By Vern Hee

Tough Mudder was declared a major success by Beatty businesses, the town’s Chamber and the massive event’s organizers.

Over the weekend roughly 13,000 people came through the small town to compete in a series of grueling outdoor competitions.

The Oct. 6-7 event attracted roughly 5,500 contestants and another 6,000 spectators.

Beatty businesses, mostly restaurants, bars and hotels, saw heavy traffic throughout the weekend. Ann Marchand, treasurer of the Beatty Chamber, said it is estimated that Beatty businesses made upwards of $120,000 from Tough Mudder.

Rich Weathers, Denny’s general manager in Beatty, said he had no idea how to prepare for the event and said he probably ordered too much food.

“Normally on a good day we average about 450 people. Saturday was our best day ever at 1,275 for the day. The day for the most part went in spurts. We would get busy and then it would slow down and then it would get busy again,” he said.

Mel’s Diner across town reported that they also had the busiest day of their year. Patty Stroop, one of the owners, said she had a very steady morning and then her waitress, Kellee Delatore, said they were very busy after 1 p.m.

On an average day, Mel’s sells about 30 hamburgers and they usually close in the afternoon after lunch. For Tough Mudder, the restaurant stayed open for dinner until 9 p.m. Delatore said they were slammed for the rest of Saturday.

“We easily sold more than 100 hamburgers that day. From 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., business did not slow down till after 7:30,” she said.

The Area 51 gas station at Lathrop Wells said all Saturday morning they experienced a steady flow of people. Even Mom’s Diner in Pahrump said they experienced a busy weekend.

“Friday evening my son Brett said they got slammed and really did not know why,” said Dianne Chumley, part owner of Mom’s.

Lt. Frank Jarvis of the Nye County Sheriff’s Office substation in Beatty said the extra people over the weekend caused no problems.

“For as many people as it brought to town, no problems. Good folks clearly; it was a good day,” he said.

Two very young entrepreneurs, Jasmine Olson and Haylee Faulkner, received a free lesson in business. Their aunt, Kathy Swann, owner of the Road Less Traveled at 121 South Second Street and Highway 95, said she has been teaching the youngsters about business. She said she helped the two set up a lemonade stand outside her own store to learn firsthand.

“They did better than I did over the weekend. They did over $200, $166 on Saturday and about $40 on Sunday. The two girls were open from 8:30 p.m. to about 5 p.m. on both days. I am proud of them for doing this. I told them to open a savings account. I should put a dollar in the bank for every ten. I would rather see them doing this than watching TV,” said Swann.

Mario Gardener, owner of Resort Parking, was very impressed with the Tough Mudder organization. He said they were a very young group and it was very refreshing to know that the younger generation was so well organized.

“The organization is incredible. They are all young-minded people. Every event has special people in special areas to put together the various things from the structures to the obstacles to the operation. Every facet is well covered. The growth is phenomenal. They grow 100 percent each year. I will work with them again. I travel with Tough Mudder and have done three of these events,” said Gardener.

Tough Mudder, according to Marchand, employed 150 people from the town of Beatty to work the concessions.

Mudder also employed many who travel from one Mudder to the next.

Peter Thorington cuts hair for Mudder and is from Los Angeles.

“People come from all over to do something bad ass, the least I can do is help them out and cut some hair,” he remarked. He said he cuts about 1,000 Mohawks for the day at no charge to the participants.

Raw Spit was the MC and came all the way out from Detroit to act as the official motivator and starter.

“It was the first time to Beatty for me. This place is definitely not Detroit. I got to see a real Western saloon and that was pretty trippy. I start 1,500 people every hour and it’s up to me to motivate these people and convince them they can do this monumental task,” said Spit.

Tough Mudder said they are already on the books for Tough Mudder again in Beatty next year.