Three Palms for Sale

byke
Posts
3039
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8/12/2015
Location
Auburn, CA, USA
6/28/2023 11:02am
joshd wrote:
Unless you can hold an area, regional, or national it’s damn near impossible to run a track.    I’m a civil designer, surveyor, and equipment operator...

Unless you can hold an area, regional, or national it’s damn near impossible to run a track. 
 

I’m a civil designer, surveyor, and equipment operator by trade. I would absolutely love to own a track. It’s my dream job. I can’t not make the numbers work. Heavy equipment is extremely expensive to operate. I wish the AMA would come up with something to help these local tracks.  

byke wrote:
I don't think it's the type of business where it should not be done as a matter of a numbers crunch, like you're seeking this fantasized...

I don't think it's the type of business where it should not be done as a matter of a numbers crunch, like you're seeking this fantasized moto lifestyle and have just enough for a down payment and you're calculating a mortgage and equipment costs and all these expenses where you absolutely *have* to get a certain number of riders every week in order to survive. I think you buy a piece of land that you can afford to own outright, buy or rent equipment that you can afford without any riders at all. And if it were me, I'd go with the Honey Lake MX business model of making the place unique and creating demand by reducing availability, holding 1-3 races per year, but they're big races. None of that weekly grind just to scrape by nonsense. That would just suck all the fun out of it and you'd be locked into a miserable cycle. 

joshd wrote:
Man I get what you are saying but it doesn’t work like that. I have the land and equipment. I’m not risking loosing everything I have...

Man I get what you are saying but it doesn’t work like that. I have the land and equipment. I’m not risking loosing everything I have to “support the sport” when the sport can’t support itself. 
 

 

Totally hear you and I would also not want the exposure. I'm only commenting on the way I think the numbers work long term without being miserable.

6/28/2023 11:36am

it is in an area that floods, but much of the greater Houston area is flood prone, and the track sits right on I45 its eventually going to be developed commercially.  

GrapeApe
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8872
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Location
Mc Kinney, TX, USA
6/28/2023 11:52am
it is in an area that floods, but much of the greater Houston area is flood prone, and the track sits right on I45 its eventually...

it is in an area that floods, but much of the greater Houston area is flood prone, and the track sits right on I45 its eventually going to be developed commercially.  

The track sits right on the San Jacinto river which doesn't like to stay within its banks. Short of re-routing the river, there are no remedial measures that can "protect" that area from flooding. I don't think they will build anything on that property that can't take a swim every once in a while.

I'm sure it is a lot of work to re-build the tracks, but they are pretty great after a good flooding!

3
braaap
Posts
501
Joined
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Location
USA
6/28/2023 12:23pm
it is in an area that floods, but much of the greater Houston area is flood prone, and the track sits right on I45 its eventually...

it is in an area that floods, but much of the greater Houston area is flood prone, and the track sits right on I45 its eventually going to be developed commercially.  

GrapeApe wrote:
The track sits right on the San Jacinto river which doesn't like to stay within its banks. Short of re-routing the river, there are no remedial...

The track sits right on the San Jacinto river which doesn't like to stay within its banks. Short of re-routing the river, there are no remedial measures that can "protect" that area from flooding. I don't think they will build anything on that property that can't take a swim every once in a while.

I'm sure it is a lot of work to re-build the tracks, but they are pretty great after a good flooding!

Flood zone around 3 Palms

3 Palms Flood Zone

 

The Shop

Fox88
Posts
985
Joined
2/11/2012
Location
Galveston Island, TX, USA
Fantasy
6/28/2023 12:53pm
mb60 wrote:

Did the original Conroe track get developed? Right across the river.

 

anybody know the answer to this?  I haven't been that way in forever..  Spun a lot of laps at the old Conroe track though.

wwdiii
Posts
2575
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
6/28/2023 1:12pm

It would take a special buyer because MX tracks and golf courses are not typically profitable.  With that said 3P is nicer than most MX tracks and is more than the normal track.  They recently put in a trail system and doing track/trail races if I understand correctly.  Its opposite end of town from me.  I have no idea how much business the jet ski lake/area draws.  

2
6/29/2023 11:45am
wwdiii wrote:
I don’t know the whole story on the owner.  Some pretty strong comments were made about him on face book.  His picture and arrest is out...

I don’t know the whole story on the owner.  Some pretty strong comments were made about him on face book.  His picture and arrest is out there.  What I read sound like he got caught up in a sting.  May have had priors similar in the past.  The arrest record in Conroe, Tx has his mug shot and address.  I googled his address, the guy lives in a pad, shown to be worth 750k, looked to be worth a lot more than that to me.  Would be worth twice that in Houston proper or Dallas proper.  I don’t know the laws on this subject very well.  Texas does has some very tough human/sex trafficking laws.  I know the politician that drafted human trafficking bill a few years back and helped get it passed.  Houston area is a Mecca for human/sex trafficking.  

If the track closes Rio Bravo and Ultimate MX will get busy real quick.   
 

 

Just saw that too ! This is a big surprise to me, he’s always been good to us when riding there, very nice guy. 
Ya just never know I suppose… 

https://www.fox26houston.com/news/over-20-men-arrested-following-sting-operation-targeting-solicitation-of-prostitution-in-montgomery-co

IMG 7566.png?VersionId=iajks0xTN0.l2gNb Fpkb1  vCf8Sc

 

2
Homey513
Posts
36
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2/2/2016
Location
Piney woods of East, TX, USA
6/29/2023 12:05pm
mb60 wrote:

Did the original Conroe track get developed? Right across the river.

 

Fox88 wrote:

anybody know the answer to this?  I haven't been that way in forever..  Spun a lot of laps at the old Conroe track though.

The old Conroe MX track turned into a sand/gravel quarry, it exasberated the flooding of 3 Palms by building up levies/dams around their property.  The track (I believe) actually filed suit against them and other quarries in the area building for building up a barrier around their property which forced the water else where (3 Palms). 

2
7eleven
Posts
655
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8/20/2012
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
6/29/2023 5:27pm

I’ll share my Emil story… The first time I ever went to one of his “purse” races, it was at that mill st track he spoke about (2001). 
I got smoked by Travis Elliot and the way he broke down the purse, put like 80% of it in Travis’s pocket. I was not cool with this. I found Emil and we sat in his truck and talked about the imbalanced payout. He couldn’t change the payout amounts at that point, but he did pull out his wallet a give me what he had in it. Maybe $200? From that day forward, Emil was a guy I looked forward to seeing at the races. Always welcomed me when I saw him. Thx Emil, amazing job as a track owner & promotor for decades!

5
1
Taylor415
Posts
409
Joined
1/30/2017
Location
Midlothian, TX, USA
6/29/2023 6:00pm
SEEMEFIRST wrote:
Jeez, it's flood plane. Unless someone is willing to bring it cubic miles of dirt... Da fuq? How you you think he got it to begin...

Jeez, it's flood plane. Unless someone is willing to bring it cubic miles of dirt...

Da fuq? How you you think he got it to begin with?

Same with Village Creek. You can't build there, it floods a couple or 3 times a year. 

Phil109 wrote:
Can’t tell if you agree or disagree? It is a flood prone area. Nobody would build there. They built a bridge on I-45 over it. I...

Can’t tell if you agree or disagree? It is a flood prone area. Nobody would build there. They built a bridge on I-45 over it. I wouldn’t put a building there?? Not sure your point?

SEEMEFIRST wrote:
I'm agreeing.  If it is truly a flood plane, you can't develop it per code unless you raise it above plane. One of the reasons VC...

I'm agreeing. 

If it is truly a flood plane, you can't develop it per code unless you raise it above plane.

One of the reasons VC in Ft. Worth will never be developed. 

To me it’s crazy that VC can flood, but seems to be the first to run out of water. I understand pond size has a lot to do with it, just find it ironic I guess you’d say. 

1
7/5/2023 5:41am

I highly doubt it becomes anything else than what it currently is, the facility is A1 and has too much Houston rider support. I cant see it just getting torn down and Houston riders being forced to ride at Ultimate trash pit or Rio Bravo which isn't close to what it use to be. Seems like someone in the area would love the chance to jump on a top notch place like 3P.

But then again we no longer have a full 1/4 mile drag strip either now so......but I think the flooding would be its saving grace to not being developed into housing, as my brother says when it comes to real estate, "I dont care if its 5 acres or 50, if it floods easy its worthless to developers"

1
SEEMEFIRST
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Location
Arlington, TX, USA
7/5/2023 10:41am
Phil109 wrote:
Can’t tell if you agree or disagree? It is a flood prone area. Nobody would build there. They built a bridge on I-45 over it. I...

Can’t tell if you agree or disagree? It is a flood prone area. Nobody would build there. They built a bridge on I-45 over it. I wouldn’t put a building there?? Not sure your point?

SEEMEFIRST wrote:
I'm agreeing.  If it is truly a flood plane, you can't develop it per code unless you raise it above plane. One of the reasons VC...

I'm agreeing. 

If it is truly a flood plane, you can't develop it per code unless you raise it above plane.

One of the reasons VC in Ft. Worth will never be developed. 

Taylor415 wrote:
To me it’s crazy that VC can flood, but seems to be the first to run out of water. I understand pond size has a lot...

To me it’s crazy that VC can flood, but seems to be the first to run out of water. I understand pond size has a lot to do with it, just find it ironic I guess you’d say. 

Most of the water comes from the creek, and when it dries up, it's over.

wwdiii
Posts
2575
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
7/5/2023 11:25am

At 6 million plus seems like ROI would be way out there.  Would take a while to get return, even with with national level races.  I’d guess someone who buys a race track would have to have a lot of disposable income and just flat want to own an MX track.

I hope the track sells and stays in business for many years.  It’s across town from me about hour and 50 min depending on traffic.  I keep saying I’m going to make a trip and ride 3P but haven’t.   
 

 

JN
Posts
133
Joined
1/6/2023
Location
Nor-Cal, CA, USA
7/5/2023 11:38am
byke wrote:
Sometimes that's a good thing. We've got a local track that floods sometimes and when it does, it brings a ton of sand onto the track...

Sometimes that's a good thing. We've got a local track that floods sometimes and when it does, it brings a ton of sand onto the track and it's awesome.

Marysville!

2
7/5/2023 11:51am

 The facts of the matter as I see them are this …  Unless you are paying cash, it is extremely unlikely that you would be able to purchase the property. Most ( if not all ) lending institutions would absolutely run from a mortgage on any flood plane property. The insurance for flood ( not including personal injury ) would be $5000 per month. I am truly being conservative with that estimate. We all realize that personal injury insurance is mandatory, but the cost is also astronomical. I agree that it is very unlikely that this continues as a motocross track past it’s sale date. Unfortunate, but the world is a different place than it was 30 years ago. When I was a kid, I was messing around on my bicycle, and I lost control and broke a tooth in my neighbors driveway, and my Dad heard me crying , as did the neighbor. They both got to me at the same time, and my Dad picked me up, looked in my mouth, and head swatted me for acting the fool. That don’t happen today.

n

StillSmokin
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739
Joined
3/18/2022
Location
Edmond, OK, USA
3/16/2024 9:27pm
7eleven wrote:
I’ll share my Emil story… The first time I ever went to one of his “purse” races, it was at that mill st track he spoke...

I’ll share my Emil story… The first time I ever went to one of his “purse” races, it was at that mill st track he spoke about (2001). 
I got smoked by Travis Elliot and the way he broke down the purse, put like 80% of it in Travis’s pocket. I was not cool with this. I found Emil and we sat in his truck and talked about the imbalanced payout. He couldn’t change the payout amounts at that point, but he did pull out his wallet a give me what he had in it. Maybe $200? From that day forward, Emil was a guy I looked forward to seeing at the races. Always welcomed me when I saw him. Thx Emil, amazing job as a track owner & promotor for decades!

thats crazy, can't believe you extorted the guy

1
2
braaap
Posts
501
Joined
1/5/2007
Location
USA
3/17/2024 10:05pm

Does anyone know if it ever sold?

Emil is still in their Instagram videos so I guess he’s still the owner. 
 

Here’s a pic after a flood earlier this year. Track was in perfect shape about a week after the water receded. 
 

5C4E95FC-B41F-4518-AB6D-A2341BCA910C

1
Zoom
Posts
1377
Joined
10/21/2012
Location
Cypress, TX, USA
3/18/2024 4:07am

Does anyone know if it ever sold?

Did not sell. Business as usual. This weekend (March 23-24) is the Great American Team Race. $10,000 Pro Purse. Two weeks is an LLAQ. 

1
Pirate421
Posts
1826
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
USA
3/18/2024 5:41am

Hopefully they don’t need to sell it still. I’m moving back to Houston in July and love that place.

1

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