Gordon Pine Barrens 50

The idea and plan for the Gordon Pine Barrens 50 (GPB50) started the year of the pandemic when longtime training friends who lived in Gordon purchased gravel bikes. Over time, they explored the gravel roads, trails, and sites near their homes, later venturing to the gravel roads east of Gordon that they didn’t even know existed. During rides on the gravel, they would commonly talk about the idea of having a race/event and often said, “Gravel riders would just love these roads!” In addition to talking about gravel and riding, they frequently spoke about the landscape’s geology, fire ecology, and interest in the area’s historical importance. These conversations also included the importance of the Gordon/Wascott Historical Society and their efforts to research, learn, celebrate, and teach Gordon’s past.

Recent examples of the efforts of the Gordon/Wascott community include the preservation of two important landmarks. These included the Gordon Ranger Station Fire Tower, built in 1935, which was slated to be removed, but was saved from the scrap yard, and a mail-order building that was built in 1937 to serve as a gas station, which was relocated to the “Main Street” and restored into an ice cream and gift store. This addition to the Main Street compliments the Buckhorn Bar and Grill, Douglas County’s longest running bar and restaurant continually operating since 1935 (Photo). These recent community efforts demonstrate the interest and dedication to preserving Gordon’s more recent history, while representing only a “minute in time” compared to Gordon’s development since the mid-1800s.

Historical Note: Research shows that the earliest humans in this area were dated at 5,000 to 8,000 BC and that Gordon/Amick is the oldest European settlement in the interior/inland of NW Wisconsin (gordonwascotthistoricalsociety.org).

The love for gravel roads and the history of Gordon led to the idea and planning of the Gordon Pine Barrens 50 (GPB50). This gravel event, made by gravel enthusiasts, will give riders a fun, safe, and challenging experience. Most important is learning about Gordon’s landscape and history while Giving Back to the Gordon community.