Explore Minnesota Tourism selected the Ride The Range marketing collaboration as the 2023 recipient of the ‘One Minnesota Award.’ Recognizing collaborative efforts of three or more organizations or entities, the award is presented to an outstanding tourism project, initiative or campaign which was designed to advance tourism for a community, area or business district.
Ride the Range is a campaign to promote the mountain bike trails of Giants Ridge (Biwabik), Cuyuna (Crosby), Redhead (Chisholm) and Tioga (Cohasset) and market northern Minnesota as a world-class mountain biking destination.
The campaign was led by the four trail systems, Iron Range Tourism Bureau (IRTB), Minnesota Discovery Center, Visit Grand Rapids and the cities of Chisholm and Cohasset. The trails are featured on a website, ridetherange.com, that provides trails, lodging, camping and dining information to visitors. The marketing campaign, now in its second year, has generated thousands of visits to the website and views of Ride the Range videos.
Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $19,950 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $50,000.
“One of northeastern Minnesota’s many strengths is the collaboration across our industries, schools, nonprofits, businesses and municipalities,” said Commissioner Ida Rukavina, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “The award from Explore Minnesota emphasizes that strength. Cities, tourism organizations and outdoor recreation came together, pooled their individual knowledge, talents and expertise to promote the region as a whole, and achieved a remarkable outcome.”
Ride the Range has received media coverage by Minnesota Trails Magazine, Star Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald Review, Mesabi Tribune, Bring Me The News, Minnesota Monthly, Skinny Ski and Aitkin Independent Age newspaper.
“There is no other place in the world like Minnesota’s Iron Range. This partnership is designed to help share our story and highlight the unique riding experience created by our reclaimed mining landscapes,” said Beth Pierce, IRTB director. “Ride the Range is a successful collaboration. It’s an example of how communities can work together for the economic benefits of tourism and tourism’s halo effect.”
