Designed by British Special Forces, one of the most hardcore tests of physical endurance in the form of a ten-mile obstacle course is coming to the Ates Ranch: Tough Mudder. Santa Rosa County kicks off 2015’s Tough Mudder season with events following in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dublin, Toronto, Melbourne, and more from March to November. The county will also be the first place anyone can see 2015’s brand new obstacles.
According to Kyle Holley, director of development with the United Way of Santa Rosa County and the local lead working with Tough Mudder, said roughly 5,000 “Mudders” and spectators are expected to descend on SRC in what he described as “the largest tourism event we ever have had come here.” The economic impact on the county, Holley said, is expected to reach $2.5 million.
The Tough Mudder organizers considered three things in selecting Santa Rosa County, according to Holley: willing land owners, a good cluster of accommodations in the three-county area, and a high concentration of their target demographic.
The land owners, Holley said, were motivated by the potential impact to small business. “People struggle that work in condos, hotels, restaurants. They need money.”
As to accommodations, he said there are more than enough hotels in Crestview, Navarre Beach, and Milton. TM’s demographic, Holley said, is 22 to 40 years old, educated, and athletic, which TM found in SRC’s high concentration of military members.
Holley described the TM organization as a “super good quality group that want to come to Santa Rosa County. We’re all hoping the community will receive [them] with the great hospitality SRC is known for. We want to showcase … all we have to offer. This is a big deal. Our land, the tourism brand, we procured this business for the region because of inheriting natural resources for outdoor recreation. That's why we got it. For tourism we’ve been preaching it forever. This is evidence it's real.”
The event begins Saturday, March 7, 7 a.m. and will finish before dark.
Matt Miley, owner of Santa Rosa County’s American Poolplayers Association said he’s participating in a group put together by his friend Lisa Webb, a personal trainer with Head to Toe Fitness in Pace. Who else will take up the challenge? NAS Whiting Field sailors, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Team Remedy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grapplers, local running groups, football players, Crossfit members, high school trainers and coaches, who else will represent Santa Rosa County on a global stage here at home in not a grueling race, but a challenge?
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Organizers expect $2.5 million from Tough Mudder