Red River Supply has released its Stony Creek Rail Yard Master Plan. The 180-acre site is located in southeast Williston with immediate access to rail and road transportation.
The development is owned and operated by Rich Vestal and his family. Vestal started the business in 1978 and since then it has grown and diversified. Red River Supply currently provides rail access, transloading, trucking, drilling and completion supplies and warehousing and it will soon offer an industrial park.
"When Rich (Vestal) bought the property in 2012 he envisioned bringing all types of rail served industries and manufacturing jobs to his community," said Curtis Shuck, Red River Vice President of Business Development.
The Stony Creek Rail Yard, which currently operates on approximately 80 acres, will build the industrial park over the next five years. Initially the industrial park will have up to 25 acres of shovel ready 5 to 10 acre parcels for lease; another 100- plus acres will be built during the next construction phase; and the entire 180-acre project is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
The City of Williston has been working closely with Vestal on the Stony Creek development. Red River and Williston Economic Development believe the industrial park will help attract new industries and create more sustainable living wage jobs in Williston.
"Availability of industrial rail property has been an issue for our office as we grow to compete with other communities for diversified growth," said Shawn Wenko, Williston Economic Development Executive Director. " We view this ( rail) as a preferred mode of transportation for agriculture, industrial manufacturing, mining and consumer products that will help achieve transportation efficiencies and falls in line with our 'Enhanced Bakken Supply Chain Initiative' efforts."
In 2013, WED invested in the Stony Creek Rail Yard with a STAR Fund grant. The funds helped Red River purchase its SWX-80 ShuttleWagon locomotive. In 2014 it switched over 3,400 rail cars and this year it is on track to switch more than 6,000. Wenko said the public-private partnership has helped diversify Williston's economy, add jobs and improve the overall quality of life.
"Our support of Red River Supply's efforts to build a rail yard can be traced back as early as 2013 when the Williston STAR Fund Board and City Commission approved a Flex Pace interest buy down loan for the purchase of a locomotive to switch rail cars in a potential new transload facility. Today we can see the efforts of the STAR Fund grant pay off as Red River begins this multi-phase project."
Red River Supply moves all types of products in and out of Williston via road and rail. They also have ample lay down area for the staging and storage for projects and materials.
"We have a pretty diverse mix of commodities and act as the gateway for Williston to connect with global markets. We maintain strong relationships with our Pacific and gulf ports, freight forwarders and our partner railroad the BNSF" said Shuck. "We are in all sectors of oil and gas and are focusing on agriculture and industrial products. Today we transload products from Canada, Asia, India and all over the USA. The latest addition to the Red River Family is Lafarge North America who will be supplying construction materials to support the much needed infrastructure development here in Northwestern North Dakota."
Stony Creek's rail needs are provided by the BNSF Railway while road transportation is available via US Highway 85, US Highway 2 and ND Highway 1804.
Red River Supply is a family owned and operated local company. The group also owns Vestal Properties and Vestal Resources.
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