By Jonathan Wardle
For just $3.4 million, you can own your own waterfall.
The 25 acres of land that used to house the world”s steepest tram and a waterfall – Bridal Veil Falls – is up for sale.
“Where else can you buy a world-famous waterfall?” said Tom Heal, president of Tom Heal Commercial Real Estate, Inc.
Heal said the Grow family is selling what it owns of Bridal Veil Falls for $3.4 million through his agency.
David Grow said the land his family is selling is about 25 acres. The L-shaped land comprises the ground over which the lower waterfall flows, the tram house at the top of the cliff and the land of Bridal Veil Falls Park, Grow said.
Grow and his brother bought the falls from a group of Colorado engineers in 1974. The engineers had previously bought the falls from the widow of Rue Clegg, Grow said.
Grow said it was Clegg who originally developed the tram, but Rue Clegg died in Mexico on a trip he took to celebrate his new tram business, Grow said.
Since the time Grow and his brother bought the tram and grounds, they have developed Bridal Veil Falls Park at the base of the falls, Grow said.
Grow said his family bought out his brother”s share in the waterfall, and it now belongs solely to the Grows.
“We had some profitable years,” Grow said.
According to Grow, the park received about 300,000 visitors in a year.
About six years ago, however, an avalanche knocked out the tram, Heal said.
Grow said after that point the family decided not to invest more money in repairs, but to sell the land.
After the avalanche, the Grows also returned to the city of Provo an adjoining parcel of land they had leased from the city, said Max Mitchell, associate director over parks for Provo Parks and Recreation.
About three years ago the land was heavily promoted for sale, and the sellers have decided to promote it again in correlation with the Olympics, Grow said.
