— All-terrain vehicle enthusiasts who course through the “Hatfield-McCoy” ATV Trails generate more than $8 million annually for businesses in seven West Virginia counties.  

While the Hatfield and McCoy families were infamous for bitterness and infighting during the Civil War era, their namesake ATV trail system is the result of a partnership between the West Virginia legislature and nearly 400 landowners – mostly coal and gas companies – who lease parcels of land for the 500-mile trail system.

Forty-four businesses have opened near the West Virginia trail system since it opened in 2000, said Jeff Lusk, Hatfield-McCoy director.

This year, the number of ATV riders who travel the Hatfield-McCoy trails is expected to top 35,000, Lusk said. More than 90 percent of the trail’s users are from outside West Virginia – and the majority are from Pennsylvania, he said.

That’s why some Greater Johnstown leaders see gold in their own hills – once a few more ATV trails are carved into them.

But a trail system in western Pennsylvania might have to be constructed Hatfield-McCoy style. Talk of increased use of  state forests for ATV trails is sparking conflict among some government leaders, ATV riders and environmentalists.

‘A playground’

Trail development is being championed by state Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont.

“Let’s use the state’s forests in our region and make this a playground for ATVs,” Wozniak said. “It would be a tremendous opportunity to bring in tourists – and their money – to Cambria County and our entire region.”

The senator has initiated discussions with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Wozniak has proposed that the agencies create and link a network of state-owned ATV trails through Cambria, Clearfield and Centre counties. The trails would cut through state forests, state parks and land controlled by the game commission.

“The DCNR collects license money from ATV riders,” Wozniak said, “and I would like to see more of a commitment to the development of major trails in state forests.”

There are roughly 280 miles of ATV trails in state forests, but most of the trails wind through patches of northcentral Pennsylvania. Some off-highway machine riders in western Pennsylvania are thirsty for more riding opportunities.  

“There’s areas in this part of the state to ride,” said ATV enthusiast Jeff Baxter, 57 of Jackson Township. “But, the DCNR expects us to travel north to use state forest trails – that are closed four months out of the year.”

Baxter said he and his friends spend more than $500 each in West Virginia to fuel their annual excursion through the Hatfield-McCoy trails.

“I wish I could spend the money locally,” Baxter said, “but Pennsylvania does not have nearly as many miles of trails as the Hatfield-McCoy trails, which are open 365 days a year.”

The retired railcar builder for Freightcar America mused about starting a petition in hopes of opening more property to ATV use, namely in Cambria County’s Gallitzin State Forest.

Baxter may find many willing to offer their signatures.

According to DCNR off-highway license records, Cambria ranks seventh among Pennsylvania counties in licensed ATVs  at more than 6,000.

Ten of the top 15 counties for registered ATVs – including Butler, Blair, Clearfield and Indiana – are in western Pennsylvania, where there are no state forest trails except for an 18-mile course in Bedford County.

‘Environmental impact’

However, the DCNR has no plans to construct more trails in forests anytime soon.

ATV trails attract users – and economic spinoff. But the thought of hotels and golf courses springing up near state forests and parks makes DCNR officials and district foresters reluctant to welcome ATVers.

“More is not always better,” said Mark Maser, assistant managing forester for the Gallitzin State Forest district.

“While someone thinks about the economic impact, we also have to think of the environmental impact.”

About 200 acres of the Gallitzin forest are set aside for logging, Maser said. But as soon as mature trees are cleared fences are installed to protect and facilitate new growth.

The rest of Gallitzin State Forest’s 20,000 acres are for recreation such as hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

“For the number of people who would want ATVs in Gallitzin State Forest, there are an equal number of people who don’t want them,” Maser said.   

Wozniak disagrees. He contends that a 10-foot-wide trail for ATVs would not disturb other park-goers.

“There are not a lot of people in the forests. I don’t buy that argument,” Wozniak said. “I’ve been walking in the forest. It’s not like walking through Manhattan.”

The sentiment of preserving the forest for passive recreation is echoed by DCNR press secretary Terry Brady.

Brady said the DCNR’s first priority is to use money collected from the state’s licensed ATV owners to purchase unused private land for new ATV trails, instead of chewing up state forest.

‘Booked’ at Rock Run

State Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Patton, is a staunch supporter of cashing in on ATVs as a recreational activity.

Haluska found financial help to the tune of $2 million in the form of DCNR grants for Rock Run ATV park. In conjunction with the Cambria County Recreation Authority, the lawmaker helped establish the 50-mile Rock Run trail stretching across parts of northern Cambria and southern Clearfield counties – on land formerly owned by K&J Coal Co. of Patton.

In the four years since its opening, the park has become a seed for economic growth as well as recreation for the region, Haluska said.

“Numerous grocery stores, restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts have seen their business increase,” Haluska said. “In addition, some new lodging and camping businesses have opened as a result of the park.”

One of those new businesses is a three-bedroom rental house  – Ab’s Place – in Patton.

“We get people from Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey,” Ab’s Place manager Mary Burkeyn said. “Our rental house is booked nearly every weekend.”

The Rock Run park has received grants from ATV manufacturers Polaris and Yamaha.

Haluska said he is applying for additional grants to add

50 miles of trails in the northwest corner of the park next year.

DCNR’s Brady said the agency wants to acquire land in eastern Pennsylvania for ATV use in the same vein as Rock Run – connecting existing state forest ATV trails for a longer riding experience. But he admits it’s not an easy sell.

“Even with abandoned land, people who live nearby complain about potential noise and traffic from ATV use,” Brady said.

Brady said Rock Run may have been well-received in Cambria County because it is an economically distressed region.

“People in Cambria County welcome the revenue,” he said.

The growing popularity of Rock Run has Cambria County Commissioner P.J. Stevens uncertain whether building ATV trails in Gallitzin State Forest would result in much-needed revenue for the county.

“From the development at Rock Run, I can see there is a market,” Stevens said. “But is there enough to warrant construction of trails in Gallitzin State Forest? I don’t know yet.”

‘Funds are  constantly flowing’

ATV riders in Pennsylvania continue to pay license fees of $20 to the DCNR every two years.

Baxter said he plans to start a petition to end the license fee in hopes of sending a message to the DCNR to use the money to open state forests.

DCNR financial officials project that from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, the ATV and snowmobile licensing fund should accumulate about

$1 million in revenue.

“We get whacked a lot by critics who say there is a shortage of trails and wonder what we are doing with the money,” Brady said.

However, that pool of money is not a static resource, Brady said.

“Funds are constantly flowing in and out as grants and many intangibles such as police and ranger salaries as well as trailhead construction and upkeep for existing trails,” he said.

Aside from being a way to provide revenue for ATV and snowmobile trails, licensing the state’s off-road vehicles began in 2001 as a way to identify individuals who illegally ride on private property.

“Illegal ATV use is constantly a problem,” said Scott Tomlinson, Pennsylvania Game Commission law-enforcement supervisor for the Southwest region.   

The 42 gamelands across Laurel Mountain in sections of Cambria, Somerset and Westmoreland counties are heavily used by ATVs, Tomlinson said.

The machines cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage to land groomed as food plots for wildlife each year, he said.

Wozniak said he will continue looking for ways to improve and expand legal recreational opportunities for the region’s ATV riders.

“It’s too late for the current (Rendell) administration to embark on an ATV trail project,” Wozniak said. “But (after the November election) I’ll start up discussions with the new administration about getting this done.”