There’s now one less reason to ever enter the Oklahoma Panhandle!
Over the Thanksgiving break, word came out that a private landowner has closed off public access to the dinosaur footprints located on his property near Black Mesa — meaning all the dads who just told their kids, “We’ll go see the dinosaur tracks this summer!” are now either screwed, or preparing to get arrested for trespassing like Clark Griswold.
Via KOSU:
Prehistoric footprints on private land near High Point Trail at Black Mesa are no longer viewable to hikers and dinosaur enthusiasts. A spokesperson for the tourism and recreation department said there are currently no plans to reopen the site.
Visitors walking past the dinosaur site, riding dirt bikes on the private land and other incidents caused the owner to close it indefinitely.
"Off the top, we'd like to thank the landowner for generously allowing so many guests through the years to take in this awe-inspiring site," the department's press release reads. "Unfortunately, to protect the integrity of this significant paleontological resource, he has made the tough call to close it off to the public."
"Please respect these boundaries and stay off this private land."
Yep, the Sooner State is asking people to respect boundaries and stay off private land. Fun irony, huh?
Anyway, if we can afford to lose millions of dollars each year on state park restaurants, charter school schemes, and all our state’s many other grifts, can’t we scrounge up enough change to buy or lease the land so the public could have access to it, or is that too responsible a use of taxpayer money?
“Whatever Patrick. Maybe the person doesn’t want to sell?”
As the OTA has shown, the wishes of a property owner are futile when dealing with the power of the state. Honestly, maybe it’s time we build a turnpike out to the Panhandle just so people can safely view the tracks. I’d be down for that.
In all seriousness, I do hope that at some point the landowner and the state can work out a deal so Oklahomans of all ages can appreciate these prehistoric wonders. In the meantime, if anyone knows of dinosaur tracks that are just a tad closer, please let me know before summer.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
