My group has received the following email and we need everyones help in responding. We must all ban together wether or not you ride there to keep great places/trails open for the future. -Oklahoma Dirt-Slingers


Waynoka's ATV Trail at Risk of Closure before Your Next Visit


"Your sand dune vacation may be at risk"

Dear ATV Club,
I promise not to take more than a minute or two of your time to clue you in on a real concern that may shut down the ATV Trail before your next visit to the Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Waynoka Oklahoma. I'm sure some of your members tend to visit us here at the dunes. The ATV Trail leading from the sand dunes into the town of Waynoka is a thoroughfare we all count on to provide access to the local amenities such as fuel, food, rental properties and entertainment. The ATV trail has provided the town of Waynoka with the much needed tourist dollars it needs to support the local tourism and economy.

There are a handful of local non-motorized residents that have made real head way in persuading local officials to consider closing the trail permanently. In six days (Saturday, March 24th) there will be a meeting held to address local concerns such as the ATV trail and the candidacy of the next Mayor of Waynoka. Mayor Bixler is pro-ATV Trail and was instrumental in opening this access to the dunes two years ago. Now there are non-motorized candidates up for election challenging both Mayor Bixler and the existence of the trail.

All we are asking is for you to take a brief moment to email, call or write your support to keep the trail open to the attention of Mayor Charlene Bixler. Brief comments are appreciated; extended comments are even more appreciated. Regardless, we need your comments due to the size of the town. There are only 998 residents who reside in Waynoka. Many do not recreate on the dunes. The town council will need all your support to be persuaded to keep the ATV trail open. Below you will find a recent article published in Waynoka that will further explain this alarming issue and what it will mean to the town if the trail closes.

PLEASE NOTE: YOUR COMENTS MUST REACH CITY HALL NO LATER THAN FRIDAY NOON, MARCH 23RD

Please make your comment to the attention of:

Email: ATT: Mayor Charlene Bixler, C/O Laurie Reyes at City Hall laurie@cityofwaynoka.com

Phone: Mayor Charlene Bixler 1- 580-824-2261 (While working to keep the ATV Trail open, she may be unavailable, please leave her a message you called)

Mail: City Hall
1759 Cecil
Waynoka OK 73860,
ATT: Mayor Charlene Bixler

All your comments should be titled:

Request to Keep the City of Waynoka ATV Trail System Open


Sincerely yours,
Dan Delasantos
Off-Highway Vehicle Consultant
OHV Journalist
Advantage Property Rentals
dandelasantos@comcast.net

Waynoka Article

Title: Waynoka's Economic Security is at Risk

Words: 835

Characters: 4195

Once again the local ATV Trail connecting the Little Sahara State Park to the City of Waynoka Oklahoma is a high priority topic of conversation for local residents. Before any further discussion of closing the ATV Trail takes place, here are some basic facts that we need to be reminded of which can not be ignored. Since the off-highway vehicle recreationists from over 10 surrounding states choose Waynoka as their preferred destination, the town has began to prosper. Once the ATV Trail was completed, several positive economic changes have taken place. In less than one year, property values have increased by an average of 25%; sales tax revenue has increased by 20%; investors have recently purchased property to create new businesses.

Gary Junco, president, Junco Investment Properties writes; "Those who seek to close the Trail are sacrificing the future of the town. No one likes change for the sake of change, but changes that have the potential to bring economic growth to this town should be adamantly supported. The ATV Trail is essential to the economic growth of Waynoka. I recently purchased property adjacent to the Trail and any planned development of my property is contingent upon the Trail remaining open. I have been a regular visitor to the area for 20 years and I believe the opening of the Trail to be the single most important event for the long-term growth of the Waynoka community."

Advantage Property Rentals is slotted to invest over $250,000 into recently purchased property along the trail. The company has agreed to use local contactors who will also be purchasing materials for their new project locally. The company has already purchased 4 Waynoka properties in the last 2 years and plans to continue the process as long as the trail exists. A recent quote from the owners makes the situation very clear; "No ATV trail, no investment, no local dollars. It's that simple". "The ATV trail provides access to our business. Take away the access and you reduce the success of our business by over 80%. We along with other new investors would be forced to pull out of Waynoka and seek investment opportunities elsewhere."

Investors have purchased land for new local economic growth with the expectation that the trail was here to stay. Pulling the rug out from under them by closing the trail threatens their investments and their future in Waynoka.

Waynoka has gone through some historic economic changes hinging on a variety of industry. From the airport where Amelia Earhart landed to the rail road made famous by the historic Harvey House, Waynoka has experienced some strong growth patterns. Now as the town has all but closed down, the next wave of success is here and there are those who would turn their backs on this much needed economic infusion. Towns all across the country have groomed local off-highway vehicle access to their benefit by bringing in these much needed tourist dollars.

Long time supporter of Waynoka and the Little Sahara State Park is Sand Sports Magazine who has circulated news of Waynoka's ATV trail around the country for the last two years. Editor Michael Sommer writes; "Off-road enthusiasts enjoy riding in remote and rugged terrain. However, they also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing there are amenities close by. Off-road enthusiasts often bring money with them for food, beverages, and souvenirs. It only makes sense for a nearby town to take advantage of the economic benefits of the off-rode community. Should they choose to cut-off access to Waynoka, the off-road visitors will find another place to spend their money, and potentially this would resort to on-site vendors at the State Park. By all means, do whatever you can to convince the town of Waynoka, Oklahoma to keep the trail in place. I would bet that the economic impact on the town will eventually be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more, on an annual (riding season) basis."

As an off road journalist and consultant, I have seen many communities around the country embrace the opportunity to economically recover by allowing All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) legal access into their towns. OHV programs such as the ATV Trail Patrol have been refined over time to educate visiting recreationists on how to use the trails responsibly. Vacation dollars have financed additional law enforcement and trail education in many communities just like Waynoka. The key is to support the trail patrol, signage, kiosks, maps and law enforcement over time to create a well remembered and respected tourist environment. Advertise local businesses on kiosks and the back side of maps to remind visitors what the town has to offer. Recent ATV trail map revisions reflect a sincere effort on Waynoka?s part to make the trail safer and less conflicting with local traffic. Waynoka is moving in the right economic direction. Don't turn away from this exciting change in local history. Be a part of Waynoka's next economic solution.

Dan Delasantos
OHV Journalist
Waynoka Trail Consultant