MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. – The Doe Mountain Recreation Area (DMRA) has been selected as a Top 12 finalist for a Bell Built Grant offered by Bell Helmets and the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). Bell Helmets will be giving away $100,000 for building three mountain bike facility projects across the country.
The Northwest North Carolina Mountain Bike Alliance (The Alliance) has partnered with primary Bell Built applicant and neighboring IMBA Chapter, SORBA Tri-Cities, to bring destination-quality mountain biking the tri-state area at Doe Mountain in Mountain City.
Grant funding will be awarded to three projects receiving the most votes from the general public during a specified voting period. Four project entries each from three IMBA Regions have been selected as Top 12 finalists. Voting for the three East Coast Region projects (including DMRA) will take place May 5-18 at bellhelmets.com.com/bellbuilt. Other finalists from the East Coast Region include projects from Ellicottville, N.Y.; Richmond, Va.; and Atlanta, Ga.
“Doe Mountain is a special opportunity,” says Alliance president, Paul Stahlschmidt. “Through our partnership with SORBA Tri-Cities we plan to help bring an epic facility to the area.”
About Doe Mountain Recreation Area
Doe Mountain is a 8,600-acre tract of land purchased by the state of Tennessee and managed by the Doe Mountain Recreation Authority. The mountain is home to outdoor recreational opportunities that will soon include mountain biking. The mountain bike trails planned for Doe Mountain will begin directly behind the visitors’ center on Harbin Hill Road and will eventually offer visitors up to 40 miles of dual-use trails. The flow trail will be built by IMBA Trail Solutions with help from volunteers of SORBA Tri-Cities and the Alliance.
More Information: Full Press Release, IMBA Press Release, VIDEO, Doe Mountain MTB Concept Map, 2014 Bell Built InfoGraphic and Timetable
