How This Family Saved Their Idaho Bike Park and Is Making It a Community Asset

"The Panhandle Bike Ranch in Sagle, Idaho, has faced pushback since it was announced in 2024 by a small number of locals. Still, with overwhelming community support, they have endured and flourished into a nonprofit mountain bike park that brings the community together through the beauty of mountain biking. To preserve the property as a place for outdoor recreation, the Panhandle Bike Ranch has pivoted from a private bike park to something with a much greater positive impact on the community."

"As a nonprofit organization, Panhandle Bike Ranch will be able to preserve this 170-acre mountainside as a park that will grow and benefit the area, a must-visit recreational destination for mountain bikers of all skill levels. What started as a passion project for the Kalbach family has evolved into something incredibly special. After being granted conditional use permits twice, the team, which included Gravity Logic Trail Crew, hit the tools to transform the property into an MTB paradise."

"Following some public opposition to the park opening, the permits they had already been granted were revoked just days before the park was scheduled to open to the public. Instead of letting this turn the operation on its head, the Kalbach family found the silver lining and decided to open the bike park for free. The time, energy, and love poured into building the trails and infrastructure weren't about to go to waste"

Panhandle Bike Ranch in Sagle, Idaho, began as the Kalbach family's private mountain bike project and faced local pushback after announcing plans in 2024. The team, including Gravity Logic Trail Crew, gained conditional use permits twice and built trails and infrastructure across a 170-acre mountainside. Permits were revoked days before opening due to public opposition, so the family opened the park for free. The park pivoted to nonprofit status to preserve the property, expand programming, and increase access. Planned offerings include clinics, lessons, coaching, youth camps, events for first responders, a local race series, and fundraising to broaden mountain biking access.

Read at BikeMag