A Staff Report
The Elizabethtown – White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly breakfast meeting unfolded against the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market backdrop this week, setting the stage for a discussion on an exciting trend.
Terri Dennison, Executive Director of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the increasing influx of enthusiasts arriving in Bladen County to experience the thrills of the Browns Creek Bike Trail and Nature Park.
The Elizabethtown bike trail stands distinguished as one of North Carolina’s premier trail systems. Dave Ellegood, representing Cape Fear Sorba, took the opportunity to address chamber members, sharing insights about recent progress and forthcoming events at the Park. Moreover, attendees were invited to explore the possibilities of their businesses aligning with this ever-growing sport.
Cape Fear SORBA is a chapter under the aegis of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). As a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity, their mission revolves around crafting, enhancing, and conserving exceptional trail experiences for mountain biking enthusiasts across the Cape Fear Region of North Carolina.
Emerging in the Fall of 2009, Cape Fear SORBA traces its roots back to a group of kindred spirits who coalesced from the mountain biking community within the Cape Fear Cyclists. This endeavor sought to broaden riding prospects by establishing a specialized mountain biking club in the region. Over time, the club has swelled to encompass more than 170 members and presently manages trails spanning New Hanover, Bladen, and Brunswick Counties.
Their efforts prove fruitful at the Brown’s Creek Bike Trail and Nature Trail, discreetly situated off Hwy 87, opposite the Elizabethtown airport.
The meandering course of ‘Brown’s Creek,’ offers the kind of challenging elevation shifts typically associated with Western Carolina. According to Ellegood, his club would like to expand the trail, but this ambition hinges on the acquisition of additional land.
Observe Greg Brinson, a CFSorba member, embarking on the inaugural ascent of a demanding section freshly carved into the terrain of the local bike trail on the CFSorbas’ website.
This intersection of commerce, community, and sport captures the evolving spirit of Elizabethtown, emphasizing collaboration, growth, and the pursuit of recreation.
Other important Chamber notes.
Dennison announced other upcoming events. As the community gears up for the 250th Town of Elizabethtown Anniversary Homecoming, slated for the near future, prospective vendors are reminded to mark the registration deadline of August 31. This event, scheduled between 9 AM and 3 PM, holds potential for local vendors to participate. Interested parties can access the vendor application form attached to this communication. For information may be found on the Chamber’s website.
There is also a planned Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for “Onezies Twozies,” a new retail enterprise in Elizabethtown. Scheduled for August 25, 2023, at 11:00 AM, the event is set to unfold at 312 S. Poplar Street, STE. E in Elizabethtown, NC. For additional details or registration, kindly visit: Event Registration Link.
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