Could this be the end of the Grand Canyon?

BBC News ^ | 4th September 2014 | Anthony Zurcher

[the scotsman]

'The Los Angeles Times's Julie Cart reported on Sunday of plans to build "restaurants, hotels and shops" on Navajo Indian land adjacent to the eastern portion of the Grand Canyon.

The 420-acre Grand Canyon Escalade proposal would also feature an eight-person gondola that would take tourists on a 10-minute ride to the canyon floor, she writes, "where they would stroll along an elevated riverside walkway to a restaurant at the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers".

Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote The average person can't ride a mule to the bottom of the canyon” End Quote R Lamar Whitmer

Managing Partner, Confluence Partners LLC

The canyon, called one of the seven natural wonders of the world, attracts more than 5 million visitors annually. Confluence Partners, the company behind the proposal, estimates the development could draw as many as 3 million visitors.

Prospects for this new construction have officials from the US Park Service worried that the project - located two miles from the park - may have an adverse impact on the area's scenic vistas.'

[Wallace T.]

The national parks are essentially tourist venues where, especially when Democrats control the executive branch, the management of these lands falls into the hands of elitist “greens” who oppose anything, even port-a-potties, that would make tourist life a little easier. These proposals are on reservation grounds, occupied by the descendants of people who lost almost all of this country, including national parks, national forests, BLM lands, etc. What the tribal authorities choose to do should not be a matter of National Park Service concern.

In any case, the national parks should be turned over to the states or, better yet, privatized. If the Ted Turners, the Robert Redfords, or the Bill Gateses of the world dislike the idea, let them buy the lands with their own money and run them as they wish.

[umgud]

Before it’s begun, some federal agency will find a way to stop it.

[ican'tbelieveit]

That was my first thought - 420 acres - Grand Canyon. Yeap, going to “ruin” it. Please.

[maine yankee]

The GC national park is only a small part of the grand canyon.

I’ve worked on both rims of the park.

The folks who go over to the ‘indian’ side rarely walk more than a half mile from whatever transportation gets them there.

And the native american hosts charge an arm and a leg for that experience.

The park will be just fine.

The south rim of the park gets about 4 million visitors a year. 99% never go below the rim.

The north rim gets only a half million visitors a year. (only open may to october) and less than 1% go below the rim.

The only thing the build up of the native american side will do is relieve the overcrowding at the south rim hotels and eateries.

BTW, when the Grand Canyon Lodge opens each spring it is 100% booked for the entire season. Many make reservations 18 months in advance.

[Buckeye McFrog]

It’s easy to criticize when you’re not a Navajo who is unemployed and living in dirt-floor poverty on your gubbermint reservation.

[Grams A]

I took my grandsons rafting down that same river. It’s simply amazing. It was so still at night under the stars and I have never been anywhere where they were so bright. We also did the donkey trip to the bottom of the Canyon.

We visit some portion of the Grand Canyon at least once a year. I dislike the Feds control over these areas but, in contrast to all the other opinions expressed thus far, to allow the area to be commercialized is, IMO, a travesty. One of the things I do not want to see at the Grand Canyon, for example, is a tat parlor and, given today’s political climate there would be no way to keep them out.

[VanDeKoik]

My wife wants to take a donkey ride down there. No thanks.

I’ll wait for the elevator.

[dware]

have officials from the US Park Service worried that the project - located two miles from the park - may have an adverse impact on the area's scenic vistas.'

Sounds like it's on tribal land, so the park service can...well, take a hike. Their bed wetting over this is to no avail. Tribal sovereignty trumps (or SHOULD trump) the envrio-weenies

[crz]

Being that I am from az and have been there so many times I cant count them all, nobody standing up on the rim would even see it.
You are all correct, this is opposed by the park service nazis and their cohorts, the green freaks.
BTW, the sycamore canyon is nicer, as is the little grand canyon, which is about where this is to be constructed.

[afraidfortherepublic]

My husband owes me a trip to the Grand Canyon. When we were there with the kids in July, 1976, there was a huge cloud filling the whole canyon. Couldn’t see a thing. I know that it is a deep hole in the ground because I saw it just before sundown the night before, but the day we’d planned there was a fog and rain out in the middle of summer.

[beelzepug]

What will be next? Old washing machines and junk cars on blocks?

Yes, I do live near a reservation. Why do you ask?

[hosepipe]

I love this kind of stuff. Those parks belong to US,
----------------------------------------------------------

WRONG... the park real estate belongs to the citizens of the State they reside in..
The federal givernment OWNING State land is obscene...
The Camel with MORE than his nose in the tent..

The beginning of converting a Republic into a Democracy..
AND shredding the Constitution thats entire purpose is to LIMIT the federal givernment..

The federal givernment should be a vassal of the States..
BUT instead the States have become vassals of the federal givernment..

The Constitution being turned exactly on it's HEAD..

[TurboZamboni]

Someone needs to post the crying indian from the 1970s littering commercials.

Either that or Lizzy Warren in her head dress.

[GOPJ]

The ‘purists’ who feel parks should only be used by liberal elite ecology types might not like it. Well, too effing bad...

[Joe Boucher]

Area around the canyon has a large Indian population and very few jobs.
PUt em to work.

[Ditter]

I am in favor! Do I get a vote? I didn’t think so.

[TomServo]

Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote The average person can't ride a mule to the bottom of the canyon” End Quote R Lamar Whitmer Managing Partner, Confluence Partners LLC

If you're too lazy to edit...

[Clintons Are White Trash]

I agree! It would be a great way for all kinds of people to see more of the canyon. If I wanted to hang out with a sweaty stinky animal, I’d still be married.

[Captain Compassion]

If it’s indian land then what can the government do about it? Perhaps they will build a casino.

CC

[machogirl]

The confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado is the area where the Rumored Cave of Egyptian artifacts is located. (printed in the Arizona Gazette, April 5, 1909) Discovered by a G.E. Kinkaid (Smithsonian) and a Professor Jordan. The Gazette never stated or implied they printed this knowingly as a hoax, but whomever Kinkaid was, he very well could have made this up.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/20111108grand-canyon-mystery.html