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ATVs Appeal to All Ages and All Abilities

"We get people from all walks of life here, from 8 to 81-years-old," notes Bob Svihra, "and 40% are women." Resort guests are evenly divided between dirt bike and UTV riders, but the variety of UTVs he sees -- from single-seater ATVs, to side-by-sides, to dune buggies -- is much greater. "I'm proud to say we have four paraplegic ex-military who ride here, too," he adds.

Family members who don’t arrive with their own ATV or dirt bike in tow can rent one of seven Yamaha ATV 400s ($120/four hours; 18-years-old minimum) from Mines and Meadows' on-site fleet and use it for classes as well. Courtesy of our host, Kawasaki Motors Corp, I rode a Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4 that, for my 120-pound frame, had plenty of muscle to deliver a safe and stable ride in the mines and above ground on the trails. (Major manufacturers recommend that ATVs with engines of 90cc or higher be used by riders 16-years and up, though smaller children's models are available for ages 6 and older.) 

Soon Mines and Meadows will feature a 2009 Teryx, Kawasaki's latest model two-seater, digital fuel injection RUV in its rental pool. It’s ideal for parents who want to ride with children (or reluctant spouses) as passengers, or head out into the wild to camp.  

Although the Kawasaki Teryx features three-point retractable seatbelts, comfortable bucket seats, and foot wells on the floor to help secure smaller passengers, Stephen Clark of Off-road.com recommends the installation of harnesses to anyone contemplating "aggressive" sport riding. With a powerful 749cc V-Twin engine, the Teryx is also capable of hauling up to 500 lbs. in cargo, making it as utilitarian as Kawasaki's durable Mule (the utility vehicle our son learned to drive on) and much better looking. 

Edu-tainment and Edu-cation

One of the biggest assets of a family vacation here is that ATV and dirt bike lessons are available for all ages from the resort’s two instructors, Ron Dennison (330/542-2747 at home or 330/717-8710 – cell) and Eric Dennison (724/843-4647 at the office, 330/881-8047 cell, atvsafetyinstructor@yahoo.com), by appointment.  Both are instructors licensed by the ATV Safety Institute and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and lead the regulation ATV Safety Institute Training courses sponsored by Kawasaki and other major ATV manufacturers.

Students completing the ATV safety course will also be given a 20% discount toward the purchase of a Mines and Meadows Day Pass. As a motorheads’ paradise, Mines and Meadows also offer an "ATV Search & Rescue Training" program to first responders and military personnel, which the public is welcome to join.  This course lasts approximately four hours and costs $50 per student plus any rental costs. Reservations required for all programs.