A sea of wheels and helmets will fill Pryor’s Whitaker Park Satruday morning with the start of the 20th annual Dam J.A.M bicycle tour sponsored by the Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce.

Hundreds of bikes will start the 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-mile tours that begin and end at Whitaker Park. The bicyclists will travel from Pryor through eastern Mayes County and the longer routes will travel into western Delaware County.

Dam J.A.M. was started by Jim Beach and Marie McKee as a way to showcase the lakes and countryside of northeast Oklahoma.

Since their first trips through the hills and curves, the couple has watched their ride turn into a major tourist attraction for Mayes County.

“It’s truly one of my favorite events we do. As far as tourism development, its so strong. It brings people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Texas,” said Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce Director Barbara Hawkins.

The tour is known for its unique rest stops. Dam J.A.M. gets help from several organizations that provide drinks and snacks for the riders. There will be 11 rest stops located throughout all four routes and each has a theme. Stops on Cole Strang Road are hosted by Integrated Insurance and Alliance Cable. Another rest stop is located in the Strang community. Hawkins said the Strang stop is one of her favorites. Hawkins said the Stang community pulls together to support the rest stop that is sponsored by Centry 21 NEOKLA.

Bikes will be able to rest in Wickliffe at Miracle House. That stop is sponsored by Williams Construction. There will be stops in the Tia Juana area, sponsored by NE Oklahoma Rodeo Royalty, Eucha and Kenwood. The Kenwood stop will be sponsored by the Kenwood Fire Department and Cherokee Nation.

As bikes head west toward the finish line, many will stop at Chimney Rock on Pump Back Road southeast of Salina. This stop is sponsored by Xi Zeta Pi/Beta Sigma Phi. There will be stops on 69A manned by YPC and sponsored by Red Crown Credit Union.

The Adair Boy Scouts will be back to man their stop on the corner of True Road and Airport Road. The stop is sponsored by American Castings. The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce will  offer a rest stop in Salina. Last year, GRDA Ecosystem and Education Center added a rest stop. The stop will return this year sponsored by Grand Lake Association and the Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I can’t express the gratitude I have for all of the businesses who step up for this event,” Hawkins said.

The race would not be possible without dedicated volunteers like those who work at the rest stops and at Whitaker Park, she said.

Hawkins said the tour is beautiful because of the terrain but also, “because of the spirit of all the people at the rest stops.”

There is help from the city of Pryor, Pryor Parks and police departments, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, Mayes County commissioners and the Northeast Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club.

Dam J.A.M will begin with two mass start times. The first at

7:45 a.m. the second at 8 a.m. After the ride, bicyclists will gather at Whitaker Park from

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for lunch and entertainment.