Pour the mud. Fill the ice water. Electrify the wires and load the tear gas. The grueling, 11-plus-mile, British Special Forces designed obstacle course known as Tough Mudder (TM) returns to the GulfCoast April 9 and 10 next year.
With the official nod, Kate Fitzpatrick, senior director of Community Development & Venues for TM, said, “Tough Mudder is thrilled to be heading back to Santa Rosa County once again on April 9 and 10. Participants and spectators can now register for the event on our website.”
More than 5,000 men and women came in March of this year from all over the southeast, and even a few from out of the country, to take part. The estimated economic impact to Santa Rosa County was $6.1 million from the single day event. Normally it runs for two days.
TM's 2015 debut event in Santa Rosa County was a single-day event. Fitzpatrick said, “This year, Tough Mudder Gulf Coast is a two-day event, and it’s also the first event of the season, so we expect even more people to travel greater distances to see what’s in store for 2016. While registrations have recently opened, we anticipate this event to be even larger than last year’s, and we’re eager to bring thousands of new and returning Mudders to Santa Rosa County.
According to Shannon Ogletree, the SRC Economic Development Director, the 2016 experience will bring an estimated 18,000 individuals to the county, with approximately 14,000 staying local lodging facilities. Those numbers translate into a projected tax impact of nearly $250,000, Ogletree said.
Santa Rosa County Commissioners approved two measures to improve their chances of hosting TM again in 2016. The county adopted a special permit allowing alcohol consumption and sales on Sundays for the event and set aside $110,000 in Tourist Development Council funds to help promote TM.
“The county has not made that kind of commitment before," Kyle Holley, TDC member said. "It’s as a result of better quality planning (by) TDC members and (Director Julie Morgan)," he said. "It’s a strong leadership move in Northwest Florida for the county to invest at this level, and solid evidence that our Commission and TDC are focused on building the brand, Florida’s Playground."
The intense obstacle course normally is held over a two-day span. Those who complete the course are greeted with a beer at the finish line. Alcohol is also sold during both days of the event. Santa RosaCounty's restrictions on the sale of alcohol on Sundays on the mainland were a potential sticking point in talks with the event organizers.
Commission Chairman Don Salter said, “(Tough Mudder) said after last year’s big success over one day, they said they would probably not return to Santa Rosa County … unless we had a two-day event,"
Fitzpatrick said, “Tough Mudder will work with the County to apply for the new event permit, which we hope will allow alcohol sales on the Sunday of our event. Our partners at Shock Top have built an amazing beer garden for our events, and we hope to bring this celebratory experience to both Saturday and Sunday participants and spectators at the GulfCoast event.”
She added the county and Ates Family Ranch’s support of TM was essential in their decision to return. “We’ve had a great relationship with the Ates Family Ranch and Santa Rosa County since the early stages of planning our first event there in 2015, and their ongoing support, as well as the support from the community, was key in our decision to return to Milton in 2016. We look forward to building on that relationship as we head into 2016.”
So what’s coming next year? What can new and returning mudders expect to push them to the limit? Fitzpatrick kept those secrets close to the vest. “Our obstacle innovation team continues to reinvent the wheel by dreaming up some of the most insane, fun and exhilarating obstacles that make it onto Tough Mudder courses. While we’re not quite ready to reveal new obstacles at this stage, there will be a brand-new course with many of our signature Tough Mudder obstacles and a handful of new-for-2016 obstacles that will continue to reinforce teamwork and test physical strength, mental grit and stamina.”
She did confirm the Fruit shoot Mini Mudder event will return with all 2016 TM events, a one-mile obstacle course challenge designed for kids 7-12. “With obstacles like Gooey Shoes, Mount Mud and Secret Agent Squeeze, Fruit Shoot Mini Mudder gives kids the chance to work as a team, get muddy and experience the thrill of adventure. Registration for Fruit Shoot Mini Mudder for both days of our Gulf Coast event are now open,” Fitzpatrick said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Sign up now for Tough Mudder Gulf Coast 2016