Legal Spots to Ride Near Charlotte?

cfaron

New Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Location
Chicago
Hi All,

As a quick introduction, my name is Chris Faron, and I'm with Warn Industries. The reason I've registered and am posting here is because I'm hoping NC4x4 might be able to help us out with a little something we're working on at the moment.

Specifically, Warn is trying to generate some positive exposure for OHV recreation around the country. The way we're doing that is by approaching local TV stations and newspapers hoping to convince reporters to do a story on off-roading and the off-road scene in the area. If people see or read a positive story about off-roading in the news, they might be inspired to learn more about it and maybe even give it a try. That's a boost for off-road clubs and businesses, along with those fighting for greater/better land access.

At the moment we've got a TV reporter out of Charlotte who's interested in putting a story together, and would like to experience an off-road ride in a couple of weeks as part of that. The challenge now is finding a good spot to do that. The only real restrictions are that the location would need to allow passenger vehicles (Side x Sides, Jeeps, etc) and also be less than an hour's drive from Charlotte. This poses a bit of a challenge considering spots like Uwharrie and Lake Hauser are just a little too far away, according to the reporter.

So my question is this: Are there any legal spots to go wheeling within a short distance of Charlotte? I've looked at the "Where to Go Wheeling" guide on the site already, and it seems to me the only spot that fits the requirements is The Farm in Lincolnton, but it's private property so I have no idea who to contact for permission to ride there or if it's even still open. Are there any other spots I can look into? It doesn't need to be glamorous, just good enough to provide a reasonable impression of what OHV recreation is all about.

Secondly, if we're able to find a spot near Charlotte, would anyone be available and interested in participating in the ride? It might be nice to put a small group together to help show off the community aspects of the off-road world. The difficulty there would be scheduling. The reporter is looking to set something up around 10 am during the week of 9/22. Not the best if you have a full-time job, but if you're free or have some flexibility you'd be more than welcome to join us. I'll obviously have more details if we're able to find a location to ride.

So if you could let me know your thoughts in this thread or via DM, Warn and I would really appreciate whatever help you all can provide. Thanks!
 
Im not the best voice for this, but I think that maybe a workday at Uwharrie would be a good spot for a TV appearance. Quite a few folks volunteering time with the FS to help maintain the trails.
 
i don't think a work day is what he is looking for.i know it shines a positive light on the wheeling community but not what i read. the place to go would be out in vail.don't remember the name but they had a few rides there this year.
 
For what your looking for, I believe you Need to travel to Uwharrie. Lake Hauser is a tad closer, but I wouldn't want it videoed, due to environmental concerns. If your Reporter is not willing to travel 2 hours, I will have to say he's not putting Much into this! Uwharrie, give you a National Forest, + the Uwharrie Off Road Training Center, that certainly would be interested in working with you. Combined together, there is any & all Trail systems, you could ask for! And you get the Plus factor of an Actual Training center, in Off Road Training, of All types. Apparently your not prepared to go this weekend, or you could watch the Carolina Trailblazers, hold their Annual Fun Caravan, which offers timed competition events, for 4 wheel drive vehicles, & Trail Rides. In the next couple of months, UORTC also will host a Veterans/Wounded Warriors Ride, & The Fall Jamboree! This in NC, you have to Travel!
 
I lived in n charlotte and its only a 1.5 hour drive towing a trailer its not that far and would be the best for what you are asking sep 28 some friends and i are going to uwharrie
 
Thanks for all of your help and suggestions! I know that Uwharrie is the absolute best spot to go, and have tried really hard to get the reporter to make the trek out there to do the story. Unfortunately, it's not a lack of interest or commitment that's holding it back, but rather the general window of time and distance reporters are allowed to shoot and put together stories. Most TV station bosses feel that traveling more than an hour outside of town doesn't really make a story "local" anymore, and only give their reporters 2-3 hours to get all of their video for a story. Even if traffic were ideal and it were possible to make to Uwharrie in just under an hour, the logistics are too much for the reporter to handle.

That said, I've managed to find a spot of private land with a short rock crawling course out in Iron Station. It's looking like the best option at this point, and the landowner is being very helpful. He keeps the course very clean and fully understands what it means to tread lightly, in case there were any concerns. If anyone from the Charlotte area is available and would like to come out and do some rock crawling on a weekday morning in about a week and a half, please let me know. We haven't set an official date just yet, but it's looking like Tuesday, September 23rd or Wednesday the 24th are the two best options. We're looking at a meetup time around 10 am. You'd probably get interviewed on camera and could include a nice mention to help promote NC4x4. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll pass along the details as they are established.
 
cfaron said:
Thanks for all of your help and suggestions! I know that Uwharrie is the absolute best spot to go, and have tried really hard to get the reporter to make the trek out there to do the story. Unfortunately, it's not a lack of interest or commitment that's holding it back, but rather the general window of time and distance reporters are allowed to shoot and put together stories. Most TV station bosses feel that traveling more than an hour outside of town doesn't really make a story "local" anymore, and only give their reporters 2-3 hours to get all of their video for a story. Even if traffic were ideal and it were possible to make to Uwharrie in just under an hour, the logistics are too much for the reporter to handle.

That said, I've managed to find a spot of private land with a short rock crawling course out in Iron Station. It's looking like the best option at this point, and the landowner is being very helpful. He keeps the course very clean and fully understands what it means to tread lightly, in case there were any concerns. If anyone from the Charlotte area is available and would like to come out and do some rock crawling on a weekday morning in about a week and a half, please let me know. We haven't set an official date just yet, but it's looking like Tuesday, September 23rd or Wednesday the 24th are the two best options. We're looking at a meetup time around 10 am. You'd probably get interviewed on camera and could include a nice mention to help promote NC4x4. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll pass along the details as they are established.
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I know exactly where this is. Good luck and please make this article on off roading as positive as possible.
If you need a female driver in an LS-1 rig to show up,let me know.
We are both HUGE supporters of NC4x4 and the impact the forum has on the local community.
Later, Paul...
 
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Just to update everyone, we've got a ride set up with the reporter for the morning of Wednesday, October 1st out at Scott Schwabe's rocks course in Iron Station, and are looking for a few good men and women to help us out and participate. If anyone is available or can make themselves available from about 9:30-11:30 am that day to do the rocks course and talk with the reporter on camera about OHV recreation, please let me know. It's a great opportunity to get some free exposure for NC4x4 on the local news, and help the area off-road community in general. Feel free to let me know if you can make it by either replying to this thread, or sending me a DM. Looking for firm commitments only for head count purposes, so please don't say yes if you're not 100% sure you can be there. If you have any questions, would like additional information or directions, just say the word. Thanks!
 
I'll bring my wife and her jeep to show the female side of the sport.
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There was another "afterward" post, but forgot the thread. Just wondering What happened to Airing the Video? Have I missed it? Has it aired or not? Would have been on Fox's [18'] Morning Show.
 
Yep, missed it! Keep meaning to call Schawbe, but never got to it. I'll see if I can pull up the replay. Thanks Chris!
Hey, yea, I played it; ALL 3+ minutes of it! It did seem longer, but a heck of a lot shorter than the 5-7 minutes I figured. Good Job Chris!:popcorn:
 
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