New Trail Coming Summer 2025 OWMB & HMBA Awarded $20,000 For Construction Of New Trail

O’Bannon Woods Mountain Biking (OWMB), a chapter of the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) would like to thank the Harrison County Community Foundation (HCCF).  On February 4, 2025, the HMBA was notified they had been awarded $20,000 from the HCCF. 

The HCCF grant funding will be used for the construction of the new CCC Ghost trail which will give riders & hikers another option for biking or hiking from the group camp to the top of the park.  This trail will also serve as a tribute to the 517th Co Civilian Conservation Corps workers who helped build various construction projects in O’Bannon Woods State Park starting in 1934.  The 517th camp, which hosted one of Indiana few African-American CCC companies, sat where the group camp is located today.  The efforts of these hardworking men are evident across the park, as they planted numerous trees at the entrance, constructed multiple buildings, and erected retaining walls.

The awarded $20,000 will be matched by the O’Bannon Woods Mountain Biking chapter from funds raised during the annual O’Bannon Woods Adventure Ride (OWAR) event held the first full weekend in November each year. 

Jason Wise (HMBA president & OWMB Trail Boss) said “We are super excited to be recognized by HCCF and awarded the $20,000.  A personal goal of mine has been to have this trail built by a professional trail builder.  It will be something OWMB & HMBA & now HCCF can give back to the park as well our hard working volunteers that put in 1000’s of hours annually maintaining the singletrack mountain biking trails.  I can’t think of a better way to say thank you for all their hardwork”

Trail construction will begin this spring with anticipation of it being rideable summer 2025!  Spectrum Trail Design was awarded the bid, which we are very excited about because they have a long history of building trails on Indiana Department of Natural Resources property’s.  Having built trails at Brown County State Park, Versailles State Park, Harmonie State Park, Turkey Run State Park, and a riders favorite Breeden Ridge at O’Bannon Woods State Park.