Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park saw more than 20 volunteers join Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association Tri-Cities (SORBA Tri-Cities) members to clear a section of trail and place rocks for a new advance skill-level trail.
Members of SORBA Tri-Cities and volunteers enjoy pizza, refreshments and camaraderie after a long day of breaking rocks and building trail at Winged Deer Park. The new stretch of mountain biking trail will be between 1 and 1.5 miles complete with rock features.
SORBA Tri-Cities Trail Boss Greg Carr said, “I think the trail that we are currently building is a little bit out of the norm for us. We didn’t really know that we were going to have such enormous technical trail features.”
The new trail will be approximately 1 to 1.5 miles long and have natural rock features. The main focus of last Sunday’s volunteers was to build this section of new trail. Completion is not expected until the spring of 2019. This new trail and a beginner loop being built in January will nearly double the available mileage at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park.
“We’re going to have, probably, some of the biggest drops that we have ever built at 4 and 5 feet,” Carr said. “It surprised us and we are really excited about the opportunity to build something like this.”
Carr explained that the rock features presented themselves as they cleared the downfall. This was during a previous outing to mark new trails.
“Normally, technical trail features like this have to be built with rock that you have to bring in,” explained Carr. “This was probably one of the largest natural rock gardens that we have ever uncovered.”
Volunteers use a rock bar to dislodge a large boulder that will be included in the new rock garden.
Morale was high amongst the volunteers. Sledgehammers landing upon solid rock echoed like shotgun blasts, as big rock was broken into little rocks. Volunteers used a “rock bar” – imagine a 6 foot tall, 2.5 inch thick nail – to break apart large boulders along fracture lines. Chainsaws screamed as more downfall was cleared to expose the rock and trail underneath.
Carr said, “It will be a trail that will take time to master. It is not going to be something that most riders will be able to ride all the way through the very first time they ride it, myself included.”
Volunteers used a variety of tools to clear leaves, roots and trees to expose a trail that may seem foreign to the untrained eye. Blisters, pizza, refreshments and the prospect of “sending it,” are the reward for the diggers. Carr hopes the volunteers gain “a sense of pride in the local trails, because they are putting their own time and effort into build-ing them.”
SORBA Tri-Cities will host its next volunteer workday on Dec. 2. This will be the last workday of the year. The club plans to go “full-throttle” in 2019 to complete this trail and a new beginner loop. Check the groups Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/SORBATriCities/ – for more details.
Johnson City, Tennessee, is a diverse little city that is growing fast. The city was once a transportation hub, where coal, timber and goods from the east would cascade off the western slope of the Appalachian Mountains to develop an expanding frontier.
Long gone are the frontier days. Gone are the boom days of coal. Gone are a lot of the factories, and gone is the need for rail travel. Finally, gone is most of the agriculture that once dominated the region. The little city has struggled to redefine itself.
The never-say-die spirit of the Appalachian American is kicking in though. They are picking themselves up and finding new ways to make a living. This time in one sustainable for future generations.
Outdoor-Assets are to play a major role in the future of the region. Mountain Bike parks are popping up where local organizations have struggle with land-use for two decades. More emphasis is being placed on long standing assets like the Appalachian Trail, in near by counties.
One trail head at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park.
Every visit to Johnson City provides another opportunity to learn or try something new. There is always a festival for music, food, cultural diversity or outdoor recreation happening. Besides all of the reasons one has already, what follows is a list of five reasons to visit the city, with your bike.
Accommodations: One can choose from a variety of accommodations in the Johnson City area. Whether you want a 5 Star hotel complete with room service, or a private country cabin; the region will oblige your needs. There are a variety of offerings ranging in price to accommodate most people’s budget. Easily search online for any offerings if looking to book a trip.If one is traveling with a bike do not worry. There are a variety of bike shops in Johnson City to take care of your best friend if repairs or a tune is needed. One can find a shop that is brand specific to their bike but most of the shops can work on any bike. The city is very bike friendly and has multiple repair points in the parks downtown too.
Biking: Tannery Knobs Bike Park will be opening soon. This park is located within an easy 2 miles of downtown Johnson City. TK features beginner to advanced skill-level mountain bike trails, built by IMBA Trail Solutions. Also, being built at this time is a paved pump track by Velosolutions out of Knoxville, Tennessee.Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park is within city limits and features miles of single-track. The local Southern Off-Road Bicycling Association is in the process of expanding the trail system for 2019. This trail system is mostly hand built by volunteers, residents and from donations.SORBA Tri-Cities will be adding an advanced skill-level trail to Winged Deer. The trail will feature natural rock gardens with 4 to 5 feet drops. This line was discovered, when club members began to clear undergrowth looking for opportunities to dig new trail.
Members of SORBA Tri-Cities gather for Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day at the Mountain Bike Park at Winged Deer. Photo by Kenneth Medley
The cities convenient location also makes it possible to drive to Pisgah National Forest for a day trip. There is also Paint Creek and a few other popular mountain bike destinations available for day trips. That is why it is best to plan an extended stay, around a week, to the region.
There are also great road biking opportunities, if one is more into that. There are a myriad of routes to choose from with loops of 50 to 100 miles or more. Local clubs and businesses have nightly rides Monday through Saturday during peak season for road and mountain bikes.
Beer: Okay, if you do not drink then this may not be a reason. Let me entice you though. Beer has been a part of American Culture since the countries founding. Some of the founding fathers were even rumored to be brewers themselves.Johnson City has found success in the popularity of craft breweries. The city features five craft breweries and six tap rooms within a one-mile radius of downtown. At any time of the day one can catch a whiff of malt in the air and this floods the mind with images of 18th Century America for the history buff.
History: Johnson City has a storied history. One such story is how the city received its nickname, “Little Chicago,” from notorious American gangster Al Capone. Although not spoken about by the locals, the Bible Belt-town had quite the reputation during prohibition.Also, nearby is Jonesborough, Tennessee, the state’s oldest town. This historical town is home to the International Storytelling Center, the first abolitionist newspaper in the south, and a preserved Main Street where the likes of Daniel Boone, President Andrew Jackson, David Crockett and John Sevier, once went for an evening stroll.
One can experience this living history in Johnson City and much more. The trails nearby provide more history. The Overmountain Shelter is a rejuvenated shelter on the Appalachian Trail once used by the Overmountain Men during the Revolutionary War. You can hike up, stay overnight here and imagine what it would have been like; to be a part of a militia about to battle the most powerful army in the world, at the time.
Convenience: One thing that one should have noticed is that not everything on this list is in Johnson City. That is on purpose. Johnson City is conveniently located in the Tri-Cities and Northeast Tennessee region.Johnson City provides the best all around location to get the most out of what the region offers. One can travel to Bristol Motor Speedway, Roan Highlands or Erwin to white-water raft all in under an hour. These activities can be accomplished on a day trip.
Once back in Johnson City you can enjoy a refreshing drink at a local award-winning brewery, grab a bite to eat at a fine restaurant and return to your accommodations, all without spending an arm-and-leg. The city provides the convenience of backcountry outdoor recreation without the negatives.
Listen to my newest podcast interview. In this podcast I interview Miss Megan Boyanton of Johnson City, Tennessee, about her experience about the recent Presidential Visit.
I check in with bike riders Mike, Christine and Arlene to discuss the Taco Trek in Johnson City, Tennessee. We also take a minute to talk about the building of biking tourism in the region.
Listen to the podcast and follow along with the photographs below.
Riders socialize while waiting to launch the seasons final Taco Trek hosted by Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City. The ride is a once a month event through historical parts of Johnson City and along the Tweetsie Trail Spur. It ends in the Trek Bicycle Store parking lot then 21+ year old riders are treated to a pint at Holy Taco. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIBike Rider Mario helps Bike Rider Luigi fix a costume malfunction while Brian Urlacher, a.k.a. Chad Wolfe, prepares the 100+ group for a ride through Johnson City, Tennessee. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIRiders of the monthly Taco Trek receive a safety instructions from Chad Wolfe of the Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City before embarking on a Halloween Ride through the city. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIMany different style of bikes were represented at the seasons final Taco Trek. Here is an Electric Townie for ease of travel without having to pedal too hard. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IITandem Bike Riders Mike and Christine are dressed to impress on the Halloween Taco Trek hosted by Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City. Christines mom is following behind and has been brought back to bicycling after many years by retirement. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIAnother costumed pair on a tandem bike. This one is a little different. Johnson City, Tennessee, provides the perfect backdrop for the monthly Taco Trek. Unfornately this was the last one of the season. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIParticipants of Trek Store Johnson City’s monthly Taco Trek corral at local eatery, and watering hole, Holy Taco for a pint after the ride. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley II
With the 2nd Annual Little Chicago Festival kicking off in downtown Johnson City, Tennessee, many people may be wondering why Johnson City is called “Little Chicago.” A brief look into the colorful history of the city explains.
Johnson City is located just miles from Jonesborough, Tennessee, the states oldest town. It is home to East Tennessee State University, Dr. Enuf and a thriving art scene. There are many stages for struggling musicians, galleries for all kinds of visual art and railroads, a lot of railroads.
Johnson City started life as Johnson’s Depot in 1856. There have been battles; the State of Franklin is immortalized by one of the main roads through the city. The name was changed during the civil war and changed back after. It was once the wild frontier.
The geographical location makes Johnson City a central rail hub of the Southeast. During the boomtown days of mining and railroads major rail lines passed through and were headquartered here.
One still hears train horns in the city daily. Signs that the city still relies on the rail industry to an extent. The railroad is what brought the name Little Chicago, and with it the infamous gangster, Al Capone gracing the streets of this little mountain city.
Al Capone was one of the most notorious organized crime bosses during the Prohibition era in the U.S. At this time Johnson City grew to be the fifth largest city in Tennessee. It also earned a place on Look magazine’s list as “a hotbed of vice conditions” city along with Knoxville and Chattanooga. Oral histories say that the residents of the city have tried to suppress its storied history. Newspaper articles from 1929 refute this. Speakeasy raids were conducted throughout the city. Citizens made outcries to end corrupting in the police force since the city was considered, “wide-open” to the alcohol business.
Many stories can be found about Johnson City during the Prohibition Era. Many have been passed down through word of mouth. One can find evidence in support of these claims. No matter the case, the Little Chicago Festival is a celebration of the city today.
Food, family and music will grace the streets this Friday and Saturday, not gangsters. Bring your little ones out and enjoy the city. It has been around through sketchy times for over 150 years. Come help make the 2nd annual Little Chicago Festival better than the first and make sure it isn’t the last.
Recreation: Johnson City, Tennessee is a mountain town. The city is within 30 miles of Bristol Motor Speedway. The speed way host two annual NASCAR races. The accompanying Bristol Dragway host events March 26, through Oct. 1, 2016, including “Street Fights,” DER Test N Tune days and NHRA drag racing events.
The mountain location offers ample mountain biking, hiking, all-terrain vehicle and horseback riding trails. The Nolichucky River is great for white-water rafting, canoeing or any other river activities. There are restaurants and music outlets that offer a variety of food and tunes.
Adventurous fisherman will discover mountain streams, rivers and lakes with healthy ecosystems. Different waterways offer varieties of fish including trout, musky, catfish and bass to name a few. The lakes are great for kayak and canoe fishing. Pontoon boat festivities are abundant on the lakes too.
Music: A quick Wikipedia search will inform one of Johnson City’s musical roots. Bristol, Tennessee, has a recognized role in the birth and development of country music by The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, but recordings were made in JC as early as 1928. This musical tradition carries over today.
Hunter Grigg performs at The Willow Tree Cafe located in dowtown Johnson City.
The Downhome, Poor Richards Campus and Hungry Apex are local establishments that offer live music. Poor Richards is a restaurant and local college bar. The Downhome has been serving as a music venue since its founding in 1976. According to their website, “the primary emphasis is on quality music, and the performance atmosphere promotes listening rather than socializing.”
Location: Johnson City is located in North Eastern Tennessee, spread amongst three counties, Washington (mostly), Carter and Sullivan. The city is ninth largest in Tennessee, and ranked number 14 “Best Small Place for Business and Careers” in the U.S. by Forbes. The estimated population according the U.S. Census Bureau by 2014 was 65,813.
The location places JC at the base of Buffalo Mountain. The city is also near Cumberland Gap, The Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The drives in and around the city offer majestic views. One can relax getting lost in the rhythm of the road on country drives or motorcycle rides.
View of N. Roan Street, Johnson City as seen from Buffalo Mountain.
Americana Spirit: First, to understand how Johnson City embraces this one must define the term. Henry Seidel Canby defined Americana as nostalgia when he wrote, “[I]t is the small town, the small city, that is our heritage. We have made twentieth-century America from it, and some account of these communities as they were … we owe our children and grandchildren.”
Johnson City’s communities embrace this. One can achieve a sense of belonging within the community by giving back. The historic “Tree Streets” represent times in America during prohibition. Al Capone’s house stands as one of the largest structures in this area. The boom of the city, as a depot transporting coal from the mountains to America, is still heard in the magnitude of trains passing through everyday.
Art: East Tennessee State University, located in Johnson City limits, allow the “Art Scene” to thrive. Local establishments like The Willow Tree Café offer multiple venues for artist to sell work. Musicians can choose from a multitude of outlets for live shows. Stand-up comedians can discover open-mic nights at local joints such as The Hideaway.
Community: Johnson City offers a variety of communities. There are historical districts, downtown apartments and mountainside cabins all within driving distance of the hottest shopping and entertainment areas. Each of these communities offer a variety of lifestyles. The common thread one may discover is giving back. The more you are involved within the communities Johnson City the more those communities will help you.
History: The history of Johnson City is unique and interesting. The area became a train depot in the 1850s founded by Henry Johnson. The city grew becoming a major intersection for three states. The location and train depot helped grow Johnson City into a traveling hub for those heading west.
Later, George Carter donated 100 acres of land, to the state, helping to establish East Tennessee State Normal School in 1911. The school achieved university status in 1963, becoming ETSU. The school was apart of an effort establishing a state school in Tennessee’s three regions.
Memorial Hall (Brooks Gym) is home to ETSU’s Army ROTC program.
Al Capone, the famous gangster from Chicago, once called Johnson City his “second favorite city” giving it the nickname Little Chicago. Capone’s house is now an apartment complex. Located across the street from an Elementary school in the historic “Tree Streets” area.
Diversity: There is diversity in the activities, food, music and people you will meet. Freiberg’s, a German restaurant, is located across the street from the Korean Taco House. Yee-haw Brewing Co. and White Duck Taco Shop are right around the corner.
Music venues in JC cater to everything from live bands to DJs. Some play covers and others original music. Many musicians will blend their stage time with original music and covers. One can almost bet on hearing the song “Wagon Wheel” if a live band is playing.
Just Jump is a trampoline center where children and adults are welcome. There are over 100 miles of bicycle paths in and around the city. The Tweetsie Trail is over 10 miles alone and connects Johnson City with Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Kenneth Medley and Kaylani Ngirarois enjoy bike riding along the Tweetsie Trail.
Education: Education opportunities are available in Johnson City. There are multiple public and private options for lower education. Religious schools for youngsters are available as well.
ETSU is a 4-year state school. They have award-winning programs in pharmacy, video game design and others. The university has over 100 years of history in Johnson City. Other higher education centers in the area are King College, Milligan College and Northeast State Community College.
Growth: Without delving into statistics one can observe the growth of Johnson City. Over the last three years multiple business have opened. New apartment buildings, such as Monarch 851, have been and continue to be built. Yee-Haw Brewing Co. and White Duck Taco Shop and Trek Bicycle Store are but a few of many.
Defining America by traveling the nation and speaking with its citizens.
American Dream: Overland Expedition 
