Oregon state sells land near former Rajneesh commune to youth camp

The state has agreed to sell a 480-acre parcel surrounded by the former Rajneesh compound in central Oregon to a Christian youth camp that now owns the defunct commune’s land.

Since opening in 1998, the camp run by Colorado-based Young Life has leased the state land, which covers part of the compound’s sewer lagoon.

“We’re pleased we were able to come to an agreement with Young Life on this parcel,” said Steve Purchase, assistant director of land management for the Department of State Lands. “Since this parcel is completely surrounded by land owned by Young Life, it makes sense for them to buy this acreage.”

The State Land Board approved the land sale for $153,475.88. The state will retain mineral rights on the land.

The sewer lagoons were built by the Rajneeshees, the red-frocked followers of the late Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, whose commune occupied the 100-square-mile former Big Muddy Ranch in the early 1980s.

The 65,000-acre Big Muddy was donated to Young Life by Montana philanthropists Dennis and Phyllis Washington. They bought it at auction after the Rajneesh commune dissolved following the prosecution of several members for the poisoning of public officials in a failed attempt to take over Wasco County government.

Read Another Article

Orange People’s sect appeal
Taliban Netting Millions From Poppies

Related News Articles Topic(s): Osho • Rajneesh Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Osho Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Kent Hovind: Evangelist arrested on federal charges Beast’s real mark devalued to ’616′ Muslim Woman Gives Sex Advice on Arab TV Michael Jackson Confirms Conversion to Islam Kent Hovind, ‘Dr. Dino,’ guilty on all counts The fall and rise of Carlton Pearson Search False prophet Harold Camping sets another date for rapture: May 21, 2011 Watch the film Theo van Gogh was murdered for Kent Hovind — Dr. Dino — sentenced to 10 years in prison

Search Religion News Blog