Gypsum City OHV Park (RW)

Gypsum City OHV Park (RW)

Seven years later, we could be looking at an ATV playground with 1,500 acres to play in. This is absolutely good news for us ATV enthusiasts residing in Iowa. And i am talking about the The Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park in Fort Dodge. Recently, the people behind this Iowa ATV park opened 300 acres of the park and it have, so far, been really great for local Iowa folks who have been itching to have their own ATV park. The authorities are working hard to expand the Iowa ATV park into something more....one of the biggest ATV parks in Iowa but the plans will be rolled out little by little over the years and we will just have to be patient.

I would have to applaud the effort put into making this Gypsum City OHV Park a reality. The people who put so much into bringing this park to us comprised of government officials, state lawmakers, countless non-profit organizations, clubs and groups and 4 local companies.

This Iowa ATV Park is built on vacant land that used to be mining land. This Iowa ATV Park offers 15 miles of trails for the young ones to hone their skills. This is the perfect place for families to ride together and have some cheap thrills! If your kid's been meaning to pick up a new trick, head on over to this Iowa ATV Park. I see a lot of kids practising their ATVing here.
There's no fee to pay to ride this Iowa ATV Park and you can simply make your way there from between sunrise to sunset. The ride there is free but there are rules to observe to ensure the safety of all the other ATV riders and young kids practising at this iowa ATV Park.

•    You need to have a valid registration from the Department of Natural Resources

•    You have to be over 12 to operate and ride the ATV at this Iowa ATV Park

•    ATV riders between 12 to 18 need a valid safety certificate

•    Wearing a helmet is DEFINITELY a must

•    No riding double at this Iowa ATV Park

•    Riders must keep within the trail and not wander off anywhere else

•    No drugs and alcohol allowed in the park, especially not when riding ATVs

•    Must ride at a reasonably safe speed so that there is no unwanted accidents

•    Sound limit of 86 decibels at 50 feet distance is applicable

Gypsum City OHV Park
Fort Dodge has several hotels, restaurants and gas.

The Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park is located at 2390 Mill Road, south of Fort Dodge just off U.S. Highway 20.
The Gypsum City Off Highway Vehicle park, which features a beginners trail, a 1 1/4 mile motocross track, and 15 miles of riding trails, was officially opened Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Planning for the park has been in progress for the last six years, and its creation required the intervention of numerous groups, state and local legislators, and officials from the city and county.
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Larry Leiting, a past board chairman of the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the park would act as an attraction to bring enthusiasts into the community.

‘‘This will bring a lot of riders and a lot of people into town,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ll have definitely in the thousands and probably well over coming in for this.’’

The park, which cost more than $1 million to construct, represents only phase one of the intended plans for the area. The second phase will include adding another 500 acres for a wooded trail, and facilities such as shelters and a shower area. The whole of the project is reportedly being paid for with grants.

Dan Kleen, executive director of the Iowa OHV Association and president of the National OHV Conservation Council, said the facility had been heavily used since it was opened to the public in July. The completion of the massive project, he said, would not have been possible but for the dedication and cooperation of the various agencies and individuals involved.

‘‘It’s been such a huge team effort,’’ he said. ‘‘They realize what kind of economic impact this sport can bring into the community.’’

The draw of OHV riding, Kleen said, is that it is an easily accessible way for individuals and families to appreciate nature together.

‘‘It’s a great recreational sport,’’ he said. ‘‘Riders are just like any other group, they enjoy wildlife and spending time as a family. This is another form of recreation, like boating, and everyone can do it.’’

OHV riding has only recently come into its own, said Dave Downing of the Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s ATV and Snowmobile Program Management Division. While ATVs were originally dismissed as a fad, there are now eight OHV parks in Iowa and 50,000 registered owners.

‘‘It took a while for folks to accept these parks,’’ said Downing. ‘‘A lot of times, earlier on, people questioned the involvement of the DNR, not realizing it’s a perfect match, because we’re concerned with providing recreation and also with protecting the environment.’’

Parks like Gypsum City, Downing said, provide a safe place for enthusiasts to ride, while at the same time confining the activity, which could potentially cause environmental problems elsewhere, to a place specifically designed for it.

‘‘It’s exactly for that reason that we have them,’’ he said. ‘‘If you’re not going to outlaw selling ATVs in Iowa, you have to manage them as a recreational resource, because they’re not going away.’’

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