Oregon Lawmakers Spend $2.1M to Save Beloved Waterfall From Private Sale

Oregon legislators allocated $2.1 million to purchase Abiqua Falls after the 92-foot waterfall was listed for sale on Redfin by a nonprofit supporting Benedictine monks. The bipartisan move ensures the popular natural attraction remains accessible to the public after more than a century of private ownership.

Oregon may soon add a stunning natural landmark to its public holdings after legislators intervened to purchase a beloved waterfall that appeared on the real estate market.

Abiqua Falls, featuring a dramatic 92-foot plunge down a columnar basalt cliff face, has remained in private hands for more than 100 years while staying open for public visits. Earlier this year, The Abbey Foundation of Oregon, a nonprofit supporting a Benedictine monk community, decided to sell the property.

When the natural wonder appeared on Redfin, concerned nature enthusiasts feared losing access to the site. However, lawmakers from both parties came together during the final days of the legislative session to authorize $2.1 million for the purchase.

“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.”

Located approximately 30 miles east of Salem and about 50 miles south of Portland, the waterfall requires visitors to navigate a rugged dirt road followed by a challenging downhill trek. The path is so demanding that previous hikers have installed ropes at certain points to help others navigate the terrain.

Republican state Sen. Fred Girod, who represents the area containing the waterfall, issued a statement saying “Oregon is pledging that Abiqua Falls will continue to be protected and accessible for generations to come.”

Mount Angel Abbey originally obtained the waterfall property in 1908, later transferring ownership to The Abbey Foundation of Oregon in 2002, according to foundation communications director Amanda Staggenborg.

“We just realized that it was time,” she said. “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 launched an open auction for the property in early February without setting minimum or maximum bid requirements, Staggenborg explained. They accepted the state’s proposal submitted through the approved legislation.

Before finalizing the transaction, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department must conduct thorough due diligence, including environmental and archaeological assessments, according to spokesperson Katie Gauthier.

The site won’t automatically become a state park, which would require additional funding, Gauthier noted. Management could fall to local governments, tribal authorities, or other state departments.

“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,” Gauthier said.

Public reaction on the Willamette River Preservation Trust’s social media channels showed support for state ownership, though some expressed concerns about potential entrance fees and increased visitor traffic.

The trust, which submitted its own bid shortly after the listing went live, endorsed the state’s acquisition effort, Williams said.

“It has a sense of spirituality about it,” he said. “It’s just gorgeous.”