Western Land Group, Inc. 

Public Lands Specialists

Land Purchased to Augment Curecanti National Recreation Area

The National Park Service recently completed a second land purchase along the north rim of the Gunnison River to protect a very scenic stretch of State Highway 92 known as the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway. The 565 acre Hall property was purchased on September 6^th from Ruthanna Hall, wife of the recently deceased Bill Hall of Lake City.

Coupled with last January’s purchase of an adjacent 557 acre property, the two Park Service purchases will protect a scenic stretch of land along approximately five miles of the north rim of the Gunnison River Gorge and State Highway 92.

"I am very pleased that the Park Service has been able to acquire these two properties", said Sheridan Steele, Superintendant of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area. "This is one of the most beautiful drives in our State with breathtaking vistas. The area is also rich in wildlife and recreational values."

"This purchase fulfills a long term vision of the Hall family, and Mr. Hall, in particular, to have this scenic land protected in its natural state for the benefit of future generations", said Andy Wiessner of Western Land Group, Inc., a Denver based public lands consulting firm that assisted the Halls with the sale. "We want to pay special thanks to Senators Ben Campbell and Wayne Allard, and Congressman Scott McInnis, for helping pass the necessary legislation through Congress to get the job done", Wiessner added. "It was the right thing to do".

The Hall property is located on the Montrose-Gunnison County line approximately 40 miles west of Gunnison and has sweeping views of the Gunnison River Gorge, Morrow Point Reservoir and the Uncompahgre Wilderness to the south.