Video shows young people toppling a state park’s iconic sandstone rock pedestal

AT first it was said to be an act of nature. But footage has revealed a group of young people deliberately destroyed a beloved rock formation.

AT first it was said to be an act of nature.

But now a video has surfaced which shows that a group of young people deliberately destroyed an iconic and beloved sandstone pedestal, known as the Duckbill, at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, a state park in Pacific City in Oregon.

The famous Duckbill rock formation was used for marriage proposals, thousands of social media pictures and was a major attraction at Cape Kiwanda. Picture: Isaac Koval / iStock

David Kalas, who was flying a drone, said eight people “came out of nowhere” and started pushing on the Duckbill, which is in a fenced-off area, and causing it to wobble.

“I didn’t think anything would happen,” Kalas told The Associated Press. “It’s a big rock.”

Five of the people stepped away, but when three others saw there was a crack, they pushed it over, Kalas said.

“We confronted them and they said it was a safety hazard,” Kalas said.

“They said one of their friends had broken a leg on it. It’s like their weird revenge thing.”

The vandals stood on the crumbled sandstone, took some pictures and fled.

“They were just standing on top of the rubble of the rock, laughing, smiling, giggling,” Kalas said. “I just want them to learn a lesson you know, because if they do this here they will probably do it elsewhere.”

Oregon State Parks initially thought it was an act of nature.

However, Kalas’ video, first seen on KATU, has changed their view.

Oregon State Parks’ spokesman Chris Haval said it had called in Oregon State Police to try and find the vandals and decide if a criminal act had occurred.
The Duckbill had been a fixture at Cape Kiwanda since it became a state park in 1973, Haval told New York Daily News, adding that the pedestal could have lasted for decades more before eventually falling over on its own.

He said the fine for the destruction of a natural resource was $435 and he was not aware of any other act of vandalism in the park for the past 22 years.

Destruction of popular nature attractions in the US is a constant concern.

A similar episode in Utah caused an online uproar, Fox News reported. Two Boy Scout leaders were sentenced to probation after recording themselves toppling an ancient rock formation at Goblin Valley State Park and posting it on YouTube.

Earlier this year 23-year-old Casey Nocket was banned from national parks after admitting to defacing rocks in Death Valley, Yosemite, and other sites with her ‘Creepytings’ sharpie doodles.

Police in Idaho have still not found the student responsible for spray-painting a prom proposal to ‘Destiny’ on the Black Cliffs east of Boise, Idaho.