Nashville Bike Week: State Denies Permit

NASHVILLE, TN — The state health department denied the mass gathering permit sought by the embattled organizers of Nashville Bike Week, making it illegal for them to sell tickets to the event.

But it wasn't all bad news for people who already bought tickets. The application analysis revealed what organizers of the event heretofore have failed to announce: the actual location of the September 14-24 event which expects to draw 50,000 people to rural Humphreys County.

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Among the numerous problems the state had with NBW's application — the reasons for denial ran some 12 pages — were a failure to provide adequate water, parking, sanitary and medical services for the 50,000 people the event says it will attract. Most of its plans met the threshold only for the 20,000 overnight campers. Further, the event's organizers submitted as proof unsigned contracts and lease agreements, which the state said do not meet their standard for permit issuance.

One of those unsigned contracts, however, did reveal the venue NBW organizers — which include a convicted fraudster with a lengthy rap sheet of scam-related charges — have kept under wraps for months. The event was originally planned for Loretta Lynn's ranch in Hurricane Mills, but ranch officials pulled out in February due to payment issues. NBW officials, meanwhile, quickly announced that they'd secured a new venue, but time and again delayed or simply refused to announce where it was, blaming attorneys for the delay.

In any event, one of the contracts submitted to the state indicates the event will be at DDD Ranch, at 12213 Highway 12 South in Hurricane Mills.

On its Facebook page, NBW first insisted the event would continue as planned.

"We were denied our mass ordinance permit from the state of Tennessee and asked by them to make some changes. We are making changes and will be resubmitting it with the changes they requested," they wrote midday Thursday.

Friday morning, however, they indicated something else might be in the works.

"We have had a plan that doesn't require a mass ordinance permit and it is not Breaking the law but using there (sic) laws to have our event," they wrote. "We want the State to verify in writing what they told us then we will show you the venue/ The plan and put tickets back up and make this event Great again! There will be some changes but you will love those changes."