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events
Paragon Adventure Park Closed - The Final Days
NEW LOCATION OPEN -
Paragon Zion Grove
UPDATE:
May 2007,
The old park may be closed for good but a
new location is now open. The new
location is in Zion Grove, PA and is currenty
open only to 4X4's. Access is by
reservation only.
See the
Paragon Closing Links page to follow the
story.
It seems that the corporate
money makers and lawyers have struck again. Paragon
Adventure Park near Hazleton, PA is closing. Their
final weekend, February 3 & 4, 2007 marks the end of an
off-road park known throughout the US. Paragon and
it's owners are being evicted from the property they were
leasing from PCA Corp to make way for a cargo airport.
According to an article in the Times Leader, a local
newspaper, PCA Corp claims Paragon breached it's 25 year
lease. PCA Corp is intending on selling 4800 acres of
the land currently used by Paragon to Gladstone Partners LP
to build a cargo airport. In an article in the
Standard Speaker it states that PCA approached Paragon and
offered to buy the land but when Paragon declined they were
told the lease was being
terminated because of “breaches and violations,” according
to court papers.
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Statement from Kyle & Stephanie Knosp, Paragon
Before the
rumor mill starts to fly. We want to be up
front with all our customers and supporters.
Currently Paragon and PCA Corporation (land
owner) is in legal dispute over our lease
agreement for this property. We have done
everything within our powers to honor our
agreements with the land holding company,
but they are trying to evict us from the
premises so they can sell the property. We
are still in business and will remain in
business as long as possible and we are
fighting this with every measure available.
We know the next question is how can you
help. Unfortunately, there really isn't
anything you can do. We would however,
appreciate everyone's hopes and prayers for
a good outcome.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kyle & Stephanie Knosp
__________________
Paragon Adventure Park
info@paragonap.com
(570) 384-0550
www.paragonap.com
www.saveparagonap.com
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  We
attended the last Saturday at Paragon and it was an amazing
day. There was believed to be over 300 vehicles in
attendance. It was definitely the largest crowd we
have ever seen there. Everybody seemed in good spirits
and even though the temperature was a frigid 9 degrees it
felt warm as everyone was just enjoying some final time at
this near legendary park. There was music and several
manufacturers on hand to share.
OK Auto
was giving out hot chocolate to try to warm everyone up.
The staging area was nothing but 4X4's and a sea of orange
Paragon flags. There were a wide variety of 4X4
vehicles there that day. Jeeps, Toyotas, Hummers, rock
buggies...brand preference didn't seem to matter and there
were rigs from stock to purpose built.
 Sticky
Lee was selling Save Paragon AP decals and money from
the sale was going to the park. It seemed like every
vehicle had one on it.
Paragon's owners Kyle and Stephanie Knosp were there talking
to everyone and receiving well wishes and support from
everyone. With great emotion Kyle spoke to the crowd
promising that the fight is not over and he stated "Paragon
is not rocks, trees, and dirt...Paragon is everyone standing
right here today" (video)
After Kyle spoke to an audience ovation his wife and him
embraced knowing the road ahead. It was a perfect
example of the camaraderie shared among the 4X4 crowd.
After the speech
there was a raffle to help support the Save Paragon
campaign. Many vendors and manufacturers were on hand
and many donated equipment and gift certificates to benefit
the park. It was reported that over $5000 worth of
merchandise was donated.
OK Auto,
Quadratec, and
Skyjacker were some of the vendors that donated
equipment.
After the raffle was over
everyone was ready to hit the trails, perhaps for the last
time. Drivers and passengers piled into their vehicles
to set out to try to make a lasting memory of this awesome
off road park. On the next few pages we have put
together a photo album capturing our experience of the last
days and remembering the good times we have had over the
years.
Thank you Paragon for providing us a LEGAL place to wheel
our Jeeps. We expect you will continue this fight and
if you do not win this one we look forward to a new Paragon
somewhere else in the future. To quote a famous and
perhaps over used movie line "If you build it they will
come"
Photo Album - February
3, 2007
Photo Album - February
4, 2007
jeepfan.com Paragon Adventures Over the Years
and some others too!
Links to Articles about
Paragon's Property Battle |
