Whitewater

More Info

About the Ranch

The Bike Ranch is a trail center designed to promote trail access and usage on bike or foot. Southwest Virginia is world famous for their quantity and quality of trails including the Appalachian, Iron Mountain and the Virginia Creeper Trails. These trails represent why this part of the world is called America’s Trail Hub. The Bike Ranch will add to this wealth of trail expanse.

Whitewater is a 501-c-3 non-profit that owns and operates the Bike Ranch. With over 20 years of developing and operating outdoor facilities such as the US National Whitewater Center and Adventure Lodges, Whitewater promotes engagement with the outdoors through experiences like the Bike Ranch. Through high quality and accessible experiences, the Bike Ranch will become a catalyst to drive an active and vibrant community in this special part of the Appalachian range.

The Ranch is currently comprised of 500 acres. The property was purchased and protected over the course of the Winter and Summer of 2024. Trail design and construction began in the Spring of the same year and will continue for the foreseeable future. The goal is to continue to develop multi-use trails that offer diversity of appeal for hard-core riders, new and developing riders as well as runners and hikers.  Over time, the Bike Ranch will become the hub of an active and engaged community.

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March '24 Barley House - Sean Richard

The Bike Barn

Overlooking Denton Pond is the timber-frame Bike Barn, providing a place to relax and grab something to eat and drink after hitting the trails. The barn's back porch and stone fireplace overlooking the trails below offers outdoor seating as well as conditioned space inside. The barn will also host events and programming throughout the the year.

Bike Ranch Background

In 2021 a group of trail advocates began exploring the opportunity to create a local mountain bike park near Abingdon, VA. The group identified a 280 tract of land and began gathering support to acquire the land and develop the project. The Abingdon Economic Development Authority provided a grant to conduct a study for the trail project. Shortly thereafter, Whitewater was asked to become involved based on its recent development of the adventure lodge near Whitetop, VA on the other end of the Virginia Creeper Trail.

Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia and the Anne and Gene Worrell Foundation have stepped in to the support the project with grants for development and land acquisition. Work to acquire and protect the 5 parcels along the Virginia Creeper Trail was competed in the Summer of 2024. Project buildout continues with an opening in Spring of 2024. The Bike Ranch will continue to expand trails, programing and land protection well into the future as a part of the region’s growing trail infrastructure.  There are plans to resurrect the old dairy barn that stood on the site with additional programming to support the active lifestyle.

2023 August - Sean Richard

Programming

Whitewater will produce public events at the Ranch and throughout the region including:

  • Bike Rides, Races and Meetups
  • Trail Runs, Races, Meetups and Cross Country Events
  • Yoga Sessions and Festival
  • Multi-Sport Events – Triathlons, Adventure Races and Duathlons
  • Outdoor Film Screenings
  • Instructional Programs

In addition to the public events, the Ranch will host private events for business, school, church and youth groups.  The Bike Barn and the surrounding fields and hills present a special place for families and groups to gather.

Flow Fest 2023 - Sean Richard
June 2024 Pond Mountain Cabins (Windfall) - Samuel Martin

Adventure Lodging

Play and Stay