Gary Vernon appointed general manager for Bella Vista bike park
by June 24, 2025 10:56 am 1,301 views
Gary Vernon, director of outdoor recreation and trail innovation for Runway Group, has been named general manager of OZ Trails Bike Park in Bella Vista, according to a Tuesday (June 24) news release.
Vernon’s role as general manager is effective immediately. Runway Group is a diversified holding company based in Bentonville and led by brothers Tom and Steuart Walton, who are grandsons of Walmart founders Helen and Sam Walton. OZ Trails is also led by Steuart and Tom Walton.
In February, OZ Trails announced plans to open a mountain bike park with more than 20 miles of trails in Bella Vista. The bike park will feature a chairlift system, like a ski lift for mountain bike riders. OZ Trails Bike Park is set to open in 2026.
A Bella Vista resident, Vernon has provided the vision for more than 600 miles of mountain bike trails across Arkansas and beyond, the release noted. His work on the OZ Trails network has grown the region from a “handful of volunteer-built trails to a comprehensive system that attracts riders from around the world.”
“Gary Vernon understands what makes great mountain biking experiences,” said J. Scott King, lead developer of OZ Trails Bike Park. “He’s built world-class trail systems and vibrant cycling communities. His track record speaks for itself. Gary helps create destinations that transform entire regions.”
Vernon’s mountain biking career began in 1984 when he started building bicycles at Walmart in Missouri. He spent 30 years working for the Bentonville-based retailer and directed environmental programs “before joining Tom Walton’s vision for outdoor recreation development in 2015,” the release shows.
“Gary’s work over the past decade has been the foundation for what we have with OZ Trails today,” said Tom Walton, CEO of Runway Group. “We wouldn’t be here without his leadership and the hundreds of people who share this vision. The bike park represents everything Gary has been building toward. I’m excited to see where he takes OZ Trails next, and I know we’re just getting started.”
Vernon served eight years as president of Friends of Arkansas Singletrack (FAST), the volunteer organization that maintains mountain bike trails throughout Northwest Arkansas. He led projects like the Arkansas State Parks Monument Trails. In 2019, Vernon received the American Trails Chairman Award for advancing trail design and “changing the landscape for trail systems.” In 2024, Vernon was appointed by Gov. Sarah Sanders to the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission.
“Mountain biking has given me incredible experiences and connections throughout my life,” Vernon said. “At OZ Trails Bike Park, we’re creating a place where riders can challenge themselves and connect with others. I’m excited to work with our team to deliver experiences that exceed every rider’s expectations.”
Earlier this year, Sanders signed the law allowing for lift-access downhill mountain bike parks.
The nearly 200-acre OZ Trails Bike Park is under construction west of Sugar Creek Center, along Highway 71 and north of Interstate 49. The development will include a “state-of-the-art Poma-Leitner high-speed chairlift system, providing year-round, purpose-built lift access for riders across all skill levels.”
Another bike project with lift access is The Trails at Mena, near Queen Wilhelmina State Park in western Arkansas. When complete, it’s expected to be the largest mountain bike park in the world with lift access.