Parking Lot of Popular Tourist Attraction Serving as Staging Area for Firefighters
The parking lot at Lost River Gorge is serving as a staging area for the team fighting the Dilly Cliffs fire. Photo by Will Abbott
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Woodstock, NH - October 5, 2017 - White Mountain Attractions (WMA) and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society) have jointly agreed to close Lost River Gorge effective immediately, due to the Dilly Forest Fire located in North Woodstock. The team fighting the fire made the request of WMA and the Forest Society on the afternoon of October 5.
“We were originally planning to close for the season on October 15, so we will be closing a few days early” said Jayne O’Connor, President of White Mountain Attractions. “Columbus Day weekend is one of our busiest, so this will come at some cost. But getting this fire contained is clearly the higher priority.”
“The team fighting this fire has a very challenging task,” said Jane A. Difley, President/Forester at the Forest Society. “The slopes where the fire is burning are extremely steep, making this fire particularly dangerous for those working to contain the fire on the ground. We are more than willing to do what we can to assist in their work.”
Lost River Gorge will re-open in the spring, near Mother’s Day weather permitting. The Dilly Cliffs Trail will be closed indefinitely.
The Forest Society acquired its Lost River Reservation in 1912. The Society has leased the Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves attraction to White Mountains Attractions of North Woodstock, New Hampshire since the late 1960’s.
Those planning to visit Lost River Gorge this weekend may want to visit another Forest Society Reservation (go to www.forestsociety.org for details) or another attraction in the White Mountain region (see www.visitwhitemountains.com for details).
CONTACT:
Jack Savage
Forest Society
603-724-5362
or
Jayne O’Connor
White Mountain Attractions
603 348-8421