BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The first scheduled trail ride of 2023 within Martin County will honor the late Martin County Judge/Executive Victor Slone, who championed establishing an ATV trail system in Eastern Kentucky for years. The Victor Slone Memorial Trail Ride is set for Oct. 28 at Big Sandy Regional Airport.
Slone, who served as judge/executive after being appointed in 2021 until he lost a battle with cancer in January 2022, was the District 5 magistrate for 20 years before stepping into the role as leader of the county he loved. No matter the position he served, Slone’s commitment to bringing a trail system to eastern Kentucky that would rival the Hatifeld-McCoy Trail Authority across the Tug River in Mingo County never wavered.
“Victor had a vision,” stated Nita Collier, chairperson of the Martin County Tourism Board, who serves alongside Slone’s oldest son, Jarrod Slone.
“For much longer than most people realize, Victor was researching and networking behind the scenes, meeting with like-minded individuals and organizations across Eastern Kentucky to establish a trail authority that would eventually encompass a 19-county region. I’m so thankful he was able to see the First Frontier Appalachian Trails Authority come to pass during his lifetime. We are both honored and humbled to follow in his footsteps and continue his work.”
Riders with SXS, ATVs, motorcycles and dirt bikes are invited to hit the trails Saturday, Oct. 28, for a 5-6-hour ride through Martin County. Riders will enjoy views of blazing fall colors.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at the Big Sandy Airport, with riders scheduled to leave at 10.
Participating is free, but all riders must sign a waiver before lining up to enter the hills.
The location for the ride is on an established trail that is a combination of gravel and dirt and is suitable for riders of all ages.
Cassady’s BBQ will be set up along the trail to provide lunch for those who pay in advance when registering.
The price for lunch and a commemorative event T-shirt is $25 per person, with payment due Oct. 14. Payment can be sent to the Martin County Tourism PayPal account at tourism@martincountyky.com. Participants must include the number of shirts they want and the sizes in the comments section of the PayPal transaction.
Jarrod Slone said his father’s vision has grown into a shared vision of the community.
“With the right support, dedication and refusing to believe this can’t be done, we know there’s a tremendous opportunity for growth and tourism promotion in our county,” Slone said.
“It’s not just about the land that holds existing trails. It’s about the positive thinkers looking for ways to capitalize on the opportunities to open businesses to serve the influx of riders visiting the county. It’s about the ones who will build cabins, maybe a lodge large enough to accommodate groups, restaurants, souvenir and craft shops, and those who will hold events and activities that riders and their families can enjoy when their days in the mountains close.”
There is no shortage of folks sharing memories of Slone’s father with him.
“It seems that more often than not, they bring up the subject of the trail system and how hard he worked to make it happen,” said Slone. “I can’t tell you how much my family and I appreciate hearing how much Dad meant to the residents of this county. We would love to have all of you join us for a great day of riding and seeing part of Dad’s dream fulfilled. And if you have a story or two about Dad, we’d love to hear it.”
The organizers request participants RSVP on the Victor Slone Memorial Trail Ride Facebook event page.