Idea for a zip line tourist attraction in the Gorge sparks land battle
NEAR WASHOUGAL, Wash. - What looks like a lot of fun has sparked a land battle in the Columbia River Gorge.
Derek Hoyte has put up half a dozen 'zip lines' on his 83-acre property on the Washington side of the Gorge and wants to open them up to the public as part of an eco-friendly tourist attraction.
The idea is to let folks hook up to a zip line and enjoy the view from above as they swing through the air. Sounds neat, right? Well, there is one big problem. You see, the U.S. Forest Service has barred Hoyte's plans, saying the property easement limits the use of the land to agriculture. They also have concerns that the site can be seen from viewpoints like Crown Point, on the Oregon side of the Gorge. While Hoyte owns the property, the U.S. Forest Service said there are limits on how he can use the land.
"We want to keep it agricultural and that's what we put the conservation in place for and acquired a lot of rights," said Pam Campbell with the U.S. Forest Service Columbia Gorge Scenic Area. "He's asking to do things beyond the rights he holds as a landowner."
Hoyte has other ideas too - like putting in a suspension bridge and a giant rope swing. And he has even offered to build a public parking area on Highway 14 as part of the project. Hoyte's Web site has a petition that people can sign but so far, the U.S. Forest Service has not budged.
"All we're really asking at this point in time is for a fair public process because I think in general, the public is going to love what we want to do here," said Hoyte.
The U.S. Forest Service said it may take a couple of months for its attorneys to go through the property's paperwork and decide whether Hoyte has any right to let the public take rides on zip lines.
"I'm hopeful that they might see the benefit of allowing kids of all ages to reconnect with nature in an exciting way," said Hoyte.
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