10-03-2025
NWA 2050: Bella Vista bike park aims to boost local economy and tourism
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Northwest Arkansas' growth continues with plans for a new chairlift-served downhill mountain biking park in Bella Vista.
The project will add more than 20 miles of gravity trails and connect Bella Vista to Bentonville, known as the world's 'mountain biking capital.'
'I've lived here a year and a half, and mountain biking is the reason I moved here. '
For Jeff Miller, mountain biking isn't just a hobby — it's a way of life.
'It just gets me outside for me; it was definitely health stuff and just mental health, especially a way to get away from the desk and just enjoy just enjoy life,' said Miller.
As a member of Friends of Arkansas Singletrack, a local mountain biking group, the addition of the OZ Trails bike park is seen as not only the newest hotspot for mountain biking, but also a chance to raise the sport's profile and attract even more attention to it.
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'I think it changes the game,' Miller said. 'It just gives us more of variety because we have so many different kinds of trails, and it's just one more piece of the puzzle that'll attract people.'
Last month, the Walton-owned Runway group announced plans for a new bike park in Bella Vista along Highway 71.
The park will expand on the existing OZ Trails, adding state-of-the-art facilities, a purpose-built pump track and a new bike shop and rental center. Bella Vista Mayor John Flynn said it is a huge win for the growing town.
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'You know people in Bella Vista have been hungry for having more economic development, and I think this is going to be a real steppingstone for us,' Flynn said.
Scott King, with the Runway group, said this bike park will have a great effect on local businesses and their ability to attract future employees.
'Whether they're outdoor recreation or not… if you're a business in town, it's easier to attract new workers, new team members, new associates to come to a place where we have great outdoor recreation amenities,' said King.
Another factor that riders like Miller believe will pay off for decades to come.
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