OGEMAW COUNTY — With the economic problems throughout the nation, many communities are looking for ways to bring money back into their local economy. Many Northern Michigan counties have turned to off-road vehicles as a way to bring people into the area.

Ogemaw County was the first county in the state of Michigan to pass an ordinance opening the shoulders of roads throughout the county to ORVs, when commissioners voted to accept the ordinance on Sept. 11, 2008.

Since that time, 34 other counties have passed a similar ordinance, including neighboring Arenac, Roscommon, Iosco, Gladwin, Oscoda, Crawford and Alcona counties.

And according to Rose City-Lupton Area Chamber of Commerce President Mike Dunn, more people bringing ORVs to Ogemaw County means economic growth.

“That’s huge for us,” Dunn said of the county’s ORV ordinance, as well as the opening of trailheads in Rose City and Lupton. “I think that’s helping to open the door for economic growth. I hope everyone else does too.”

West Branch Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steve Leonard said that while the West Branch area may not necessarily see a direct benefit of ORVs in Ogemaw County, there certainly are some indirect benefits.

“It brings a lot of people to the area,” Leonard said. “West Branch doesn’t see a great benefit, but Rose City does, of course. Those businesses earn money from ORVers and then there’s the trickle-down effect.”

Leonard agreed that being an ORV-friendly county can be a big help to the local economics.

“ORVs are very important to our area,” he said. “A lot of people come up here. It’s brought a lot of new business to the area.”

Dr. Kendall Paulson, owner of Rose City Chiropractic, was instrumental in bringing the ORV ordinance to Ogemaw County, according to many. He said the ordinance has brought a lot to the area.

“Many ORV activities, business opportunities, and trail projects have been taking place in our county as a result,” he said. “These include becoming the destination of choice for the largest ATV club in Michigan. This club has contributed to the Rose City Playground Fund and assisted in the Lupton Trail Project, which will provide an ORV/snowmobile parking area and access to food and gas in Lupton for riders coming from the very popular Bull Gap trail system.”

Yamaha Corporation recently presented a $10,000 grant toward that project. In addition, Yamaha also presented Rose City with an additional $18,750 grant for a trailhead which held its grand opening Tuesday.

Paulson added that last year, the state’s largest off-road motorcycle group celebrated its 40th year in Rose City for its fourth-consecutive Fall Color Tour. More than 450 people participated in that event.

“The Beaver Trail Campground of Clear Lake is busier than it has ever been, catering to ORV enthusiasts,” Paulson said. “That was a campground that took over three years to sell because of lackluster business. Now it’s enjoying full capacity most weekends. The Clear Lake Bar installed a gas pump. Realtors report ORV enthusiasts looking for property and cottages in our county as opposed to others without ordinances.”

Bob Hetherington oversees the Sheriff’s ORV Patrol, and he says Ogemaw County has a lot to offer ORV riders.

“We’ve got a lot of nice hills here,” Hetherington said. He said he talks to people from all over — including people from out of state, as well as Canadian residents.

“They all come up because they like the hills,” he said. “They like the opportunity to (ride on the sides of the roads and) get food and get gas.”

Hetherington said that before 1992, all county roads and two-track trails were open to anyone. However, in 1992 a law was passed that closed roads and two-track trails to ORVs unless posted otherwise. He said when the opportunity arose to once again open the shoulders of the roads to ORV traffic, it had to be done.

“It was very important to get all this opened up,” he said.

And since the ORV ordinance was passed, Hetherington said he has seen a large increase in the numer of ORVs in the trails.

Hetherington said that ORVs are becoming the new snowmobile.

“ORVs outnumber snowmobiles now,” he said. “We’re trying to get more trails opened up. If you put all the ORVs on the trails that we have now, it would be like Detroit at rush hour. We need to open up the two-tracks.”

Currently, while ORVs are allowed to operate on the shoulders of county roads, they are still not permitted on two-track trails, which Hetherington described as a road with a strip of grass down the center.

He said there is talk of possibly opening up the two-track trails to handicapped riders and seniors.

“We’re not trying to see how fast we can go,” he said.

According to Hetherington, there are approximately 50 miles of trails in Ogemaw County. Those trails lead to 342 miles of trails in other counties.

“From our area you can access six different trails in Roscommon and Oscoda County,” Hetherington said. “That’s what makes it so neat here.”