- NJ has a lot of great XC trails for free which has been pointed out. There is even Diablo Freeride park for the FR/DH riders. And Lars Tribus was working on a MTB "Country Club" called The Proving Grounds. Not sure where he is on it tho.
- Maine is a freaking haul from NJ - I think just to the southern border is at least 5 hours. You can get probably similiar prices in upstate NY with drives a bit closer. Maine is a great place - it's just really far away.
I've thought about the private land method but in a different capacity. Much less acerage and have set up as camp/skills place vs. having just some XC and maybe freeride trails. A good DJ spot can be built on about 2 acres. Have some skinnies, drops and freeride features on a pedalable trail on the outside of that. Have a pump track/fitness area that women and men who go to spin classes would enjoy but get a full body workout and can do outside. Classes for kids and adults - have a place where there are scheduled events going on consistently.
It would pretty much a Ray's but just outside with part of it under a pavilion for lights at night and the ability to ride when the weather isn't great. Doing a park like Ray's all under a roof would, IMO, be cost pohibitive in NJ. You would have to have a LOT of people riding the place just to pay rent.
Anyway, just something I've thought about for a while now. I see how some sports and activities like hockey, skiing/snowboarding, skateboarding, & gymanastic do well in NJ. I think their models are pretty similiar and a bike skills place could follow it in some way.