Adam Stephens and Rich Ireland are the Owners of Arrowhead Bike Farm located in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Arrowhead Bike Farm is a New River Gorge gathering point for adventurers of all kinds. At Arrowhead Bike Farm, customers can rent a bike, camp and enjoy outdoor dining on the deck or in the Biergarten with a variety of fresh local and national craft beer after their paddling, biking, hiking or climbing adventure in the New River Gorge area. The mission of Arrowhead Bike Farm is to give people an approachable way into biking and inspire them to ride through education and encouragement.
Stephens and Ireland talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about their business, how they attract customers and what they do every day to run this successful business.
What is your 30-second pitch for Arrowhead Bike Farm?
“I tell people that we are a destination for all sorts of adventure seekers. We have many climbers, people that are whitewater rafting and kayaking, but they can always come to the bike farm. Some of them decide to camp with us, but even the people that come here to whitewater raft they have days where they want to try a different adventure, and we can help them with their bike adventure. We have great food and a great outdoor place with animals like goats and chickens running around. It’s fun. It gives people a chance to break away from their city life while enjoying craft beer outside with good hospitality.” said Ireland.
Talk about the camping opportunities at Arrowhead Bike Farm?
“We have twenty nice campsites and we have this field camping which is very popular with the younger climbers. A little lower cost camping for the night, basic field camping and we have done quite well with both,” said Stephens.
“I think we want to cater to that primitive camping type situation. We see a large uptake in the camper van likers coming in and we have a couple of them stay with us for a month. Working off our internet and just living at the farm in their van,” said Ireland.
How do you attract new customers?
“Our social media has done well for us, so I would say that we live and die by that. It has always been that way and we are maintaining an excellent acceptance rating from our customers. We get some reviews that make you want to get up in the morning and go out there and work some more. Plus there is word of mouth in the biking industry, you know people will go back and tell their riding buddies,” said Ireland.
What is one thing you do every day that contributes to your success?
“Smile and be nice to our customers. I think about the postings on our facebook page with a family showing up to the place and seeing that they are having such a great time, so that reminds me to bring that next time I am up there working,” said Ireland.
Stephens and Ireland were guests on The Positively West Virginia Podcast. Listen to their full podcast here.
PWV QUICK BITS | ARROWHEAD BIKE FARM
- RECOMMENDED BOOK: Thank You For Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide To Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Thomas L. Friedman.
- PIECE OF ADVICE: “The rising kite does float all boats. We all try to help each other and be good ambassadors,” advised Ireland. Stephens suggested, “Leaning heavily on the state and what they provide to you as a new entrepreneur because West Virginia offers a lot to you.”