Could this be the end of the Grand Canyon?

[hunter]

By Anthony Zurcher
Editor, Echo Chambers, BBC News

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".

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.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-28204598

Argghhh...

[OnlinePoker]

1. Mixed feelings on this.

While the development next to the canyon is troublesome, we can't very well complain about the Navajo trying to develop an infrastructure that will benefit their nation. The time of our paternalism should be ended.

[mokawanis]

2. If they're going to do all that

then I won't need to be reminded to stay away.

[FBaggins]

3. No

Extreme hyperbole

[Bluenorthwest]

4. The tribes have been wildly mindful of the environment in the developments they have done so far.

Mindful in that they have spent huge sums and taken far more time to construct in order to not harm the land. It is their right to do as they see fit, I trust them far more than some company contracted by the government to 'run' national parks.
Also, at this time for many people, the only access to the canyon floor is by aircraft. A gondola would be less harmful than the vibrations from aircraft. Not everyone can hike or do the mule trail. Something to be said for that as well.
It is not as if the Canyon is undeveloped and pristine.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

5. Sounds cheesy.

But it's only on that one portion the Navajo have. 420 acres sounds like a lot, but that's not even a square mile. (640 acres to a square mile)

[lonestarnot]

6. And the Navajo position is what? Mo money too?