47°F
weather icon Clear

Pahrump area: Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch set to build world’s largest race track

Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch is set to become home to the longest racetrack in the world after Nye County commissioners gave the go-ahead to purchase an additional 600 acres of public land.

The facility on South Highway 160 received the endorsement of Nye County to purchase approximately 600 acres adjacent on the north and east sides of the property.

The land will be purchased from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management through a competitive bidding process. Nye County agreed to authorize sending a letter to the BLM supporting the sale of the public land.

Russ Meads, of Double M Construction, who serves as a consultant for Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, said that the process takes 18-24 months, and at the end, the 600 acres will be ready for purchase.

“Once it’s available for purchase, Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch is hoping to purchase it for expansion of the driving school,” Meads said.

The proposed expansion is a result of the large demand for the driving school, Meads said. Club Spring Mountain currently has 350 members and the driving school has 120 students per week for Corvette driving lessons.

The world’s longest racetrack in Nürburg, Germany, Nürburgring Grand Prix, currently stands at 13.1 miles. John Morris, the owner of Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, plans to make his racetrack more than 15 miles.

Schinhofen praises effort

Nye County Commission Chairman Dan Schinhofen said that the facility has had an “immensely positive” economic impact on Nye County.

“Expansion of the facility would allow the racetrack to become the largest racetrack in the world,” Schinhofen said in a letter to the BLM. “We believe that expansion of the facility will allow for continued significant positive impact on the county’s leisure and hospitality industry.”

Nye County is currently in the process of amending its development agreement with Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch and master plan to reflect the addition of the extra land for the racetrack, according to the documents.

After purchasing the land, Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch plans to bring the construction plan to the county and obtain all of the necessary permits.

“It will get a lot of national and international attention,” Meads said about the proposed expansion.

The prior land sale to Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch was done under the modified competitive bidding procedures for 120 acres of public land designated for disposal in the 1998 Resource Management Plan, according to the documents.

The requested 600 acres is not designated for disposal in the 1998 plan, and as such, amendment of the 1998 plan will be necessary, according to the documents.

Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch also said it will work with the BLM to avoid or minimize conflict with the alignment because of the nearby proposed west-wide energy corridor.

Earlier this year, Nye County commissioners approved the final residential subdivision map for Spring Mountain Estates at the venue.

Plans call for construction of retail stores, a hotel and a movie theater on the property.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77

MOST READ
THE LATEST
Pahrump Valley football season over

The Trojan’s success brought them to the regional playoffs and nearly into the state championship, but were cut short after losing the the top team in the league in their semifinals game.

Fall Pahrump Valley sports comes to an end

Trojans football were the last to team to stay in the post-season, but that all came to an end after losing to SLAM in the semifinals.

Pahrump Valley advances to the semifinals

After a 48-40 victory for the Trojans, the Pahrump team is advancing to the semifinals against the No. 1 team in the league, Sports Leadership and Management.

Pahrump 500 Club: November results

Over $600 were spread out over three tournaments and two side pots on Sunday