Ride the Black Widow

Derek Jones has always been dedicated to making McCreary County a better place to live and a more inviting destination for tourists.

Jones has volunteered each spring to clean up litter along Hwy. 27 for the past twenty years.  Thanks to his efforts, seventy bags of trash and litter were collected this year and disposed of properly.  A United States Army veteran, Jones has moderated the McCreary County Veterans Facebook page, coordinated the VFW car show, served as VFW Public Relations Officer, and adopted, along with others, a stretch of highway for cleanup by the VFW.  Jones is well-known as a Hot Wheels vendor and local politician, having run for McCreary County Constable, Magistrate, and Jailer.   Additionally, Jones worked with the Wheels for Whitley City car show for three years, actively promoted Trail Town, and for a while, established a Visitors’ Center in Stearns.  On top of that, Jones works two jobs, as a truck driver and McCreary County Transport Officer.

It certainly seems as though Jones has enough to keep himself busy.  However, he has one more project of particular interest to him.  That project is “The Black Widow.”

The Black Widow is a McCreary County Motorcycle Trail and corresponding Facebook page, designed by Jones.  The project began about twenty years ago when County Tourism was kicking around the idea of developing a motorcycle trail.

“It’s difficult to come up with a circular route within McCreary County because the Yamacraw Bridge is the only way to cross the river,” Jones noted.  “So I came up with the idea of a spider, the Black Widow.  Stearns Trail Town, with the business centers of Pine Knot and Whitley City, is the body of a black widow with eight legs, or mini motorcycle trails, branching out to the sides.  The “legs” take riders to popular attractions in McCreary County.”

The Black Widow trail, advertised as having 476 curves and bends with eight routes, connects each “leg” to specific routes including on the left side of the spider, Cumberland Falls, Historic Old 27 (Hwy 1651), Crotch Rocket (Rt 92), Yamacraw.  The legs on the right side, correspond with the Copperhead Trail, Blue Heron, Natural Arch, and Yahoo Falls.

Jones also established and maintains the “Ride the Black Widow” Facebook page.  The page keeps an up-to-date calendar with events and places of interest to visit in McCreary County and the surrounding region.  The page also includes information about lodging, restaurants, etc.

“The idea is for motorcycle riders to stay here in McCreary County and ride out to enjoy the region,” Jones explained.

Jones has licensed the rights to The Black Widow and made it a full LLC.

“With the trail, Facebook, and now, merchandise, the Black Widow is growing,” Jones noted.  “Stickers for local attractions, hiking trails, and hiking stick medallions are the most popular merchandise.”

Black Widow merchandise is available locally at The Artisan Shop in Stearns, Mountain Craft Center, Sheltowee Trace Outfitters, and Deb Vendor’s Mall.

As Jones peers into the future, he hopes to slow down just a bit.

“As I get older, I want less irons in the fire,” Jones said, with a laugh.  “My heart is always in McCreary County and tourism.  I’d like to lead more from behind by helping growing events and that type of thing.  I want to keep thinking outside of the box to come up with new ideas.”