Land Closure Update On The Area BFE Off-Road Park
March 20th 2019 Update: In our previous status updates regarding the closure of Area BFE, we referred to the current owner of area BFE as the “new” owner. This was incorrect, as the current owner has been the owner of Area BFE since its inception. I spoke with him this morning, and his response to was that other than the incorrect referral to him as the “new owner” our reports have been accurate, and fair. He spoke of the history of Area BFE, and said that “After 15 years of ownership of the property, due primarily to escalating costs of insurance, I decided to develop the area into an OHV park, with improved facilities onsite.” As we have stated previously, the closure of Area BFE does close a portion of the Strike Ravine trail, and therefore Strike Ravine trail will not be run as a trail during Easter Jeep Safari. The Red Rock 4 Wheelers are working with the BLM to create a new portion of the trail that will bypass Area BFE. This will take some time, but once this new portion is completed Strike Ravine Trail wil be opened for public use. Until then, the trail will be truncated and will not be open across Area BFE. Please respect the private land owner’s decision to develop his property. – Gil Meacham, UPLA President.
We received an update from the Red Rock 4 Wheelers club (who host the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah) that off roading area BFE is sold, and the new owner will be building a retreat.
This has caused the closure of Strike Ravine run, which has been the subject of much legal maneuvering in the past. The courts found that the Strike Ravine trail is a recognized right of way, and it was reopened, until now.
Up to 2018, Strike ravine was kept open, but now the Red Rock 4 Wheelers have announced that Strike Ravine will not be run for the 2019 Easter Jeep Safari, and that they plan to create an alternative route to circumnavigate the closed private area that has been open until the closure of Area BFE.
- 15 other trails within Area BFE are also closed.
On the the area BFE website (www.areabfe.com) news page, they a have posted the following statement:
“On June 5, 2018, AreaBFE will be closing its doors to the general public to allow construction to start on the property for its build-out.
This means that AreaBFE is closed until further notice.
Special Events will be accommodated in Area BFE during our build-out phase to bring in power and water to the property. This will allow Area BFE to add some much needed facilities such as a bathroom house with showers.
Once reopened, the park will be membership-based, with daily access fees also available. Please watch our website and social media for membership updates.”
UPLA has requested a clarification of the utah public land protection status of this area. Any answers will be posted on the utahpla.com website as they are received.