An estimated 600 to 700 members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club are set to ride into Clemson from July 29 to Aug. 2 for their national gathering.

"They'll come in, have a meeting, get together," Kade Herrick, tourism director for the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce, said. "It is almost like a family reunion for them."

Herrick said the local Hells Angels club originally approached the tourism office in 2016 about having the event in Clemson, but the club voted to hold it in Missouri instead for 2017.

The local group has "traveled the country going to other areas" and "wanted to show off the Upstate," Herrick said.

News of the event, originally shared by the Seneca Journal, sparked mixed responses on social media, with some residents upset that the city had not told citizens about the event. Others were excited about the chance for businesses to bring in revenue during the slower summer months.

The Department of Justice classifies Hells Angels as an "outlaw motorcycle gang" and said the group is involved in the production of drugs and in other criminal activity.

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Herrick said he does not have concerns about the club coming to Clemson and did "due diligence," reaching out to officials in Missouri and in Clarksville, Virginia, to learn about the results of similar events there.

The Greenville News attempted to contact a local Hells Angels representative by email and phone but did not receive a response.

Maj. Mike Schmidt has been with the Camden County Sheriff's Office in Missouri for 20 years. He said the Hells Angels have held multiple events in the county as recently as 2017, with anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people.

Outside of traffic issues, Schmidt said, Camden County has not had any problems when the group comes to Lake of the Ozarks. He said the Sheriff's Office usually reaches out to the president of the chapter hosting an event and has prior conversations about what law enforcement "will and will not tolerate."

"We respect their culture, if you will, but they are not going to get out of line," Schmidt said.

Citizens in Camden also have had concerns about the group, but Camden County has never seen an uptick in crimes like burglaries or assaults due to Hells Angels visits, Schmidt said. He said they do have a heavy law enforcement presence when the Hells Angels come.

"They are going to drink and have a good time. If they get out of line, we communicate with the president who can curtail issues," Schmidt said.

Jimmy Dixon, chief of the Clemson City Police Department, said his department has been putting together an operations plan alongside other law enforcement agencies for the week of the Hells Angels visit.

"Bottom line, they are not coming in for the sole purpose of creating a problem," Dixon said. "They are bringing families with them and will be here to simply to get together with members of their organization."

On July 25, Dixon distributed a press release saying the community would "notice an increased law enforcement presence in downtown Clemson and throughout the City," beginning July 29.

"To address this event, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners have been working together to create an operational plan that focuses on safety and security during the event and minimizes any disruption that may occur to normal, daily activities around the city and university," Dixon said. "Senior law enforcement leaders have been working directly with the Hells Angels leadership to develop relationships with key members and create a clear communication channel."

Tereza Kuldova, a social anthropologist based at the University of Oslo, and author of "How Outlaws Win Friends and Influence People," agreed with Dixon.

"This is largely an opportunity to meet the other 'brothers' and 'family', celebrate the club, enjoy the road," Kuldova said by email. "...Of course, it also may be an opportunity to network internally and discuss both legal and illegal business; at the same time it is directed at having good time, while leaving a good impression on the locals in the area."

Kuldova said this event is not the type of gathering where there are usually issues.

"There is, of course, an element of unpredictability and danger associated, but this is also the very image the clubs are trying to sell and reproduce, while simultaneously showing that they are no threat to an average citizen," Kuldova said.

Herrick said the summer is a good time to bring in the event. Students are not in town, and business can be slow. He estimates it will have a $1.2 million economic impact.

Beyond Hells Angels, Herrick said the Visit Clemson tourism department is working to promote the Upstate as a "great motorcycle area" because of the winding roads in the mountains.

Joe Galbraith, Clemson University's associate vice president of strategic communications, said the university is aware of the event.

"If there is anything that causes us to provide further information to groups visiting campus as it gets closer, we will do so,” Galbraith said.

Joy Morgan grew up in Clemson and has friends in different motorcycle groups and used to ride herself. She is excited for the Hells Angels' visit and said she believes other citizens will come away with a new impression of the group.

Morgan said she understands why people who do not have a personal connection to a motorcycle club might be concerned because of the group's reputation, but she said the group has not lived up to the criminal reputation in a number of decades.

In 1969, a Hells Angel infamously killed a man at the Altamont Free Concert where The Rolling Stones were performing. The Hells Angel was acquitted.

In 2017, eight members of the group in California were indicted for murder, assault, robbery, extortion and witness tampering.

More recently, following the New Zealand massacre at two mosques in March, Hells Angels offered to help protect the country's mosques during prayers.

"Everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves," said Morgan, who manages the front of the house at Palmettos Smokehouse and Oyster Bar.

She said the business will be welcoming the riders with open arms. She said she's had worse experiences dealing with fans on football game days than she has ever had bartending for motorcycle clubs.

"These guys are not coming in town to ride in front of kids' schools," Morgan said. "They will bring revenue to the area. They police themselves and are not coming looking for trouble."