The Kingsport-based Biker Babe Believers group was excited to find a rest stop along one of their new favorite places in the region to ride Wednesday.

“As a group, we’ve biked the Tweetsie Trail several times since it was opened,” BBBs member Laura Pickwell said. “But this shelter was not finished the last time we came out here.”

Many of the women were impressed by the view of the quarry on the opposite side of the trail where the recently completed Rotary Shelter is situated.

“It’s so beautiful right here,” BBBs member Candy Hobbich said. “I can’t wait to come back in the fall.”

After a quick photo shoot with the quarry as a backdrop, the women dismounted their bikes and walked over to some benches in a small amphitheater area to rest.

“It’s very relaxing out here,” group member Becky Strand said. “This is my first day with them. I’m loving this.”

The next question on all of their minds was who to thank for the new rest area.

“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to them,” Strand said. “It’s very well-maintained.”

All of the women in the group agreed that the new structure invites more groups like them to come enjoy the Tweetsie Trail.

“It’s so nice of them to do this for the community to use,” Hobbich said.

Former Elizabethton Rotary Chairman Charlie Long enjoyed his time working with leaders of the Johnson City Rotary Morning Club, Johnson City Rotary Noon Club and Johnson City Rotary Evening Club to build the shelter and miniature amphitheater areas.

The clubs were able to secure a grant for $24,000, Long said.

“This was a great project for all of us to get to work together on,” he said.

The club matched half of the grant money that was donated by Rotary International.

The potential for Happy Valley Elementary and even teachers countywide to use the amphitheater area as a classroom helped the clubs justify their need for the grant.

“Hopefully some of the teachers out there can use it as an outdoor classroom,” Long said.

Long hopes the clubs will continue to build up the location with kiosks, picnic tables and more bike racks.

“We’d like to see a storyboard go in to provide people with information about the local area and trail history,” he said. “This would be nice to have for people unfamiliar with history of area and how important that area is. I believe there are some folks at ETSU working on gathering information about the geology, flora and fauna.”

The project, which is located just before mile marker three and about a quarter mile from the elementary school, was originally supposed to be much larger. However, Long said the clubs came together to assess the actual need.

“We factored in how much use the area might see and we decided it didn’t need to be quite as big,” Long said. “We also tweaked a few of our ideas based on the Tweetsie Trail Task Force requirements. They wanted the style and construction to be consistent with other structures along the trail.”

Architect and rotarian Robert Reedy of Elizabethton’s Reedy & Sykes design firm was instrumental in helping the club achieve that goal, Long said.

“They kept working with us until we got final approval,” Long said.

Charles LaPorte volunteered as a general contractor to supervise the construction.

“We are thankful that he devoted his expertise to project,” Long said.

Also, the Carter County Sheriff’s Department donated labor through the inmate work program.

“The sheriff was adamant about not spending money on labor,” Long said. “They were consistent throughout the process and they did a great job.”

Materials were also donated by the Johnson City Public Works crew for the shelter roof.

There are various other members of the community Long wished to thank for their involvement, but most specifically was Richard and Tyler Tetrick for their donation.

“They donated the granite Rotary spoke and wheel centerpiece in the classroom area,” Long said.

Long hopes to see more and more visitors and locals in the county use and appreciate the new rest area.

“I think the trail users will make good use of the shelter,” Long said. “It’s a nice stop halfway from either terminus and it’s a very beautiful place.”