GRAYLING – Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow.
The sound of snowmobiles traveling through Grayling will spark traffic and business through the winter season.
The ‘Through Town Snowmobile Trail’ was made possible by Grayling Country Club, Dead Bear Brewing, Fick & Sons, Ramada Inn, Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Grayling Visitor’s Bureau.
On Dec. 5, volunteers including Ben Simons of Grayling, Chuk Halfyard of Grayling, Travis and Jean Krebs of Grayling, Kevin Ragen of Wyandotte and Butch Reed of Houghton Lake installed a fence along the town trail.
The fence runs from Big Boy to the other side of the country club, parallel to the railroad tracks. The planks and plywood were bolted down to the ground to prevent damage to the country club drive. It will also keep inconsiderate snowmobilers from riding on the fairway. The boards bought this year were used as a prop to keep the fence up, but the fence pieces had to be crimped together.
Spokesperson Jean Krebs of Dead Bear Brewing said it was a lot of work for the volunteers.
‘Originally the chamber bought the fencing and the planks,’ Krebs said. ‘But Mike (Fortino, Grayling Country Club manager) was kind enough to let us put the bypass in. They don’t gain anything in the winter, but they were nice enough to let us put the fence up on the property.’
Keith Miles said the Grayling Snowmobile Club first started connecting the two trails about a dozen years ago. But, he said the active members of the club are getting up in age.
‘Our guys took it upon themselves to maintain the trail,’ Miles said. ‘But we’re getting up there. It was time for someone else to handle the work.’
Krebs said it was important for the snowmobilers to be able to get from one end of town to the other.
‘Our business and a lot of other businesses are dependent on snowmobile traffic,’ Krebs said. ‘We had to make sure that snowmobiles could get through Grayling’
Once the snow melts in the spring, the fence sections will be removed and stored in a shed at the Ramada for the off season.
Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Traci Cook said the chamber and Grayling Visitors Bureau contributed $500 to the project.
‘It’s important to have the bypass through Grayling,’ Cook said. ‘It’s the only legal way to get snowmobiles through town. Without it you wouldn’t be able to get to Spike’s, Big Boy, the hotels or any of the downtown businesses when you are taking the trail that runs parallel to I-75 from Four Mile Road into town.
‘This is very important for us,’ she added. We are a four season destination. And we have a large group of people who come for Winter sports such as snowmobiling, cross country skiing and downhill skiing.
‘This just shows that when people get together to do something positive, it will ultimately benefit everyone, the tourists and our local people who use the trails as well.’
Mile said he is proud of the efforts of the club, which maintains the county’s trails.
‘I don’t think these guys get enough credit for what they do,’ he said. ‘We are the guys who go a long way in supporting the entire winter economy. Because if we don’t groom, no one comes here to snowmobile.’
For information on joining the club visit gosledgrailing.org. Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month at the Ramada Inn at 7 p.m.
