wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] GAC OKs deal with Forest Service on Ghost Ranch

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8702 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05182
April 1, 2005	 

GAC OKs deal with Forest Service on Ghost Ranch

Plan would create a new visitor center, generate income
by Bill Lancaster
		  
LOUISVILLE - An education and visitor center at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico
moved a step closer to reality Friday when the General Assembly Council (GAC)
approved a recommendation to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Forest
Service on use of the site.
 
     The Piedra Lumbre Education and Visitor Center would be opened on U.S.
Highway 84 on land adjacent to Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, NM. About  4,600
cars pass the spot daily, which would give Ghost Ranch and its programs more
visibility. The visitor center would also add a source of income for this
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) conference center.
 
     Piedra Lumbre means "shining stone," a reference to a nearby mesa.
 
     "This center is like our narthex, where greeters and ushers welcome us
into further faith involvement," said Rob Craig, executive director of Ghost
Ranch.
 
     The center would promote visits to Ghost Ranch, participation in its
courses, outdoor adventure programs, O'Keeffe Ghost Ranch Landscape tour, the
Paleontology and Anthropology Museums, the Trading Post and Museum gift
shops. It would provide restrooms and a cafe for visitors. The house of the
late artist Georgia O'Keeffe is surrounded by Ghost Ranch land.
  
    The visitor center would "encourage an appreciation of Northern New
Mexico culture and traditions," as it displays and offers for sale the arts
and crafts of the area's residents, according to the written plan for the
center.  It would also provide opportunities for outdoor activities in
partnership with local outfitters.
  
    The GAC action also empowers Ghost Ranch to "take appropriate reasonable
steps to advance this project" beyond securing the Forest Service permit.
  
    The permit would be renewable annually, or could be discontinued if Ghost
Ranch so desired. The cost of the permit would be approximately five percent
of annual sales, with a $5,000 minimum. The "ultimate preference" of Ghost
Ranch would be to trade land with the Forest Service rather than operating
through a permit. The initial permit would cover 20 acres and might later be
expanded to 300 acres, according to the plan.
     
	The recommendation came jointly through the Congregational Ministries
Division Committee and Mission Support Services Committee to the General
Assembly Council.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to
pcusanews-subscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org or
pcusanews-unsubscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org

To contact the owner of the list, please send an email to
pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org