Town Cut Off By Wealthy Landowners To Vote On Buying Beach Access Back

GEARHART, Ore. - Residents in this small Oregon Coast town will decide May 20 whether to authorize a $700,000 general obligation bond to support the city's efforts to regain an access trail to Little Beach.

Shortly after Andrew and Tiffany Wiederhorn bought their $3 million estate last spring, the couple fenced off the grassy path to the county-owned beach near the confluence of Neahkahnie River and Neawanna Creek.

The Ridge Path "is part of what makes Gearhart what it is - and what it has been for more than 100 years," said Bill Berg, a member of the Gearhart Historic Landmarks Commission. "All of the sudden, it's not there anymore."

Mayor Kent Smith said the bond money is needed to "rescue" the beach access unless a purchase deal can be negotiated without an easement condemnation.

Wiederhorn, founder and president of a bank holding company, reportedly pledged to take a court battle "to the limit," Smith said.