Glens Falls Chronicle Serving the Glens Falls/Lake George region; Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties since 1980
John and Carol McClean-Wright, New Mexico residents who owned the 1000 Acres dude ranch in Stony Creek from 2016 to 2019, bought the 30-mile rail line from North Creek to Tahawus for $3.3-million in a bankruptcy auction.
The Albany Times-Union reported on March 3 that the couple’s Doc N Duchess Rails LLC “want to ship military-grade titanium ore from an old mine in the area” that they say “they are in the process of buying…from Mitchell Stone Products.”
Titanium was shipped heavily on the rail line during World War II.
There is sudden added interest in it now because Boeing has been using Russian titanium in aircraft manufacturing.
In 2016, Ms. McLean-Wright was high bidder for the bankrupt former 1000 Acres dude ranch, purchasing it for $1.405-million.
The Albany Business Review said at the time, “McLean-Wright, who taught science for 35 years in California, Pennsylvania and Florida, is planning millions of dollars in renovations. She wants to turn the resort into an instructional camp that focuses science, math, engineering and technology….”
But 1000 Acres was sold in 2019.
Revolution Rail still on track…
Chronicle Managing Editor Cathy DeDe writes: Last week’s apparent $3.3 million sale at bankruptcy auction of the 30-mile Iowa Pacific rail line that runs from North Creek to Tahawus won’t immediately impact the Revolution Rail bike business that operates out of North Creek.
“We’re all set,” at least for the time being, co-owner and founder Rob Harte told The Chronicle. “We are running this season no problem.”
Revolution Rail’s Mr. Harte noted that their rail bike business started on the Tahawus spur in 2017.
“It’s our home base and we’d like to keep on going. It’s definitely a big part of our business.”
He said he spoke with the Tahawus line’s purchasers — Doc N Duchess Rails LLC — Carol McClean-Wright “and Doc” (her husband, John) about continuing to use the line, “and they seem great and want to work together. They see our value to the community. I am honestly excited about this.”
Revolution Rail opened the auction for the rail line with an advance “stalking horse” bid of $700,000.
“What we gained by doing that, is a term was put in, we were going to be able to run in 2022, even if we didn’t win the bid,” he said. “It was sort of a legal thing, a carrot for putting our toe in the water first.”
Revolution Rail was an active bidder in the auction. “We did our best. We honestly hoped to prevail. We put our chips on the table — but they had more chips, a lot more chips,” Mr. Harte said.
Revolution Rail bikes operate four area runs, most accessed by shuttle from their home base at the North Creek Depot.
The first uses part of the Tahawus line. The other three, opened in 2020 and 2021, are on rails leased from Warren County, running towards Riparius, Stony Creek and Hadley.
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