- You really can buy anything on the internet.
Abiqua Falls is a popular natural beauty spot in Oregon. Despite the challenging trail leading up to the falls, hikers love making the trek because the view is just that good.
Recently, the falls were sold off in a strange transaction.
Not that there’s anything that weird about selling land with a waterfall; it’s real estate just like any other. However, there were a couple of unusual details about the sale.
First, Abiqua Falls was listed for auction on Redfin. The real estate brokerage is better known for selling houses and apartments instead of natural wonders.
Second, the buyer turned out to be none other than the state of Oregon itself. The state snatched up the waterfall to turn it into a public natural area.
That’s good news for hikers, as Abiqua Falls will continue to be accessible to outdoor enthusiasts instead of becoming a private playground. However, some hikers have raised concerns that the state might make the trail more accessible or start charging entrance fees.
Meet the Falls
In case you’ve never heard of Abiqua Falls, you might be scratching your head about what’s so special about it. Well, let us just quote the Redfin post listing the falls for sale.
“Abiqua Falls [is] a nationally recognized, year-round waterfall with an approximate 92-foot vertical drop. The falls serve as the primary natural feature of the property and define both the landscape and overall character of the land,” the listing reads.
In addition to the falls, the 40-acre property features “forested ground, basalt formations, and natural topography shaped by Abiqua Creek and the falls.” Its “secluded setting” is well-suited for “conservation, recreation, and long-term stewardship.”
So, we’re talking about gorgeous, remote falls, located some 30 miles from Salem and 50 miles from Portland. In addition to their beauty, Abiqua Falls is notorious for being difficult to get to.
First off, you need a vehicle with plenty of ground clearance to get to the trailhead. The rough road is unpaved and often messed up by adverse weather and other visitors.
The hike to the falls is only about a mile long, but you’ll have to work for every yard. The trail rises so steeply that people have tied knotted ropes along the trail to help you along.
Yet, that’s just the way those visiting the falls like it.
A Benedictine Property
Despite being open to hikers, Abiqua Falls hasn’t been on public land. The 40-acre property has so far been owned by the Mount Angel Abbey.
The Benedictine monastery acquired the falls in 1908. Come 2002, Abiqua Falls was transferred to the Abbey Foundation of Oregon, a non-profit set up to support the abbey.
The Abbey Foundation, like the monastery before it, allowed visitors to freely hike to the falls. However, they recently decided to sell the property as its increasing popularity made managing it difficult.
“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,” Amanda Staggenborg, the Abbey Foundation’s communications director, told the Associated Press.
So, the foundation put Abiqua Falls up for auction on Redfin. There was no minimum or maximum bid, and anyone was free to make an offer.
We couldn’t find out why the foundation decided to use a platform better known for selling homes and occasional vacant land. Maybe they just wanted to reach as many people as possible.
‘Set Aside for Generations to Come’
The Redfin listing certainly reached the state of Oregon, specifically state senator Fred Girod. He told the New York Times that he was surprised to learn that the property the falls are located on was privately owned and for sale.
Well, he wasn’t one to let this opportunity pass by.
“Certain places should be set aside for generations to come. I felt strongly that Abiqua Falls belonged in that category,” explained Girod.
He put together a bipartisan group of state lawmakers that started lobbying for funds to buy the falls. They managed to get around $2 million bookmarked for the deal, so they made an offer.
The Abbey Foundation accepted. According to Girod, the organization was very generous, as a private buyer would’ve probably paid more for the property.
The state bill providing funds for the purchase is still awaiting due diligence and signature from Governor Tina Kotek. Even if approved, it likely won’t become a state park, since that would require additional funding.
Instead, it’s likely that the property will come under the management of some state agency, or potentially a Native American tribal government. Whoever the managing party ends up being, Girod said they will begin by improving the notorious trail.
That has alarmed some hikers, who worry that making the trail more accessible will lead to further infrastructure and larger crowds that will take away from the falls’ beauty. But it’s still probably better than having some private landowner buy the property and charge an arm and a leg for entry — or close it altogether.