The golf course isn't the only egg in the basket. Park activity today stretches far past what was first seen as possible in 1933 when developers envisioned camping, fishing, swimming and hiking. Current events didn't exist at the time. Providing creative opportunities to experience, understand, and delight in the natural environment still remain the park's primary goal. On the obvious side, the projected two-year construction effort won't exactly fade into the woods without kicking up attention.
Bulldozers have a reputation for a reason.
A little further in the future is the vision of Douthat being a golf enthusiast's major stop-point in a series of courses. Forrest Gladden, head ranger for Douthat and district manager for the area, agreed recently that there were no easy answers in looking at the golf course's impact. Gladden became part of Douthat State Park in 1989, five years after the first rumblings of a possible course were sounded. But the ideas for possible activities were good. The afternoon I met with Gladden, winds had shifted in the Highlands and fall's presence was solid.