The story of is a rare example of a private natural wonder becoming a public treasure through a dramatic real estate sale. The Sale on Redfin
In early 2024, the property, a 92-foot vertical drop over stunning columnar basalt cliffs, appeared on the mainstream real estate site Redfin. While it had been open to the public for generations, the land was actually privately owned by the Abbey Foundation of Oregon , a nonprofit supporting Benedictine monks. The foundation listed the 40-acre lot as an "open auction," with no set price, sparking widespread fear among Oregonians that a private buyer might close access to the beloved site. Bipartisan Intervention buy waterfall
The listing caught the attention of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. House Majority Leader (D) and State Senator Fred Girod (R) led a bipartisan push to ensure the waterfall remained accessible to the public. By March 2026, Oregon legislators approved $2.1 million in state funding to purchase the falls and its surrounding land. Future as a Public Park The story of is a rare example of