Diablo reborn... Say Hello to Mountain Creek Bike Park

by Scott Secco
Jan 19, 2012 at 20:06

Mountain Biking Lives at Mountain Creek!


Paraphrasing another adventure guy Mark Twain, “The reports of the death of mountain biking at Mountain Creek have been greatly exaggerated.”

In fact, it is the beginning of a new era. Today Mountain Creek announced that the Mountain Creek Bike Park, formerly known as Diablo Freeride, will open for the 2012 season Saturday, May 5, 2012.

After a number of years of obviously eroding commitment and investment, Mountain Creek has taken control of the Bike Park with the intent to return to roots and bring the passion and energy back to lift-served riding in New Jersey.


Our commitment to our customers and the riding community:

• We will rehabilitate neglected trails, including the repair of the critical section beneath the Cabriolet.
• We will make significant capital investment into trail expansion and the operation;
• We will establish a communication portal to collect ideas and feedback that we can incorporate into the design and operation of the park;
• We will be transparent and share our plans and answers our riders questions;
• We will employ innovative, progressive and professional trail design and construction techniques that will inspire and exhilarate riders of all abilities;
• We will assemble a dedicated trail maintenance crew made up of like-minded riders;
• We will expand and develop new natural terrain and environmentally sustainable downhill trails;
• We will bring new elements like the Bag Jump air bag, demo’d by Aaron Chase in December;
• We will utilize our dedicated and fanatical bikers on the Jiblab fabrication crew to develop signature features;
• We will be a bike park run by riders for riders.

The name has changed. The commitment has changed. The mountain and the location have not.

Mountain Creek Re-Invented. Stay Tuned.
Mountain Creek Bike Park on Facebook

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100 Comments

  • + 58
flag D-o-m (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:27)
 Dude I woke up to the bad news now I'm goin to bed to the good news, damn this day went from bad to good. Hell yea
  • + 5
flag TEAM-ROBOT (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:45)
 This is really good news. Also, three stellar never-before-seen photos from Hylands. I swear the Open has always produced some of sharpest looking racing pictures year after year. Hopefully the new management of the bike park at Mountain Creek can put on another stellar, big-time event like the U.S. Open.

Also, hopefully they change the tired old slanted-slab rock section coming into the JBL garden. That is the most awkward, least fun 20 feet of trail I've ever ridden.
  • + 2
flag deadatbirth (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:11)
 ^^ and its a parking lot for groms to stand around in the middle of the trail
  • + 4
flag Dhracer97 (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:28)
 That didnt take long! Right on! Ride long and strong people
  • + 2
flag PIND-IT (Jan 21, 2012 at 17:18)
 Found out an hour ago it was closing. Now I find out it's not. Talk about mood swings...
  • + 1
flag bike-sheila (Feb 27, 2012 at 17:01)
 I've been off the grid for awhile. i went on their website today and nearly had a heartattack. then i looked here and was so freakin' relieved. close diablo.... you kiddin'? the world would end......
  • + 1
flag deadatbirth (Mar 2, 2012 at 13:45)
 diablow thankfully closed but MCBP thankfully took their place
[Reply]
  • + 25
flag shredwhiteandblue (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:19)
 emotional roller coaster
  • + 1
flag lenmerderdenfer (Jan 20, 2012 at 1:59)
 Nailed on the head
  • + 4
flag finnrambo (Jan 20, 2012 at 12:06)
 its worse than my sister
[Reply]
  • + 12
flag evilamish (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:35)
 Pinkbike are you trying to break my balls
[Reply]
  • + 7
flag powderturns (Jan 19, 2012 at 23:01)
 Reading between the lines, sounds like the previous managements contract was up. Some discussions around a renewal fell through and obviously, he was pissed and fired off the salvo you read prior to this. Again, reading between the lines, sounds like most local riders are stoked about the change in management...
  • + 2
flag umbodie (Jan 20, 2012 at 8:54)
 You know how I know you are a real mountain biker.. "stoked" is heavily embedded in your vocabulary. Smile

May 5 can't get here soon enough. So stoked.
  • + 1
flag phdotd (Jan 24, 2012 at 3:42)
 or he could've been a surfer, sport climber, white water kayaker, windsurfer, snowboarder, skateboarder, FMX rider i.e. a multitude of other extreme sport disciplines - they're all stoked
and judging by his name, i'm guessing snowboarder is definitely in there, probably more so than MTB
  • + 1
flag deakmaster (May 7, 2012 at 9:33)
 tell 'em.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag AdamBWB (Jan 20, 2012 at 7:41)
 I've been riding Mtn Creek since it first opened and had like 4 trails. After years of improvements it was finally getting somewhere however the last year it was like people gave up on trail maintainence. I showed up opening day for 2011 to ride the same beat up trails that were left from opening day. I actually remeber a couple huge trees down on major trails, one of which was down after the "Anthem" drop and i believe someone got pretty f-ed up becuase there were no closure signs or anything. After that day i decided the drive to highland mtn bike park was well worth it, then riding rutted out sloppy non-maintained trails. I saw the end coming for Diablo last year with the unfortunate events that took place however I am totally stoked to see it under new management with an actual plan of attack with goals in mind. Cheers to what will hopefully be a great East Coast Downhill scene and a quality place to ride once again.
Check out beachwoodbikes.com +1
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag bman33 (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:41)
 So I guess today's earlier post was a preemptive strike from another certain party involved. Could be he was a little miffed? .....
  • + 2
flag donch15 (Jan 20, 2012 at 4:43)
 That dude is such a d-bag.
  • + 1
flag bryantaber (Jan 23, 2012 at 4:49)
 Yup, it seems that way. Trying to piss on the party. Seems like he knew that Mountain Creek had plans of going on in a different direction the whole time. When he broke his story to PB that Diablo was closing , it appears he completely misled the writer to believing that Mountain Creek had no intentions of carrying on with biking. Sounds like a typical case of sour grapes.
[Reply]
  • + 7
flag ShastaOutdoorMedia (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:32)
 Possibly the world's most annoying thing is people with a crapton of money jerking you around.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag john2john (Jan 20, 2012 at 8:40)
 Thank God! Its so nice and close! I cant w8 and hope that they really put some work into those trails, they need it BADLY! The place is really awesome just needs some lovin and care. Do it up MCBP i will be there son!!!!! BBBRRRRAAAAPPPPP!!!!
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  • + 5
flag Rhomzzz Plus (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:22)
 HELLL YEAHHHH I was so sad this morning but now im stoked again!!!! YEEEWWWWW
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag gfisher270 Plus (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:22)
 Best thing to happen to the park.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag mobilechernobyl (Jan 20, 2012 at 11:55)
 I haven't really ridden there the last two years, but I'd personally like to see a re-opening and larger effort towards the gnatural trails they used to primarily have... Sure throw some wood work in here and there for flow aides, but more earthen construction would be awesome with technical riding as a focus.

That and I hope they start making video clips again with Mini-Mac and his awesome RC-like reviews of DH bikes lol...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag deadlywhisp (Jan 19, 2012 at 23:28)
 that is awesome that the mountain creek will give out a lift accessed bike park but, will it be the pricing and rates as when Diablo was there, if they are going to do all this and jack up the rates, have we really got anything in the end. Just playing devils avoccate is all. I know last years US Open saw a lot of changes from the previous year and the rates of the hotel and other things were near double, also the prizes for the racers were totally different than previous years and so werent the prizes they gave away to the spectators. I hope everything goes over well and the new management works out.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bryantaber (Jan 23, 2012 at 4:37)
 How can Diablo own the rights to the name "US OPEN?" Does one man in Europe hold the name World Cup. That sound s crazy. I would see if it was called the US Open at Diablo. Seems a little too sweeping to be able to own that name. Sp that means that the owner of Diablo can bring his race to any other MTN??
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Descender46 (Jan 21, 2012 at 20:55)
 racer303 (2 days ago)
100% wrong here, I ride there between 3 and 4 times a week, the old owner fired all the trail crew and did no maintenence for the last season, and ran it into the ground, he canceled all the events and decided not to pay out on the race series, the us open shrinks every year as the prizes and format continues to decline. The old owner was more or less evicted and forced out because of all the problems he was causing with his mountain and the problems for mountain creek. They have gotten all the old employees that MADE the old trails and basically turned the clock back to before shawn ruined it with his greed. Expect the place to be 100x better than it was. You can trust me that "diablo" getting kicked out was the best thing to happen to this resort. go to diablo's facebook, you see 80 comments, but only 10 are visual, this is because anybody who mentioned the new park or how they didnt like it got banned, like myself, and yourself if you post something other than "wha wha wha i loved diablo"
Descender: THe rumor i heard was Sean took the money for all the season passes and split ,which is untrue.Total misinformation!
The season passes will be honored by the new management
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag drs140t (Jan 20, 2012 at 6:02)
 It's good to see my old stomping ground is getting back up and running. I would like to see them build on the other side of
the property, connect the two sides and build some new trails.
  • + 1
flag tomchurch (Jan 20, 2012 at 6:22)
 We'll have to get you back down here to ride again!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Descender46 (Jan 21, 2012 at 20:43)
 What actually happened was the trail manager left the State relocated ,and made an announcement on Facebook.The announcement stated he decided to resign because of the Mountain Coaster amusement park Slide encroaching on the Tempest side of the mountain,interfering with the plans of expansion .This started a series of other postings ending with this "Mountain Creek Free ride park " Solution .
One cool thing will be, All Mountain trails,on the other side of the mountain ,in the direction of where "Outlaw"goes , featuring man made skinnies ,jumps, and obsticals . A lot of State parks don't allow Building materials ,or man made structures .But this one may have some wild designs
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag carletonman (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:07)
 Time to bring in the Gravity Logic crew and spruce things up a bit. From what I heard the trails got rather shoddy the past couple of years...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag turnerburton (Jan 20, 2012 at 18:00)
 May 5th will be a zoo! Big props to Mt Creek for putting it out there right from the start. You know if they don't one though they will get flamed, so let's hope for the best.

I've been riding there for 3 years now, and I'm not going to slam Sean. I think every year the trails got better, new trails showed up, and Sean ad to work around the schedule of an off season ski resort. Let's face it, that's when ski resorts fix stuff, add stuff, etc. now they're a year round facility under a single management, so new challenges are coming.

Hopefully they can learn from Whistler and bring that level of riding to the East. Give me an East Coast Camp of Champions, I'll take some training from any of those coaches. Toss in 20 miles of East Coast single track up top and you'll get a lot more riders up there every week.

Congrats, see you all in May!
  • + 1
flag trailjunkie12897 (Jan 20, 2012 at 20:23)
 check out the highland camps
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag harlembrown (Jan 22, 2012 at 20:14)
 Looking forward to the opening thought me and my riding dogg Smoke46 would have to travel to a further venue
,nothing rivals Mountain Creek on the East Coast or even comes close hope they have something big planned for the big opening. Especially for the dedicated returning patrons . See all of you all May 5th and best wishes for a great summer of riding to all of you Diablo riders and all downhillers world wide Two Wheels Down!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag gohardjersey (Jan 27, 2012 at 1:08)
 no the US open will not be there bud, read a lil bit. the old owner thats been ousted owns the name us open and from what I've read he owns a small snowboard company out west where he resides and is imagine it will be there. the guy seems to be more into the money aspect of it and id imagine its profitable for him to get that moving as quick as possible. Im glad that this didn't play out how blue mountain did. i heard that blue mountain was just starting to take shape and was ended for a water park instead. i see lots of people complain about diablo's quality of trails ect but i have a really great time every time i go.....and the riders that ride there are great, everybody's usually super friendly and i always end up with new riding buddies every time i go. i saw somebody get super hurt over shooting a landing and everybody came together to help..... a great collective effort.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag trimakas (Jan 20, 2012 at 7:45)
 Now that's a legit company. Puttin' down a concrete commitment to riders about improving everything that was apparently lacking. Nice work Mountain Creek. Can't take them words back now!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag shishka (Jan 19, 2012 at 22:33)
 They must have been struggling for stories today on pink, should have left out the old story about diablows and give us the the real news that mt creek back in action. We all knew seans contract was up, heard that a year ago.
  • + 4
flag feldmana (Jan 20, 2012 at 5:58)
 Ian Highlands was providing the most recent and up to date information. Then, due to that initial posting, the emotional responses assisted in getting the "new" newz out. If not for the initial "Diablo Disclaimer" story, we could have waited another 2 months to find this info out.......Good job Ian Highlands, even updated with "future is yet unknown, but will update once it is....." then bam, here we are today, wondering how much a season pass will be and when we can purchase one!!! Season pass holders from last year (2011) @ diablo can pick up a TriplePlay pass for skiing this year, compliments of the 2 month wash out.........
  • + 1
flag shishka (Jan 20, 2012 at 7:13)
 Ya right, i must have better sources than him because both these stories old news, specially diablo. People around here been buggin out for weeks talkin diablo finished sell your bike. I was laughing because already knew sean out and diablo was his company. Just didnt know what the new name would be. They wouldnt have sold all us season passes if the trails closing. You have to remember this is new jersey we talking about and they all retarded out there.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag LlewVerge (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:02)
 that was a quick closing and re-opening
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag TheFireSermon (Jan 20, 2012 at 5:06)
 Hope new MGMT listens to us regs who have been there for many of year. A lot of the trails need some good old TLC and re-opening like Utah!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag BLIPDH (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:33)
 probably going to be going to school back east in a year and im so stoked for the riding haha
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag cannibalcait (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:11)
 This is great news for all local riders AND everyone else who travel miles to ride Diablo, now, "MCBP" season after season. Keep it alive! Shred on shredders...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jpzworldskater (Jan 20, 2012 at 8:20)
 So basically Mountain Creek this winter said oh shit we aren't going to make any money because there is no snow so they bought the bike park?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag crash21 (Jan 22, 2012 at 11:21)
 lame name "mt. creek bike park" - diablo had a nice ring. but re-investing at this point, has a better! looking forward to it
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag free-rider1970 (Jan 22, 2012 at 4:01)
 Wow!! Afer hearing a sad sad news, it turned out to be good.

Looking forward to hearing from east coast bros enjoying May 5th riding!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag alexshirley (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:28)
 I've never been there and probably won't ever get to go but that's just awesome.
  • + 1
flag goober6801 (Jan 20, 2012 at 13:49)
 You should take a trip. Its well worth it.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Descender46 (Jan 21, 2012 at 18:58)
 Ha ha ! Blow the dust off the DH bike in the Spring . I would have gone there anyway and rode "The Jack " ...going UPHILL instead on my XC bike !
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag barkleyboy3300 (Jan 23, 2012 at 19:15)
 My bad. Ya just have to read all the way through sometimes. No dates though? I have to start planning and get the days off from work.Sucka duck.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag jgottya1 (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:51)
 SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag fedz (Jan 20, 2012 at 2:12)
 Ex-management sour grapes yesterday, new management commitment and expertise today....
  • + 3
flag feldmana (Jan 20, 2012 at 6:02)
 Sour grapes yesterday, VINO today.........
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag BLIPDH (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:32)
 well that was quick haha
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag stevecabrera (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:42)
 wow false alarm!! .............not coool bros!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag beeboo (Jan 21, 2012 at 19:56)
 This is siiiiiick, such great news! I'm definitely making a trip here this summer Smile
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag BangBangTheMovie (Jan 22, 2012 at 19:27)
 Its about time! Hahahahahhahah
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag barkleyboy3300 (Jan 23, 2012 at 19:12)
 Just finding out all this now. I was planning on going up there for The U.S. Open. Did they mention anything about that?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag nocker (Jan 20, 2012 at 4:56)
 NICE!!!! I was all bummed but now I'm happy again!!! Glad to hear it. can't wait to ride Mountain Creek!
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag RadChad (Jan 20, 2012 at 6:56)
 Well I think it's GREAT that the park will remain open. However - Am I the only one reading between the lines here??? Previous (Diablo) management worked their asses off for MANY years to build one of the best parks in the country. New Mt ownership comes into the picture and sees a way to line their pockets some more. So they make things difficult for the previous management so they look bad to the public/riders and then no contract renewal for 2012! Whether you liked the old management or not, this stinks of bullshit corporate takeover tactics. Again, glad the park will remain open, but I feel sorry for Diablo management. They laid the groundwork through years of blood and sweat to have "corpo" slide in and reap the benefits - LAME!
  • + 9
flag racer303 (Jan 20, 2012 at 7:21)
 100% wrong here, I ride there between 3 and 4 times a week, the old owner fired all the trail crew and did no maintenence for the last season, and ran it into the ground, he canceled all the events and decided not to pay out on the race series, the us open shrinks every year as the prizes and format continues to decline. The old owner was more or less evicted and forced out because of all the problems he was causing with his mountain and the problems for mountain creek. They have gotten all the old employees that MADE the old trails and basically turned the clock back to before shawn ruined it with his greed. Expect the place to be 100x better than it was. You can trust me that "diablo" getting kicked out was the best thing to happen to this resort. go to diablo's facebook, you see 80 comments, but only 10 are visual, this is because anybody who mentioned the new park or how they didnt like it got banned, like myself, and yourself if you post something other than "wha wha wha i loved diablo"
  • + 3
flag RadChad (Jan 20, 2012 at 7:41)
 Hey - Thanks for setting me strait. Glad to hear it! Now I delete my post if I can!
  • + 1
flag goober6801 (Jan 20, 2012 at 8:32)
 I got banned for bitching about the trails.
I real hope in time MCBP can get the US Open back here or maybe a National. WC would be SICK..
See you all May 5!!!
  • + 2
flag sino428 (Jan 20, 2012 at 11:20)
 Yea its funny. There's a bunch of comments on Diablo's facebook from people upset the park is closing. But if you post a comment letting them that mountain creek has taken over and the park isn't closing, they take your comment down.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag chillindrdude (Jan 20, 2012 at 5:53)
 even though i'm laid up with an MCL injury, this news brings a smile to my face. Go JERSEY!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag oreo1700 (Jan 20, 2012 at 6:48)
 best technical trails ive ever ridden. Great news!!!
  • + 2
flag deadatbirth (Jan 20, 2012 at 9:27)
 you need to get out more
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jarhead86 (Jan 20, 2012 at 4:12)
 Jesus! I was bummed al day about it and woke up this morning and this is glorious!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag pbuser43937 (Jan 21, 2012 at 6:48)
 What about the XC trails for Mike K. he wants more!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jarhead86 (Jan 20, 2012 at 11:57)
 I retract my previous statement from yesterday about the new owner...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag thevondals (Jan 21, 2012 at 8:11)
 it should be law that all ski resorts have biking in summer..MADD AIRE
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag FSJHunter (Jan 20, 2012 at 6:04)
 That's some great news for all you southern bro's
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag BikkerEric Plus (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:01)
 It was closed for less than a day haha
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mountguitars (Jan 19, 2012 at 22:01)
 happy for you guys. i hope i can visit the east coast one of these days.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag rockymountainrider14 (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:46)
 so why did they only change the name of the mtb park
  • + 1
flag JBR132 (Jan 20, 2012 at 12:23)
 im pretty sure the old owner has the rights to the Diablo name and logo, so when they changed management they just used the name of the ski resort they are located at
[Reply]
  • - 3
flag knopf (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:22)
 What was the point of that.... why not just wait and say Diablo has been taken over. Pinkbike you jumped the gun, "Diablo is no more" and then the next day "oh wait, nevermind we were wrong, we just heard a rumor and posted it and then heard the real news"
  • + 6
flag velociraptor-clintthrust (Jan 20, 2012 at 1:48)
 I know how will we ever survive now that they've done that. Absolutely horrifying
  • + 3
flag sino428 (Jan 20, 2012 at 6:40)
 I don't think its pinkbike's fault. I don't think Mountain Creek was fully prepared to make this announcement about the bikepark just yet, and had not announced anything yet. But when the Diablo owner put out his statement, everyone went crazy thinking there was no more bike park, so Mountain Creek decided to make the announcement.
  • + 2
flag racer303 (Jan 20, 2012 at 7:23)
 this ^
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Justcruizing (Jan 22, 2012 at 0:18)
 Yo, good news...looking forward to getting back there soon
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag thebillygoat6000 (Jan 20, 2012 at 3:54)
 what about U.S. open?
  • + 1
flag rav400 (Jan 20, 2012 at 4:43)
 previous management owns the rights to the "Diablo" and "U.S. Open" name. No U.S. Open at Mountain Creek, but i beleive they are planning similar event at Mountain Creek.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag konamtbiker (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:42)
 will the us open still be here?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag gottarex (Jan 20, 2012 at 4:30)
 I can finally sleep well again =)
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag neimbc (Jan 20, 2012 at 4:26)
 "Hello Mountain Creek Bike Park!"
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag KrzyRider (Jan 20, 2012 at 11:38)
 THANK GOD ! I WAS SCARED FOR A WAIL !
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag rav400 (Jan 20, 2012 at 4:43)
 yay
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag lionsphinx (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:23)
 Er....
  • + 1
flag conv3rt (Jan 19, 2012 at 22:41)
 yeah..ok...what? same place new management?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag potterslag (Jan 19, 2012 at 20:20)
 YARRRRRRRR
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag james8308 (Jan 19, 2012 at 21:57)
 That was fast
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag QQdownhiller Plus (Jan 20, 2012 at 3:49)
 What did I tell you all

Told you it would live on!
  • + 6
flag racer303 (Jan 20, 2012 at 7:24)
 log off and go home
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tdogg (Jan 20, 2012 at 8:26)
 PHEW!....
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag cicadapoole82 (Jan 21, 2012 at 5:21)
 Sick photos
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag konarider112 (Jan 20, 2012 at 10:02)
 Bring back EVIL BOB!!!
  • + 1
flag TheFireSermon (Jan 22, 2012 at 8:11)
 Evil Bob is open, was all last year!!!
  • + 1
flag konarider112 (Feb 8, 2012 at 8:50)
 Not officially
[Reply]
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