In the coming weeks, we will be updating the CCR II web site with all the relevant information, so please be patient and check back regularly.  Thank you for your understanding and support.  We look forward to meeting all of you in September.

Sincerely,

The CCR II Team

Some of the key points that led to this change include:

• Spirit and Camaraderie
• Available facilities to better support a large group
• More route options from the Hot Springs area
• Easier access to the reunion location
• Non-riding activities for attendees 

Spirit and Camaraderie

One concern for the reunion organizers was to avoid the "us versus them" feeling that might arise from the lodging limitations in Broken Bow.  With most of last year's attendees located at the Lakeview Lodge and the new attendees limited to either camping or hotels/motels more than 10 miles away, we concerned with a negative impact to the spirit of the CCR.  

We hope that all agree that the spirit of the CCR is the camaraderie and shared sense of family and not the location.  The move to Hot Springs offers a better opportunity to keep the group together and build upon the spirit that is the CCR.

Facilities

The Lakeview Lodge that hosted the first Curve Cowboy Reunion sold out in the first few weeks following the event.  This limits the lodging options to camping at the Lakeview Campground or other hotel locations more than 10 miles from the reunion site.  Since we are expecting 100+ bikes attending the reunion, we feel that we just outgrew the Lakeview Lodge.  

Hot Springs offers a much larger selection of lodging options ranging from Luxury Condos to Hotel and Motel Rooms to Camping within 4 miles of "CCR II Central".  The primary hotel site has parking to support the expected 100+ bikes and banquet facilities to host the anything from an outdoor BBQ to full blown sit down spread for the Saturday night shindig.  More details on the lodging options will be available soon on the CCR II web site Hotel and Camping Information Pages.

For those of you worried about an economic impact to the Lakeview Lodge, realize that September is the high season for the area and our departure won't hurt one bit.

Route Options

Riding route options from the Lakeview Lodge were limited to the Talimena Skyline Drive, 50 miles to the north.  Selecting Hot Springs for the location of the 2001 Curve Cowboy Reunion opens up a whole set of day long riding routes.  These include the always beautiful Talimena Skyline Drive (approx. 195 miles round trip), Arkansas' famous Pig Trail (approx. 300 miles round trip), and Sceneic Byway 7 (approx. 325 miles round trip).  Each of these routes have several options that will allow you to ride as much or as little of the route to suit your particular desires.

There will be no organized Group Ride for CCR II.  This would have been the case even if the location were still the Lakeview Lodge in Broken Bow.  With the number of bikes at over 100, the logistics for organizing such a ride makes this much more difficult for the CCR II team to coordinate.  If you want to gather together for joint rides, please feel free to organize your own group rides.  More details on Suggested Riding Routes will be available soon on the CCR II web site

Reunion Access

The Lakeview Lodge in Broken Bow offers very limited access via US 259 from the North and South.  US 259 is the area's primary thoroughfare for commercial traffic, particularly logging traffic.  Combined with the lodging limitations, many of the CCR attendees would be required to travel between the Lakeview Lodge and Broken Bow or Idabel on US 259.  Our primary concern was for those who would be traveling between the Lakeview Lodge and the alternate lodging locations, especially for those returning from the CCR II evening activities or after a long day of riding fairly challenging roads.

Hot Springs offers access from various major US Highways and Interstates.  Hot Springs is accessible from I-40 and Fort Smith via US 71 and US 270, Russellville from I-40 via Scenic Byway 7, Little Rock from I-30 via US 70 or US 270, and Texarkana via I-30 and Scenic Byway 7 or US 59 and US 70.  More details on reunion access will be available soon on the CCR II web site Directions page.  You can also check the  Area Maps and Along the Way pages for additional travel information and ideas.

Non-Riding Activities

One complaint about the Broken Bow location was the lack of activities for non-riders or people who just want to take a break from riding.  While the hardcore members of the group might think this is a cop out, we want to make sure that we consider some of our members that just want to hang out and play.  

In case you just want to take it easy, Hot Springs offers many non-riding activities to occupy your time.  These include Jet Ski and Boat Rentals on Lake Hamilton, Shopping in Historic Downtown Hot Springs, taking in the view from the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, or a leisurely ride on any number of the short trips on local roads through the Hot Springs National Park.