After 8 Years, NH Rail Bike Business Prepares for Final Ride
Fall rides aren't the last hoorah for Scenic RailRiders. They will be running a holiday lights tour from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.
By Brittany Cadet
Published 2 hours ago Updated 2 hours ago
NBC Universal, Inc.
A unique way to see New Hampshire’s fall foliage — by rail — is rolling toward its final weekend. Scenic RailRiders in Concord, New Hampshire, is closing after eight years in business as the city moves forward with plans to redevelop the rail corridor.
For the rail bike business, what started as an idea became a dream come true. Owner Gary LeBlanc says it took a lot of dedication to build the business.
Along the trail, riders pass fall foliage, farms, and open grass lands. But this weekend, the fall rides come to an end.
"The city ended up buying the railroad tracks from the railroad company this past spring," owner Gary LeBlanc explained. "They’re going to flatten it, and they want to pave it and make a bike path out of it."
He also said the fight to keep the tracks was far from easy: "I even had a rail trail builder come up here and take a look at this whole stretch of two miles to give me a price on putting a trail beside it. He told me he could fit it, gave me a price, and I went to the city with it. I said I will pay for the whole thing. They still said no."
The city shared a letter the town manager sent to the business giving several reasons that shared use of the corridor didn't seem possible.
"We appreciate the efforts you have made to find a mutually beneficial outcome for both the City and your company; however, we want to be transparent about the challenges facing the continued operation of your business after the transfer of the property to the City,"** it said.
More New Hampshire news:
- New Hampshire
- Concord
Related:
- Escaped NH prisoner who triggered shelter-in-place alert captured in Lowell
- Trucker charged with OUI in NH, 170 beer bottles found in cab
- Woman says she had seizure after Gloucester attack left her bitten and bruised
- Mass. golf course closing after 70 years, listed for sale and redevelopment