Charlie Elliott wants to hold biker rallies off Route 66 near Depew, Okla., but Creek County won’t let him because Elliott’s property is not zoned properly for such events.
Elliott tells the Sapulpa Daily Herald that “I am being discriminated against.”
Elliott formed a Route 66 Biker Church and has held toy rallies for charity.
However, other things have happened that would make me question whether Elliott is serious about forming a church and other philanthropy. I’ll let these excerpts from the story explain:
“The unincorporated town of Milfay objected to the events and complained to the county,” Elliott said.
“I had put up pictures of some of the women topless at our events and they didn’t like that. They said they didn’t want adult entertainment in their community.” […]
Elliott said that some of the typical events that can be found at his biker rallies are “Girls Girls Girls,” “Wet (No)T-Shirt Contest,” “Mud Wrestling,” “Lingerie Sale” and “Topless Karaoke.”
I think Creek County is within its rights to regulate large gatherings. And to its credit, it’s going by the book in regard to Elliott:
“It’s a simple matter of zoning compliance,” said District No. 1 County Commissioner Dana Hudgins.
“If he got zoned he could hold the rallies. There is no personal or moral issues directing our decisions. Elliott doesn’t want to do this in a professional manner.”
According to Hudgins, the claim that the county is blocking Elliott’s applications for zoning because of the adult nature of the biker events is untrue.
Hudgins said that a housing development across the road from Elliott’s property is proof of that.
“Oaklake Trails is a small nudist housing development that has been started recently,” said Hudgins.
“They have done everything by the book and they are considered a successful venture. Our decisions regarding who gets zoned are made based on sound, legal judgement and not based on personal preference.”
We already reported about the dispute about six months ago here (check out the comments, too). Our view remains the same — Elliott has a big credibility problem when he’s holding church services one week and nude karaoke the next.
Maybe he thinks Jesus loves you more if you’re topless.
Another thing about this Elliott guy is that he shot in the back and killed a member from the Bristow community. A slick lawyer got him acquitted – how is beyond me. As I understand it, there is a mutual restraining order against him and the victim’s family. Now, the question is, why would someone come right in on top of the people you’re supposed to stay away from and set up a business and flaunt yourself here.
This man has a history of settling disputes with violence and threats and plenty of money to wash away the consequences. He has more money than brains.
He came into this area promising to build a motor cross track which he never did. While his wife was alive, he held a “Christian” motorcycle rally which failed miserably. He didn’t do his research – it was scheduled head to head with long established Christian Biker rallies elsewhere in the state, plus he put it on 4th of July holiday weekend and wanted to charge $25 for a 3 day pass and to see fireworks. Three other long standing fireworks shows were available in the area for FREE and people have long standing traditions of attending. Our family has sat on the hill for the past 12 years at one of the shows. His rally plans were poor and the results were poor. In anger, he blamed the area folks for not supporting his rally – so he decided the next one would be an *old fashioned rally* that would bring in the bikers from all around and make his venture profitable.
Well, why would he think this area would support a million dollar operation and line his pockets? This isn’t a biker community here – it is farm country. If we wanted biker rallies we would already be having them – and lets face it folks – fancy facilities aren’t the draw for what Elliott is peddling. He is peddling porn – and there were minors present during the adult activities which included baring full genitalia of both men and women AND touching. Behavior occurred at Elliott’s rallies that aren’t even allowed in adult entertainment facilities. And such behavior occurring anywhere else would be grounds for criminal charges and those who exposed themselves would be sex offenders – and in front of MINORS no less.
Biker rallies are shameful – they take civilization and break it down to its basest form of depravity. It is about drugs, alcohol and sex. WHO WOULD WANT THAT IN THEIR COMMUNITY? If bikes want to act like this, host swinger parties at your own homes and operate QUIETLY behind CLOSED DOORS.
And don’t give me that old saw “bikers are doctors, lawyers, and professional people” – well, they aren’t behaving as upstanding citizens at these rallies – they are hoodlums. And I do lump all attendees in that category because those that aren’t behaving that way are either ogling those who are or turning a blind eye – both real nice traits. That’s why we have child pornography problems – people think if they aren’t *doing it* but only *watching* or *looking at pictures* they aren’t guilty of anything. WRONG!
Anyway, that’s my rant. I’m through now. 🙂
It’s simply amazing the inaccuracies and almost apparent one-sided views in which this entire issue in regards to Mr. Elliott and the continual reference to Oaklake Trails has been and obviously continues to be. I’ll reference you to the 1st posting, 2nd quotation:
“Oaklake Trails is a small nudist housing development that has been started recently,” said Hudgins.
“They have done everything by the book and they are considered a successful venture. Our decisions regarding who gets zoned are made based on sound, legal judgement and not based on personal preference.”
I would like to refer you to http://www.oaklaketrails.com where it states “Oaklake Trails Nudist Park, located on more than 400 acres was established in the summer of 1992 and is one of the largest land area nudist parks in the United States.”
Recent application and grants awarded to Oaklake Trails to become a “small nudist housing development” may be, but ” who has done everything by the book” is far fetched for those of us who have been where many of you would never go………to Oaklake Trails.
Let the Public Records speak for themselves!
PRIOR to it’s most recent zoning, Oaklake Trails had only 30 of the 400 Acres zoned C2-RV or Campground, the remaining acreage was zoned A1-Agricultural.
Oaklake Trails allowed rv campsites, mobile home sites and homes to be built on land that was zoned AGRICULTURAL and profited by doing so. All of this was done WITHOUT doing a thing by the book!! Tax records reflect the correction to the number of lots between year 2005 and 2006. PUBLIC RECORD of this is at http://www.creekcountyok.org
Now we come to reference Oaklake Trails again and how they have done things by the book. Yes, they must have filed the necessary documentation however, I have yet to hear anyone mention the SPECIAL EXCEPTION they had to attach to their application and why it was required!!!!! These PUBLIC RECORDS are available thru the Creek County Planning Office, (918) 227-6369.
Lets discuss the issue of nudity as it seems to be a real problem with some folks. How is nudity an issue at one place and not both? Oaklake Trails is a family oriented nudist park, there are men, women and children of which all are nude including the children. You may say a biker rally isn’t a family oriented activity……….that’s not for you to say, no more than it is for you to say a child shouldn’t be at Oaklake Trails. It is that childs parents decision to make and just as you determine what your “family activity” is, they have the right to determine theirs. These are all choices, the choice to attend a rally, to stay at a rally during “adult activities” as Raven puts it, going to Oaklake Trails walking around nude or visiting a website that had pictures of topless women. Life is all about choices.
Right, wrong or indifferent, we don’t always agree with what we see but who are we to judge others and say my opinion is the only right opinion? How many rallies have you been to to make such a judgemental statement? Were you at any of Mr. Elliott’s rallies?
I don’t know Mr. Elliott personally and therefore can not comment on any of the personal issues you address. However, I can’t help but notice that you are quick to degrade anyone or anything related to him. Raven states it’s not a biker community yet your community gladly welcomes bikers business as they travel historic Route 66. Many times I’ve seen packs of bikers travelling 66, the Rock Cafe in Stroud packed with bikers, other businesses in Stroud, Depew and Bristow receiving volumes of business from these folks you call hoodlums. I just wonder what their increase in revenue was for the weekends Mr. Elliott had rallies and if these businesses have the same opinion of the bikers as Raven! I very seriously doubt it and it’s not just because of the financial gain!!!!!
Now I’ve said my piece. Mr Elliott, I hope some day the grass will be the same color of green on both sides of the fence. To the bikers, I apologize that some people in the world today are still too quick to judge a book by it’s cover before ever opening it to read. I have met many wonderful people and wish you a safe open road with an angel over your shoulder.
Raven…. Wow! You have true dislike for bikers it sounds like! You must have had your heart broken by a biker at some point! You say bikers are all hoodlums, so that must make me a hoodlum? A hoodlum even though I have a high school diploma (from depew), a bachelors degree, and currently finishing up my masters degree. I also work for a university and I am the Director of Recruitment. That means I am in charge of making sure we have a new freshman class each year (molding childrens lives). It’s pretty crazy in my opinion to put a hoodlum in a position such as mine! Were you at the rally Raven? If you were not there, then please do not post your inaccurate opinions and thoughts about the rally. You have truly shown an ignorant side of the community. I have a question for you Raven… since you mentioned traditions, did you go to the Stroud Christmas parade or even the Bristow Christmas parade? If so… you probably saw “us hoodlums” riding our motorcycles in the parade! I’m sure you hated that, but do you know why we were there? We were there donating toys to children in the community who weren’t going to recieve them otherwise. We’re terrible people aren’t we? Also as a biker, I ride in a group called Patriot Guard Riders. PGR is a National Organization of over 85,000 bikers who ride in honor and respect of our American soldiers who have given their life to our country. Before you go throwing your opinions all over the web about bikers maybe you should sit down with a few and visit with them. You just may learn something!