Oceana native's business rides on success of Hatfield-McCoy Trails

(Stephen Anderson is a 1989 OHS graduate)

DANVILLE, W.Va. -- It took an $800 four-wheel ride in Norway to convince Stephen Anderson to sell his house, buy a van, a trailer and a herd of ATVs and head home to Southern West Virginia.

The Oceana native was in the family business of golf for years. He was a club pro and manager of a course in Rockingham, N.C., at age 22, and moved from there to various other family-run courses before he tired of the routine.

"I Googled 'exotic golf jobs' and the third one that came up was 'Elite Golf Cruises,'" Anderson explained. "A buddy and I jumped on a boat in Miami, and took off for Bermuda, then the Canary Islands ... and then we did England, the Baltics, Croatia. We went all over the world, teaching golf."

He visited exotic ports of call, taking cruisers to famed golf courses at every stop, for two years.

"One day, I was in Norway. I paid $800 U.S. to ride a four-wheeler through the countryside," Anderson said. "I told myself, 'This is no prettier than West Virginia.' That was what it took."

Anderson grew up with Jeff Lusk, who runs West Virginia's Hatfield-McCoy Trail system. They had been in touch over the years, as Anderson was a trail-riding fanatic since he rode his first dirt bike at age 5.

"I enjoyed golf, but I loved motorcycles more," Anderson, 39, said. "It was 2007. So I rolled the dice, bought a 15-passenger van, a 30-foot trailer, and 10 four-wheelers and started my business."

That enterprise is WV ATV TOURS, operated out of Beckley, offering first-class guided tours on the Hatfield-McCoy trails and at Burning Rock Off-Road Park.

Beginners make up 60 to 70 percent of Anderson's customers. A four-hour ride will cover anywhere between 20 to 40 miles, depending on the group's skill level. He offers packages, mostly for out-of-state visitors, which include a second day of adventure -- a whitewater raft trip down the New River.

Tours run $175 for a four-hour trip, and $250 for an eight-hour ride. They provide the ATVs, helmets, eyewear, trail permits, lunch, a guide and a ride. Anderson will transport riders to and from Beckley in his van as well.

The oldest person Anderson's taken on a tour was 75, and he's had kids in utility type vehicles as young as 11. Business is good: the tour operator said he's had guests every day for the past five weeks.

"It's steadily growing, and every year it gains momentum," Anderson said. "I understand the number of riders on the Hatfield-McCoy trails was up 7 percent last year, and it's been up each year. The majority of those who come to the trail are from out of the state."

Anderson is unwavering in his praise of the West Virginia industries that created the trails in the first place.

"I would say 70 to 80 percent of the trails we ride are existing roads, some there for more than 100 years," Anderson said. "They are old mining, timber and gas well roads -- we're taking advantage of what's already there. A lot of the trails are on reclaimed mining sites.

"If anyone says there's no use for these old mining sites, I want to take them to Pinnacle Creek. It's the most beautiful and scenic trail, and on any given Saturday, there are at least 300 people up there enjoying themselves. It's my favorite trail."

Anderson has another business that chronicles the world of ATVs. He's the producer of "On The Trail TV," a syndicated television show that's been seen by millions through various cable and satellite providers. Clips are posted daily on his website, www.onthetrailtv.com. Show sponsors include Polaris (ATV makers), Pitbull Tires, Motorcycle USA, KBC Performance Helmets, various motorcycle racing enterprises and others.

While he's traveled around the world, Anderson says West Virginia's Hatfield-McCoy system is the best he's seen. And the camaraderie on the trail is unparalleled, he added.

"Polite behavior is typical," Anderson said. "You'll be stopped on the trail, drinking a bottle of water, and someone will just stop to talk. It's 'trail talk,' things like, 'What are you riding, what trails have you tried.' Everyone just loves the Hatfield-McCoy system.

"This is the Disneyland of four-wheeling."