Backcountry Discovery Routes Donates $25,000 to Damascus, Virginia for Tropical Storm Helene Disaster Relief
November 20, 2024
Seattle, WA – (November 21, 2024) – Backcountry Discovery Routes® (BDR®), the non-profit organization dedicated to developing adventure riding opportunities across the U.S., continues to deliver on one of its key mission points of driving sustainable economic impact into rural areas along its nationwide network of routes. BDR has stepped up to support the small town of Damascus, Virginia, the starting point for their Mid-Atlantic route and future terminus of the highly anticipated South-East route.
Through its Access & Advocacy grant program, the BDR Board of Directors approved a $25,000 contribution to the Damascus Strong Fund, a relief fund established to aid the town’s recovery. The grant will help repair roads and bridges, restore trail systems, and rebuild the downtown area that relies heavily on outdoor recreation tourism.
On November 5, 2024, BDR board members Tim James and Kirk Lakeman, along with BDR Routes Manager Michael Bielecki, attended the Damascus Town Council meeting to personally present the check to Mayor Katie Lamb, council members, and town residents.
Since the launch of the Mid-Atlantic BDR (MABDR) in 2017, Damascus—known as “Trail Town USA” for the convergence of five scenic trails in the area—has served as a gateway for hundreds of riders each year. These visitors boost the local economy by booking hotel rooms, dining at local restaurants, fueling their tanks, and stocking up on supplies. With a population of just 800 residents, Damascus has welcomed BDR riders and benefited from the tourism revenue they bring.
On September 24, 2024, Tropical Storm Helene caused severe flooding in Damascus, devastating downtown and low-lying areas. Homes and businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged, and local trails—an essential driver of tourism—were rendered unusable, further impacting the town’s revenue. Recognizing Damascus as a vital part of the MABDR, the BDR Board saw an urgent need to assist the community in its recovery.
“The people of Damascus are in the process of recovering from a level of destruction they’ve never experienced before. Walking through town, we witnessed firsthand what they’ve lost and what it will take to rebuild. I was inspired by their resilience and how they have come together as a community. They were clearly surprised and honored by BDR’s recognition of Damascus as a critical part of our route network. It was a deeply emotional moment when we handed Mayor Lamb the check, and I felt truly touched by their genuine appreciation for what BDR has done for their town and proud of how far our organization has come on our mission.”
In Spring of 2025, BDR will launch the South East BDR, which spans from the Gulf of Mexico to Damascus, making the town a hub for two interconnected routes. With this new addition, Damascus is poised to see an increase in visiting riders, just as it needs a tourism boost most. These two routes are projected to become the most traveled in the BDR network, offering even greater economic benefits to the community.
To learn more about BDR’s mission to help stimulate tourism in small communities along its routes, read the 2023 BDR Economic Impact Study. The report underscores the role played by BDR riders in bolstering local economies, with BDR-related spending creating an annual economic impact of over $60 million across all BDR routes.
About BDR
Backcountry Discovery Routes® (BDR®) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that creates off-highway routes for adventure and dual-sport motorcycle travel. The organization’s work includes promoting rider education and safety campaigns, driving economic stimulus to rural communities, and encouraging responsible motorcycle travel in the backcountry. Through the careful investment of funds and working with land managers and other public benefit organizations, BDR seeks to keep remote public roads open for motorcycling for generations to come.
BDR delivers turn-key trip planning resources to the community including GPS tracks, digital maps, travel information, route condition updates, YouTube videos, Q&As, and other information – all available 24/7 on www.RideBDR.com. The organization relies on the generosity of donors and a team of volunteers and ambassadors who contribute thousands of hours each year to help carry out this mission.
Since 2010, BDR has created routes in Washington, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, the Mid-Atlantic region, Southern California, the North-East region, Wyoming, Oregon and Northern California. In 2022 BDR introduced a new concept of shorter, BDR-style routes that loop, called BDR-X. Current BDR-X routes include Red Desert, Wyoming; PA Wilds, Pennsylvania; Steens Mountain & Alvord Desert, Oregon; Black Hills, South Dakota; Chattahoochee, Georgia and soon in Big Bend, Texas.
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