Pahrump promotes youth off-road riding weekend at OHV Park

The Pahrump OHV Park drew another push as a family destination when the Town of Pahrump promoted a two-day youth rider event for May 16 and May 17, a sign that local officials are still trying to turn the site into a controlled, community-backed asset rather than just an open riding area.

The Saturday session ran under the lights from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by Sunday hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Riders were steered to the park off Highway 160, turning onto Dandelion Street and then Ironwood Avenue. The town said the event was aimed at youth riders on small bikes, electric bikes and quads under 125cc, while adults on pit bikes in the 50cc to 230cc range were also allowed.

Safety and access rules were central to the setup. Helmets were required, as were Nevada OHV stickers, and town staff said they could help with sticker guidance and a One-Time Hall Pass if needed. Big bikes were not allowed on the kid track, underscoring that the event was built around age-appropriate riding and a tighter safety environment. The town also asked for volunteers to help with flagging, rider support and general operations, making clear that the weekend depended on more than just riders arriving and turning laps.

The event fit into a larger pattern. Town notices had already promoted youth rider events on March 15 and March 22, and the Pahrump OHV Park has hosted youth rider days several times since its soft opening in March 2025. That repeated use suggests the park is being tested as a recurring draw for families, not a one-off attraction. If the turnout stays strong, nearby businesses such as gas stations, restaurants and hotels could eventually see more spillover from the park’s schedule.

The town’s investment has also come in phases. A July 2025 report said Pahrump had secured an $88,000 OHV grant for phase III work on an adult track, after earlier funding of $150,000 for grading the 40-acre parcel, building a parking lot and constructing the kids’ track with sound berms, plus just over $81,000 for advanced engineering. State OHV registration revenue helps pay for trail improvements, mapping, signage, law enforcement, education, safety training and restoration projects, which helps explain why the park’s growth has leaned on public dollars and state coordination.

That public investment has not come without friction. Nearby residents have raised noise and dust concerns, while town officials have pointed to sound-barrier and dust-control planning. Even so, the weekend ride was another marker that Pahrump is still building the park into a place where youth recreation, safety instruction and local economic value can all be measured at the same site.