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Oconto Co. ATV club: 'It's the fourth time in 23 years that we haven't opened'

May 7, 2018



OCONTO COUNTY, Wis. (WLUK) -- As snow continues to melt nearly three weeks after Blizzard Evelyn, puddles along ATV routes in Oconto County can lead to icy conditions overnight.

"It's the fourth time in 23 years that we haven't opened," said Dan Hoppe of the Dusty Trails ATV Club. "So it's not normal, but we don't normally get 30 inches of snow in April."

Hoppe says portions of the trails continued to be in poor shape last week.

Although conditions appear to be improving, he says they're still behind schedule.


"A lot of work goes into it. With that wet heavy snow we had, a lot of trees were down," said Hoppe. "So the last three weekends, we've been riding around cutting trees."

Hoppe says right now they're waiting for the trails to dry out.

"The ground is saturated with water, and the melt-off from the snow, so we have to let that dry," he said.

Roxanne Readman owns Dairy Delite Depot in Suring.

She says the delay is also affecting her business.

"It has kind of been the whole consensus of the town, because it is a tourist area," Readman said. "There's a lot businesses who depend on the tails for their season income."

Four those itching to get out on the trails, Hoppe says it could be another week or so.

"The trails aren't going to open this weekend," he said.

Oconto County officials hope to have an updated plan by Tuesday.

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