'The Dragon' closure costly for business owners....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=12207635


'The Dragon' closure costly for business owners
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 10:14 PM EDT
 
 
 

 
 

MARYVILLE (WATE) - A section of U.S. 129 known as "The Dragon" is closed after a rockslide and it has business owners in two counties worried about loss of revenue.

The road got its nickname for its curviness, resembling the tail of a dragon. It attracts motorcycle riders and sports car drivers from around the world.

Officials with the state Department of Transportation say it will be closed until the end of July so crews can clean up the rockslide that happened earlier in March.

The work is expected to begin in early April.

Business owners say that will cost Blount and Monroe county millions in lost business this spring and summer.

The Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort makes its money from being located next to the Dragon. "Fifty feet outside the door here is the main intersection in the United States for motorcycles and sports car drivers," says Jody Montgomery, who helps his wife run the business.

He says usually, they would be getting ready to sell 5,000 T-shirts a week and welcome guests into their motel.

Instead, it's quite the opposite. "We had a group from Sweden flying in their motorcycles and all that. They were going to stay the month of April, just had to return their stuff because they had to cancel," Montgomery says.

He says they had to refund the group more than $7,000. But that's just a small dent compared to the hit his business will take over the next few months.

"From now, this weekend, through April, May, June, probably an impact of $50,000 a month on this small business. On the economy of the county, Blount and Monroe county, probably $500,000 to $1 million a week in revenue that won't pass through now," Montgomery says.

Charlie Woods bought his summer house because it overlooks the Dragon. "I'm from Michigan. I come down here because I enjoy this motorcycle riding area."

He got here two days ago not knowing about the closure. So he'll be cutting his trip short to leave Friday morning.

"The people just won't come here if you can't go up and down through there," Woods says.

[big turkey]

From what I saw on the video of the guy running up into the slide.

A D-8 Caterpillar and  a High Lift and a couple of dump trucks could clear it out in two days.

But I guess you have to have a safety plan, an envrionmetal impact statement, a engeneering

team, a contractor approved by the state to perform the work, a safety engineer to watch

them work, a DOT guy setting there drinking coffee and smoking cigs to check on them all day.

Typical government setup.

While the people have to travel hundreds miles out of the way to get to where they where going.

That's just the local people not to mention cargo and express shippers and even the postal routes.

10-to -15 Businesses at least will go out of business or be severly affected.



Because the Governor of Tennessee don't like the Dragon and all the wrecks he is doing a little payback, ,,,,but then again I could be wrong

Four months seems a little excessive though.

I am going inot Dragon Riding withdrawals already, I feel I need group therapy or something.

And tothink I just quit drinking and now I have to quit riding the Dragon.

The tail of the dragon	powered by Aeva

A person can just stand so much.

So I'll just watch this video I am captured in, of course in Disguise , on the blue harley about 2 minutes and 6 seconds ito the video.

[..]

What is a shame is that there are so many better roads in the area that the brain washed don't want to ride.

[Skinhead]

You know, there are other good roads in the area, Why cancel?

I agree, I think there is some pay back going on.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Two main reason's it will remained closed is ...

( 1 ) The stability of where the rockslide came from.
( 2 ) The response time for emergency personal ( crash ) .

[Grumpy]

That sucks, have a vacation scheduled for the last couple of weeks in May for myself and a friend. Still going, will stay at the Phillips Motel, just going to make use of the other fine roads in the area. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

That sucks, have a vacation scheduled for the last couple of weeks in May for myself and a friend. Still going, will stay at the Phillips Motel, just going to make use of the other fine roads in the area. 

You can still get to Deals Gap ( from Robbinsville,NC ) the road is blocked at the top of the hill at the NC/TN stateline. The area has so many fine roads for the art of motorcycling that it should'nt matter you can't take The Dragon however many will pass because they can't ride the 11 miles and 318 curves  ???

[big turkey]

Yep along with about 6 million other Brain Washed Fans of that road.

I feel lucky to have ridden the thing so many times wihtout a mishap.

Some of my Harley buddies beg me to never go there again.

My Honda ridden Buddies like it more than most.

The Dragon is a HOT SPOT on the Motorcylcing Tour of America.

Feel Fortunate to live so close to it and only found out about from SmokinJoe and Gordon a few years

back and been hooked ever since.

It's like a little bike rally every time you go there.

Good People who love the Sport of Cycling.

My Buddy Ben Steinberg , who mangaes the Deals Gap store calls it another day in Paradise

Killboy says he never hears anyone say it was not all they had heard about and more.

So

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.	powered by Aeva

out the video and see what you think..



BIG AL

[big turkey]

Ride your Dragon on the Dragon.

Or believe me you have never experienced the true spirit of the Bike we and others

call the Valkyrie or some of my kindred Spirits call the DRAGON OF MOTORCYCLES.

 

[Dave Weaver]

Hey Al,
 What if we were to ride our bikes into Cades Cove?  We could ride out Parson's Branch Road onto the Dragon, and from there to the store.  I will if you will.

[big turkey]

Oh yeah I guess I have beena Dragon Fan for most of my life.

The Football , baseball, basketball teams at my alma mater High School.

Yes I graduated.

Guess what the Teams there were called,,,,,,,wait for it,,,,,The Dragons.

Also have one of the best Marching Bands in the South.

They were invited to England to play for the Queen and the British people

more than once.

My brother in law played and so did my wife.

They both went along to play in England and my wife loved her trip there as well.

All I got was a tee shirt. Hard Rock Cafe.

Found a Video Fairly lame but they go for this stuff in Europe.



BIG ALhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N9aGbUE-N8&feature=related

[..]

Hey Al,
 What if we were to ride our bikes into Cades Cove?  We could ride out Parson's Branch Road onto the Dragon, and from there to the store.  I will if you will.

I've taken my ST1300 on Parson's Branch and STILL have the talcum powder fine dust inside the rear tail light assembly.

It's OK until you get stuck behind a slow pole plonker in a mega pickemup truck.

[big turkey]

Yes Dave I will do it.

But I think i will ride a KLR 650 , seeing as how I have one.

But if we were careful enough and they are dum enough to leave that gate open at the Bridge(So

you can't sneak around it) we could do it. On a Valkyrie.

I believe you are part Rebel there son, already trying to be a scoff law like Joe and Punisher and those

other riff raff that ride the Dragon.

It's a date see you soon.

Big Al

[big turkey]

Brit Man, you are the Man.

that's not an easy road for a street bike my bearded friend.

Are you coming along for the LEFT THE BARN DOOR OPEN RIDE?

I will bring the Bolt Cutters for the gate and bail money if we get caught.

Big Al

[..]

Brit Man, you are the Man.

that's not an easy road for a street bike my bearded friend.

Are you coming along for the LEFT THE BARN DOOR OPEN RIDE?

I will bring the Bolt Cutters for the gate and bail money if we get caught.

Big Al

Nope, Been there done that.

I'd have to shoot so many slow cage drivers in Cades Cove my karma would never regain equilibrium. 

[big turkey]

Dustbin lorry stuck in the snow	powered by Aeva

Heres a Mega Truck Stuck in the Snow.

Lorry I think they call it.

I think I have gone too far now.

Forgive me

Big Al

[..]

Dustbin lorry stuck in the snow

Heres a Mega Truck Stuck in the Snow.

Lorry I think they call it.

I think I have gone too far now.

Forgive me

Big Al

No matter the country some have no idea of how to drive.

Yep. That's a lorry. In fact it's a rubbish lorry OR refuse lorry OR garbage truck.

[big turkey]

Yes that is a bit of a snare in the plan and I am with you there dude and feel your pain.

God forbid a Deer is near the road or a Bear is in a tree like the time I decided on my lonesome

to try the Parson's Branch Trail that Dave spoke of.

It had it's own Park Ranger dislocating the traffic jam.

People were standing under the tree, next to the road takeing pictures of the poor beast.

I asked a lady closeest to the tree, What are you going to do if he decides to come down and take a

bite out of you?

They all just looked at each like that won't happen.

But a teacher ws eaten inthe Smokies a few years back.

Don't ever try to play dead for a Black Bear , they will just eat you.

that only works wiht Grizzlies sometimes , and I would not try that wiht either type of Bear.

They think it's a amusement park wiht limited danger. Teh tourists taht is.

Big Al

Fox news Bear alert

Bear Vs. Trampoline	powered by Aeva