The state of Oregon may soon own a spectacular waterfall, beloved by generations, that was recently put up for sale on Redfin. Abiqua Falls, known for its 92-foot (28-meter) vertical drop over a columnar basalt cliff, has been privately owned for over a century but open to the public. Its owner, a nonprofit that supports a community of Benedictine monks, put it on the market earlier this year. The listing worried fans of the natural wonder. But at the tail end of the legislative session this month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers stepped in and approved $2.1 million to buy the falls and its surrounding land.
"It's not every day where you see a waterfall come up for sale on Redfin or Realtor.com with no price," said Travis Williams, president of the Willamette River Preservation Trust, a conservation nonprofit. "The public was really confused and fearful that the site would be closed off." The waterfall sits about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of the state capital, Salem, and roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Portland. It is reached by a rough, unpaved road and a short, steep hike, so steep that previous visitors have left ropes in some spots for assistance. In a statement, Republican state Sen. Fred Girod, whose district includes the waterfall, said "Oregon is pledging that Abiqua Falls will continue to be protected and accessible for generations to come."
The waterfall was acquired by Mount Angel Abbey in 1908 and transferred to The Abbey Foundation of Oregon, a nonprofit that supports the abbey, in 2002. Amanda Staggenborg, the foundation's communications director, said, "We just realized that it was time. There were a lot of people that were hiking on the property, and while we welcome that, we wanted to ensure that the proper stewardship was overseeing it." The foundation put the property up for open auction in early February, and it accepted the state's offer under the bill that passed. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department must complete due diligence, including reviewing environmental and archaeological information, before the purchase can move forward. The property won't necessarily become a state park, which would require additional money.
"Abiqua Falls is a beautiful but very remote and difficult-to-access site, and we are concerned about the impact managing a property like this could have on an already stretched state park system and our current budget shortfall," said spokesperson Katie Gauthier. Many people who commented on the trust's social media posts welcomed the falls becoming public land, though some worried that state ownership might bring fees and crowds.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing