Columnist Susan Snyder: Fund times to be had in Beatty

Monday, June 6, 2005 | 8:14 a.m.

Rural Nevada has a lot more than water to offer the Las Vegas Valley.

At least one local nonprofit organization is finding fertile ground for fundraising in Beatty.

And what's good for charity is good for tourism -- or so proponents of the first Beatty Bullfrog Mountain Bike Ride hope.

"People don't know anything about Beatty," Sue Hackett, chamber of commerce executive director, said. "We're trying to let people know we have a lot going on up here."

Saturday's event benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas, which offers free lodging in a home-type setting to out-of-town families whose children are hospitalized in Las Vegas.

JoAnn Malone, the charity's executive director, said the relationship between Ronald's house and Beatty is well-established. For eight years Beatty schoolchildren have participated in the collection of soda can pop-tabs, which are recycled to benefit the house.

Last year Malone staged the charity's Hummer fundraising rally in Beatty, using mining roads on public and private lands in the area. She hopes Saturday's event will bring 250 riders to the town that sits 116 miles north of Las Vegas on U.S. 95.

"Being from the rural communities myself, I understand the need to bring people from Las Vegas and show them what's out there," said Malone, who was once mayor of Ely.

And Las Vegas already has so many charity walks, runs and bicycle rides, it's hard to come up with something new.

"You can only run down the Strip so many times," Malone said. "This gives (participants) something different. You can take them someplace else and offer them great views and scenery."

Fee for the ride is $45, which includes a T-shirt, rest stops and post-ride barbecue. Register online until 5 p.m. Wednesday, www.rmhlv.com.

Riders also may register from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday in Beatty's city park, behind the Burro Inn on the west side of U.S. 95 as you enter town. Or register at 6 a.m. Saturday at the park. The ride starts at 7 a.m. Helmets are required.

The event, named "Bullfrog" after the local mining district, will honor the amphibian with a bullfrog jumping contest at 2 p.m. Saturday. Entry fee is $5, but contestants must use the frogs provided to them, Hackett said.

"There will be no ringer frogs," she said.

Volunteers will collect the frogs Wednesday on Dave Spicer's ranch. Spicer, a partner in D&H Mining and longtime Beatty resident and cyclist, designed the ride's route. It follows old mining and motoring roads. And though it's not tough terrain, it's not flat.

"You know, the old Model T, Model A and wagon roads they went up some hills and over some rocks," Spicer said. (Beware the bicycle rider who promises "some hills.")

The event is a perfect springboard to gain support for building some mountain-biking trails in the area, Spicer said. It's prime training ground for those who play hard or compete.

"We could do epic events out here," he said.

Events that he hopes will breathe some life back into his hometown.

"We've got some beautiful views," Spicer said. "Beatty exists for something more than filling your gas tank and grabbing a Twinkie."