Scott Trager’s trusty Jeep was the linchpin that inspired him to leave a successful Wall Street career and launch his dreams for a new business in Ulster County. That Jeep is now one of a fleet of vehicles at Northeast Off-Road Adventures (NORA) in Ellenville where Trager shares his passion for off-roading on his own 75-acre wilderness property. NORA’s high-tech training facilities and private woodlands—filled with rutted trails, sand pits, boulder gardens and other terrain challenges—are a safe, fun destination for adventure-seekers chained to a desk and cell phone as well as professionals who require specialized training.
Establishing relationships with local community leaders was key to Trager’s successful launch of his new business—and that’s where the Ulster County Office of Economic Development (UCOED) staff played a vital role.
“They were great, especially in making introductions to local businesses and helping out with my needs through the county and state,” says Trager. “We set up our business and eventually secured funding for our building. You need solid business plans, and you’ve got to believe in yourself and surround yourself with individuals who will hold you to your best.”
But, back in the spring of 2007, NORA was far from Trager’s reality working on Wall Street. “I only drove my Jeep to and from the train station—talk about adventure!” he laughs. One weekend, he and his 13-year-old son went to a Jeep Jamboree and had a great time—even though they got stuck in the mud a lot. They kept on off-roading and after a few months, Trager says, “The passion bug bit me.” He joined The Hudson Valley 4-Wheelers Club, got certified as an International 4-Wheel Drive trainer, and began to search for land to purchase, all while juggling his responsibilities as a global team leader for Bloomberg News automation.
“I needed an exit strategy that included my passion for the outdoors, off-roading and making an income,” he recalls. “I had 15 team members under me, and we pushed out fast moving market information to 450K subscribers in less than the blink of an eye. It was extremely high pressure, high-tech work.”
One keystone of his business model was to find a location within a two-hour drive of NYC; another was his clientele. “They would be people like myself who were chained to a desk and a cell phone, people who wanted an adventure and couldn’t do it on their own very easily.”
“A Gorgeous Piece of Land in Ellenville”
In 2010, Trager found “a gorgeous piece of land in Ellenville” and, within two years, purchased the property, obtained approvals from the local planning board and building inspectors, erected a pavilion and got started. “We struck up a fantastic relationship with the Ellenville Fire Department, and they allowed us to hold classes in their building during the cold weather months,” he says.
“It’s so important to work with local businesses, and that’s one place where Suzanne Holt, Director of the UCOED, helped in a big way. For example, we were planning a training event with the U.S. National Guard from Maryland, and needed a place to store their night vision goggles,” says Trager, adding these military-issue goggles cost $15,000 each. “She introduced us to the NYS Troopers in Ellenville, so we could use their secure location to lock them up.”
C-Suite Executives, Search & Rescue Teams and More
NORA’s new two-story, ADA-compliant facility—with multiple training rooms, a social hall, breakout rooms and a garage—is outfitted with high-tech connectivity and high-speed Internet. Packages are available for businesses and others who wish to schedule off-site meeting events at NORA. These packages can accommodate up to 50 guests, include catered meals by Wilson’s Market and Dominick’s Restaurant & Pizzeria in Ellenville, and offer a choice of four activities, such as off-road driving, obstacle courses, friendly competitions and tours.
NORA offers recovery classes and night tours at Hunter Mountain Ski resort, and search and rescue teams from the Adirondacks, ex-Green Berets, C-Suite executives and government workers have taken customized classes, including a two-day ASHI Wilderness First Aid course. They work with non-profit organizations too, such as New Jersey Wheelers for the Wounded and the Montrose VA Hospital, to do fundraising and customized programs for veterans.
Off-Roading: An Empowering New Adventure
With a fleet of up to 15 vehicles and a qualified staff of guides and instructors, NORA classes cover how 4WD systems operate, safety, terrain, vehicle maintenance and recovery, and more. “Many of our classes are targeted at people who haven’t done these things,” he adds. “It’s empowering.”
“People think Dukes of Hazzard,” he says, “but that is so NOT what we do. You’re crawling over terrain at two or three miles an hour, driving a 4,000-pound vehicle over logs and rocks. There’s minimal impact on the environment, and it’s fun, safe. We teach vehicle and people preservation, and how to be in the outdoors in a responsible way. We also teach how to perform vehicle recovery—we get you stuck and teach you how to get unstuck—and have trained and given tours to about 2,200 people.”
NORA built a 25-inch deep sand obstacle to prepare actress Kiera Chaplin to compete at the 2017 Ralley Aicha des Gazelles in the Moroccan Desert!
Trager offers adventure-themed package deals with some of his neighbors, like Yoga Vida and Honors Haven Resort & Spa. Last year, he created a package for nine international businesspeople: They stayed at Honors Haven, off-roaded for two days, and spent four nights in Manhattan.
“My goal is to make NORA a leading facility for adventure-themed education in the Northeast,” he says. He’s well on the off-road to making that dream come true.
Northeast Off-Road Adventures (NORA)
Phone: (845) 514.9896
Website: https://www.nyoffroaddriving.com
