A ski resort park in California has announced plans to erect a huge statue of the Virgin Mary in honor of one of its owners, but has sparked outrage among locals.
Mount Shasta Ski Park owner Robin Merlo plans to build a 20-foot statue of the Virgin Mary in honor of her late husband and co-owner Ray Merlo.
The memorial statue will be installed at the top of the Douglas Butte chairlift on Mount Shasta.
In a statement, the resort said the project was “a shared goal” for the couple.
They also clarified that the statue was not “a focus on any particular religion, but to recognize and honor the beauty and spiritual power of the mountain.”
Robin Merlo, owner of Mt. Shasta Ski Park, plans to build a 20-foot statue of the Virgin Mary in honor of her late husband and co-owner Ray Merlo
The statue will be installed at the top of the Douglas Butte chairlift as a memorial to him
The explanation read: 'We are building a six-metre high statue of Mary on the top of Douglas. This season you will see what the statue's platform will be, and the statue itself will be in place next summer.
'The installation of this statue is very important to our owner as this was a shared goal with her late husband and business partner Ray Merlo.
“They have dedicated their resources to improving the Ski Park over the years and in the words of Robin Merlo, this statue is a promise kept and a true representation of the dedication to family that we all value here at the Ski Park. .
“The goal is not to focus on one religion, but to recognize and honor the beauty and spiritual power of the mountain we all love.”
“The goal is not to focus on one religion, but to recognize and honor the beauty and spiritual power of the mountain we all love.”
Despite their claim that the statue is not intended to highlight just one religion, many locals have expressed their disapproval.
One Instagram user wrote: 'Honoring the spirituality of the mountain could and should be more inclusive than a 20-foot statue of Mary, especially given the stated goal of 'not focusing on one religion.'
“Please consider a different approach that ensures everyone is included.”
One user even said a statue should be built instead to honor the mountain's indigenous history.
“Maybe you can put up a statue out of respect for the indigenous people who were killed by religion and who were there long before you all owned the mountain,” they said.
Evidence of a Native American camp on the north side of Mount Shasta in Northern California dates back to at least 600 B.C. and possibly 2500 BC.
The mountain was home to the Shasta, Modoc, Wintu and Ajumawi/Atsuwegi tribes and was known to them as 'Sastise'.
Evidence of a Native American camp on the north side of Mount Shasta in Northern California dates back to at least 600 B.C. and possibly 2500 BC.
The mountain was home to the Shasta, the Modoc, the Wintu and the Ajumawi/Atsuwegi tribe and was known to them as 'Sastise'.
The backlash has reached such a scale that a resident named Joe Skibum has launched a petition on change.org
The backlash reached the size of one resident, who used the name “Joe Skibum,” has launched a change.org petition.
The petition is titled “Stop the Construction of a Religious Statue at Our Local Ski Park” and calls the ski park a “community gathering.”
It also says that the statue will alienate their diverse community members who follow religions other than Christianity.
'The ski park is not just an outdoor space; it is the gathering place of our community. It is where we teach our children to ski and meet friends and family during the winter months,” the petition said.
“The religious icon currently under construction threatens to alienate members of our diverse community who do not share the same religious beliefs. Local gathering places, private or otherwise, should remain neutral spaces that promote inclusivity and respect for all visitors.
“We are asking the owners of Mount Shasta Ski Park to immediately halt this construction project.
“Sign this petition if you believe in preserving the unity, diversity and natural beauty of Mount Shasta's local ski park.”
“We are asking the US Forest Service, with which the ski park has use permits, to insist that Mount Shasta Ski Park halt this project.
“We propose donating the money allocated for this project to something that could actually benefit the community, such as a much-needed homeless shelter or a detox facility.
“Sign this petition if you believe in preserving the unity, diversity and natural beauty of Mount Shasta's local ski park.”
According to Ski magazinethe US Forest Service owns the upper slopes of the ski park and leases them to the resort.
But the ski park's online employee handbook states that it has special permits for Forest Service land adjacent to private park property.
The petition has reached 1,635 signatures and has set a goal of 2,500 at the time of publication.