WEBSTERVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – Walking, snowmobiling, and now radio-controlled crawling are all fair game at Barre Town Forest.
Alan Rosa concentrates as his radio-controlled crawler carefully maneuvers an old quarry.
“I think it’s a blast. I mean, you know, it’s quiet. It’s peaceful, you know, and challenging too,” said Rosa.
Rosa got into radio-controlled – or RC – crawlers four years ago.
Fast forward to early November, when he established what he believes to be the first official RC crawler park in Vermont.
It’s nestled in Barre Town Forest in Websterville.
“We’ve never had a central home base before. And, you know, people in Chittenden crawled up in that area. People down in Rutland crawled in their area,” said Rosa.
The several-hundred-dollar cars use high-torque motors and a suspension system to navigate tough terrain.
Gas RC crawlers make a racket while electric ones make a gentle hum.
The RC rock crawler park is electric only, with no add-on engines or noise simulators, to ease Barre town officials’ noise concerns.
One selectboard member says he was happy to green-light the park.
“I think it’s great that another group has found a corner of the forest that they can use, call their own, if you will,” said Justin Bolduc.
On weekends, Rosa and local RC enthusiasts he met on Facebook descend on the park.
It’s encouraged gearheads like Donald McDunnah to get outside and tap into a community.
“It gives me something to do besides sitting on my couch playing video games. Everybody’s sitting at home, they’re just not doing anything anymore. And I’m tired of that. I’d rather go out and do something, enjoy the weather as long as I can,” said McDunnah.
Rosa is proud of the space he’s created for RC crawlers across the region.
“Now we’ve got a home,” said Rosa.
The park’s agreement is up for renewal in December 2026.
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