Utah protesters oppose development at Bridal Veil Falls

PROVO, Utah — About a dozen protesters gathered outside the Utah County Administration Building to oppose a proposal for development at Bridal Veil Falls, coming a day before officials consider efforts both to protect and build at the popular tourist destination.

The protest Tuesday came about a week after reports indicated that developer Richard Losee had recently requested to build a tram and drug treatment centre at the waterfall attraction, The Daily Herald reported. Losee is the owner of Cirque Lodge, an addiction recovery centre in Orem.

The scenic views at the falls and its proximity to area parks and the Sundance Mountain Resort make it a popular landmark.

The Utah County Commission rejected a similar development proposal from Losee in 2018. In a public hearing Wednesday, the commission is scheduled to discuss his proposal as well as a potential conservation easement that would prevent private development.

Opponents of development at Bridal Veil Falls protested Tuesday in downtown Provo, holding signs saying, “Help Us Save Bridal Veil” and “Fight For Our Falls.”

Peter Mourik, who is originally from the Netherlands but has lived in Provo for two decades, said European countries are “very careful with nature.” He said he wished local governments in the U.S. would be as caring.

“Bridal Veil Falls is a very beautiful piece of nature, and somebody wants to develop it commercially,” Mourik said at the protest. “I’m from Europe, I’m from Holland, and in Europe, we don’t do things like that. It’s amazing what I see here. Once in a while, they take a beautiful piece of property; concrete, cement, it’s all gone.”

Kaye Nelson, another Provo resident, believes that “even with the best intentions, a developer will make it inaccessible to many.”

“Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should,” Nelson said. “The falls should be enjoyed as they are, not with cables, trams and structures marring the view.”

Utah County purchased the falls from a private owner for $2.4 million in July 2015. Since then, county officials have discussed whether the area would be better operated by public officials or private owners.

The Provo Municipal Council approved a city resolution last week to keep the falls public land.

The Associated Press