OZ Trails Bike Park

Helping Bring Arkansas’ First Aerial Lift Bike Park To Life

Bella Vista, AR

Before riders could board the lift at OZ Trails Bike Park, the project team had to prepare a complex 285-acre site while protecting the natural setting that makes Bella Vista a destination for outdoor recreation.

Crossland partnered with Casa Americana 2 LLC and Hufft to bring Arkansas’ first aerial lift-served bike park to life. The project includes a 17,763-square-foot headquarters and plaza area, an aerial lift, a scenic hub at the top of the property, and a network of biking, walking and hiking trails designed for visitors of varying ages and experience levels.

The work began well before construction reached the field. During preconstruction, Crossland supported front-end budgeting and helped advance critical shop drawings. Early planning allowed the team to evaluate materials, align expectations and identify practical cost-saving options for an ambitious project moving on an accelerated schedule.

One of the largest challenges sat beneath the future park. Crews filled a 20-foot-deep ravine while installing storm piping to carry an existing creek through the site. Large retaining walls were also constructed to support surrounding infrastructure and manage the site’s significant grade changes. The earthwork required careful sequencing with the park’s lift, buildings, trails and plaza improvements.

The aerial lift brought its own unique coordination requirements. Lift tower installations followed metric dimensions, requiring crews to use metric tapes and levels in the field. As project responsibilities evolved, Crossland assumed coordination of the lift and earthwork teams, helping maintain alignment and keep construction moving.

At the base of the lift, a 45,000-square-foot permeable plaza creates a central gathering point for the park. More than 155,000 individual pavers form the plaza, with over 55 lights incorporated into the paving system. Among the site’s custom elements, 13 light poles and 12 bollards were sourced from Norway. The permeable paving supports water management while complementing the site’s natural surroundings.

Protecting the landscape remained a priority throughout construction. The team worked around existing trees and coordinated the installation of mature specimen trees, some measuring 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Additional mature trees were woven together to establish a natural canopy over portions of the site. Two large-scale sculptures were also installed, requiring added planning and care during placement.

Inside the headquarters building, polished concrete and natural light create a clean, durable environment. Custom solid-surface countertops and integrated sinks imported from Sweden add distinctive detail, while a custom prefabricated bar serves as a focal point. Crossland self-performed concrete, structural steel and finish carpentry, as well as utilizing Crossland Prefab.

OZ Trails Bike Park continues a body of parks and recreation work Crossland has been privileged to support across Northwest Arkansas, including Gateway Park, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, Bella Vista trails and Osage Park, among others. These projects create more than places to ride, walk or gather. They strengthen quality of life, connect people with the outdoors and add lasting value to the communities they serve. Helping bring these spaces to life is especially meaningful in the places where our people live, work and play.

As the design evolved and coordination needs expanded, the team remained flexible and reached substantial completion one month early on the accelerated schedule and within the approved project budget. Throughout construction, tours, lift rides and media visits gave the community an early look at a project generating excitement across Northwest Arkansas. The park’s opening created a memorable connection between the people building it and the community preparing to enjoy it. For one project leader, that moment came before the grand opening, when he took his four-year-old daughter on the chairlift and experienced the park through the eyes of one of its future visitors.

Crossland has had the privilege of helping build several parks and recreation destinations across Northwest Arkansas, including Gateway Park, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, Bella Vista trails and Osage Park, among many others. Projects like OZ Trails Bike Park do more than create places to ride, walk or gather—they strengthen quality of life and help communities connect with the outdoors. We are proud to help bring these spaces to life in the communities where our people live, work and play.

Project Facts

Industry Sector: Hospitality
Cost: $8,001,000
Size: 17,763 SF / 285 Acre Site
Delivery Method: Negotiated
Self-Perform: Finish Carpentry, Steel Erection, Concrete
Owner: Runway Group, LLC
Architect: Hufft