Would you stop and eat / have a beer / primitive camp 1.5 hours from Harlan KY on your way?

Would you or not.

  • For some food, sure!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • For some food and a beer, hell yea.

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • I'd be in all the way for an overnight stay.

    Votes: 1 16.7%

  • Just not feesible due to location.

    Votes: 1 16.7%

  • If there was a unicorn ice sculpture out front and my ass was on fire.

    Votes: 1 16.7%

  • If the servers were 3 tittied and topless.

    Votes: 1 16.7%

  • If I was paid to go maybe

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    6
  • Poll closed .
6BangBronk

6BangBronk

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Location
Durham
So I'm still researching my Bar/Restaurant Business Opportunity. It's becoming closer, but still a lot more researching to go. I would like to know (WITH ALL HONESTY) if anyone would be interested in dropping by for food, a beer, or possible overnight primitive camping.

The site is located 7 miles off the straight line path from NC to KY if you go through Ashville. And 1.5 hours before Harlan. The site is located 1/4 mile from the Interstate.

The site is an existing bar with a grill with inside and outside seating with close to 4 acres in a country setting without any immediate neighbors. Plenty of parking area. No permits required for fires or camping as long as it's primitive and temporary. (Absolutely No hook-ups power or sewer)

I spoke with the Zoning Dept. and he pretty much told me this area was wide open as long as no residence existed on any adjoining lot next to it. And if ever then, only landscaping and noise ordinances would apply. The area is pretty much woods / hay fields / cows and horses as far as you can see. It has bathrooms inside but I would supply port-a-johns for after hours. Hours would be between 8AM and 3AM M-Sat and 12PM and 3AM on Sunday. Unless doors closed early. No showers but would supply city water tap. There's a creek running through the property with a small man made pond with concrete dam. No promises for availability, but there would most likely also have full shop access on site for last minute modifications.

I would give exact location but due to such preliminary studies, I feel that information could possibly hurt my possibilities at this point.

Although out of state, I would still continue to support NC4x4. All HONEST input would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Well......that's a tuff one. Are there any other attractions near by?? I personally probably would not stop, only because if I am that close to me destination (harlan) at that point I just want to get there! Try to think out side of people that wheel.. try to think of everyone! Is there something within 30 min or so I can take the family to? Is there some good hicking trails near by? Think about it like a toyota trail rig, it is harder to sell a full out trail rig then it is a stock toyota PU. You need to make your target audience very wide! Just my .02 good luck!:beer:
 
Thanks krehel! Honesty is what I'm after here and your answer is a good one like it or not. Currently the target audience there is horse riding and Harleys. There's horses with buggies and Harleys coming in and out all day. Just trying to stretch it out to the 4x crowd and see what's out there. There's a few wheeling areas nearby but if you're going to Harlan, you would not be too interested in the others.

I've done contacted the DOT and Interstate Road Signs with Trailblazer signs pointing to the location is a possibility to catch everything else that would be traveling between New York and California. A lot of the regulars from out of state is Hot Rods as well heading to local hot rodding events. There's primitive camping nearby that attracts the horse crowd and all the roads around the site is extremely rural - perfect for riding horses. But they are maintained state roads , not any kind of wheelin roads.
 
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Depends how far from good back roads. Always looking for a place to hang the hammock tent on mountain motorcycle rides but prefer a place with a hot shower. I don't mind not having the other amenities.
 
Like Krehel said, if I was that close to Harlan, I would just keep on trucking, fawk waking up and having to drive an hour and a half to wheel.
That being said, if you had a nice event on a sunday night or friday night, live music, beers, some kind of benefit... I would imagine you could pull a lot of 4x4 traffic en route either to or from Harlan.
 
From here (Raleigh) everyone I know rolls up US-52 to I-77 to I-81. I do not see myself taking the detour, but then I only go to Harlan once or twice a year so I would not be a "regular" anyway. I do not see myself camping either unless there are other things of interest nearby, as posted above.
 
Honest answer...I won't be grabbing a beer while I'm towing my rig. If I'm that close to Harlan, I'm rolling on into town to get set up. I would assume most other folks would rather keep going and make it to Harlan instead of stopping relatively close.

If it's half way between Asheville and Harlan, it must be some where around the Tri Cities?
 
I live in Asheville. Try to wheel Harlan once a year at least. If I'm stopping on the way is because I need fuel or my co dog needs something, not because I need to camp or drink a beer.

I've got a buddy w a farm in Tri Cities and if I stop, it is there because he has booze, wheeling, guns and 500 acres to roam.

Best of luck in your ventures and if it opens.... I will probably stop once to say I did, but unless it changes my life it would most likely only be once.
 
When I head to Harlan I usually roll out very early in the morning and would be going straight there. On the way home maybe, but it's usually Sunday and would probably be passing before you opened...
 
Last time I went to Harlan my radiator exploded on 421 around the KY state line. So I went knocking on doors asking for help since there was no cell service within walking distance. I suppose stopping for a beer couldn't be worse than that.
 
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