Bright’s Creek unveils BMW off-road excursion course

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, September 9, 2015

A partnership between Bright’s Creek in Mill Spring and BMW has led to the creation of a 7.2-mile trail and off-road driving instruction course led by the BMW Performance Center.

 The trail was engineered to be challenging in order to showcase the capabilities of BMW’s new X-series SUVs, which are built entirely in Greenville, S.C.

 The design introduces steep elevations, multiple terrain changes, and “drama” into the experience.

 According to Derek Leonard, lead instructor at BMW North America, the full trail takes approximately two hours to complete.

 There is, however, a shorter trail that removes much of the more difficult obstacles. It is approximately five miles in length, and carries a much shorter completion time.

 A 75-foot waterfall and mountaintop meadow serves as a visual reward for those who brave the trail in its entirety.

 “It helps expand our brand into a new experience,” said Leonard. “We are proud of the x-series and its capabilities.”

 “This is the best way to see what it can do,” he added.

 According to Leonard, the trail took nearly eight months to complete.

 Bright’s Creek offers attraction packages that involve one-on-one time with a professional driving instructor. These come as both half-day, which focuses on the Bright’s Creek trail, and full day experience which begins at the BMW Performance Center in Greer.

 The partnership hopes to be a win-win-win situation for all involved. BMW, more known for on-road capabilities rather than off, now has a real-world avenue to encourage SUV buyers to think twice. Bright’s Creek gains yet another attraction to increase draw power, and students receive valuable off-road driving instruction and a unique experience.

 For more information on the program, such as available dates and packages, visit www.brightscreek.com, or call 888-497-1195.