The Stars All Lined Up
June 13 2020

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   Even during the 1950's coal boom, County Clay was a dead little one horse town. For the last 20 years, many in the county knew and have worked toward building a tourism based economy as a path for a brighter future. After years of pulling, it all came together June 13th  when local businesses felt the power of tons of out of county $$$ flooding in to the Land Little.
  During the last few months, as the stars lined up, several local entrepreneurs put faith and some $$$ on the line and opened up new tourism business.


Clay Yak Rentals ( That's owner Mel Bevins on the right) opened their doors on the 13th after booking several river riders. The ones we saw were from out of town. That means fresh new $$ in Clayberry and a new business is under way.
    Spread Park is a well known kayak input site. It's also the County's only public picnic site and kiddie playground. Mid day Saturday, there was no parking to be had. It was full! The place was packed. let's talk about a black eye. BDA is our economic development agency in the county. They are also responsible for the upkeep on Spread Park. Now well into Summer, the place had NOT had the grass cut nor the weeks whacked. It was an embarrassment for the county. New business Clay Yak Service needed the Park clean and green for the season opening day. It wasn't.
   Team Mel with Clay Yak Rental and with donations from locals knowing how important the Park is to our future, got the place mowed, well, at least enough of the land trimmed so it would look good.


Four wheelers are big business in West Virginia. In the Southern portion of the State a trail riding system has been operating for several years. That Hatfield and McCoy Trail has brought life back to the Southern Coal fields and ghostly mining towns. On June 13th, right here in Clayberry, that Southern trail had nothing on us! The "Mud Run" netted well over 300 (maybe twice that many) machines for family fun riding on back roads and mud to their eyeballs.



The Mud Runner Group is a non profit organization that raises $1000's to cover local hard up needs year round. The Mud run was one of their fund raiser activities and boy oh boy was it a success. People from all ages participated.


Here's the line to get registered for ride BEFORE official registration even got started


Bringing money, new $$$ into the county is what we need. On the 13th, ATV's were all over the Town buying gas, beer, munchies, and everything you can imagine. Thousands of dollars were realized.







Last year, the Town of Clay came up with an idea to raise some money of their own. With a nearly unanimous vote, Council voted to making riding on municipal streets legal thru a permitting process.


On the 13th, side by side ATV's waited in line to open their wallets and purchase driving permits.





Over flow parking


Rounding a perfect Saturday, the little pedal car ride opened with Jonathan Brown running the operation. Complete with matching tee shirts, Team Brown put on a positive image as they got both runs out of the station on time. We heard no potty mouth nor anything else sour.




Out on the ERTS trail, one of the barriers was ripped down.


For the 13th, bikers and hikers enjoyed the cool weather  and clean environment. Several made the full 10 mile ride with smiles on.  Many of the stubs and overhanging limbs had been removed by the 13th.



  



  






To round out the Saturday, Deliciously Vivid organized and hosted a socially distanced, Cruise In.  Upwards ofr 30 vehicles participated in the Main Street drive thru to Go Mart.


Non Profit WYAP 101.7FM provided the background music on 101.7 FM and helped with divvying out the many give aways and prize money




The weather was great and the fun was too.
   Every business that was open June 13th made $$$. The new businesses were included for the Scavenger Hunt contest. $1000s of new dollars came into Clay thru fuel, beer, munchies, and trinket sales.
   After years of trying, it all came together in Clayberry. Our combination is Elk River kayaking and fishing, pedal car rides, ATV trails, Lake Sampson, and the ERTS State Park.  We may never be a Disney World but we marched forward several steps and presented ourselves in a good light for once. The miracle of new money has finally happened in the Land of Little. It all came together and it's time to smile!
AW