far outpacing my list of new ones. :(
 
amcjeepman said:
R.I. P. Mr. Paul Brown
Thank You John Craven for you extraordinary efforts to keep this area open and available.
Sadly my list of lost places to ride seems to be far outpacing my list of new ones. :(
Click to expand...

What he said... I can't say it any better. :(
 
GubNi said:
Thanks for working on it behind the scenes. I wonder if the there could be a tax discount or reappraisal to lower the taxes?
So minimum income would be about $3000 a month assuming no labor costs.
Is no labor costs a possibility? If not then double that to $6000 a month.
What about insurance?
Click to expand...

So I agree that this is a daunting process and would be hard money wise to pull it off but how many people would be willing to buy say a season pass for there. Now I want to say i in no way am talking for JC or anyone else involved but I was just thinking if you take the numbers that Gubni posted and went with the worse case you would need 72,000 a year to stay afloat. so if you got 720 season passes at 100 a pop that would do it or say 360 season passes and then camping fees. I mean how many Season passes does URE sell. If you were to advertise the trails up there better and mark stuff out i think you would have 400 easy. Maybe i am just being to unrealistic.
 
dang hate to hear that RIP......

i hope all the best for this great plot of land it needs to stay open somehow
im sure if aviable ill buy a year pass!
 
RIP, Paul....a truly good man in all my dealings with him.

JC,
thank you for all you are doing, you know where I stand and how to reach me....the next 3 months are off season...so if I can help I have more time than normal now.
 
There would be several things to be done differently.

1. Sell annual passes.
2. Promotions like harlan does shine-crawl and fall crawl etc
3. Competitions - doesn't have to be ecors - just simple ones like fastest time up pull cable or lap around the park
4. label "every" intersection
5. Charge by the rig - not by the person
 
Great loss to the offroad community. He really loved for us to be up there ridin.

I only hope he will be able to look down watch us ride Calla again!
 
He was a great guy. Hope this place will open back up. On the expenses to keep it open they are higher than most people would think. Hince the reason for higher than uwharrie cost to play. Pray for the family through this time.
 
Hate to hear this...

My first real trip was up there in 2003/4 with John believe it or not. I had great memories up there through college and met alot of good friends there. I sure will miss the place.

Thank you John!
 
R.I.P. Mr. Brown

As others have said, He did like us riding up there. I wish his family all the best in dealing with, and sorting out all of his estate and business affairs.

I would be thrilled to see Callalante reopen, but I would be surprised if it ever does.
 
rip mr brown

i hate to see a good man die when he ment so much to all of us so rest in peace till we meet again i have heard a couple of rumors Steve brown is wanting to develop the mountain and build homes and theirs a hunting club who i understand has made a pretty good offer to buy or lease so we will just have to wait and see
 
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