Buzzin' around Omak Lake

[CHUCK79]

FSX
REX
FSWC
ENB bloom
Mega Scenery Earth
Carenado C185 Bush (with muddy tires by Patchz)

Fishing Omak Lake http://www.fisheyesoup.com/article_details/289.html
Balancing Rock http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Omak_ ... g_rock.jpg
Colville Indian Reservation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colville_I ... eservation

Flyin' to Omak Lake....that's Okanogan in the background (S35)....my friends Stan and Marie live in a house right between the tires, down on Cameron Lake Road


Over the lake, looking down on the ST. Mary's Mission dock.....and see that little dirt road that curves around the rock and goes down to the lake?
That is the nicest piece of property in Okanogan County (in my opinion). It's the only house on the lake........there's a long story behind why no one builds houses on Omak Lake though


Strafing some fishermen ........


....got shot down.....had to borrow a ride home

Thanks 4 looking

[Flying Trucker]

Thanks for the commentary and pictures Chuck...well done...

Thanks for the Links also... ...they were a very interesting read...

[patchz]

Great shots Chuck.

I would be interested in reading the story of why no one builds houses on Omak Lake. Would it have anything to do with spirits around the lake?

[CHUCK79]

Thanks guys

Larry, I wish the reason was that interesting although, when you grow up on/near a reservation, the old stories do find a place to live in your head. You won't catch me on the lake at night.

The reason no one builds homes/cabins on the lake anymore is because they always get burned down. The way I understand it (most of this was before my time) a non tribal member is not allowed to own land on a reservation. Well, it wasn't always like that. Some non-members had owned land previous to tribal legislation being changed. Instead of trying to take back this land from the owners, some properties were "grandfathered"......so that the non-member owner could retain the property. This didn't go over so well with the natives and Omak had a bit of civil unrest. I have heard rumors that the bridges connecting the reservation to town were closed for a while.

This conflict resulted in almost all of the structures on the lake being burnt down....sometimes repeatedly if the owner tried to rebuild. I remember as a kid one or two cabins left on the lake.
They were destroyed by arson over a decade ago

So, now there is one house on the lake.....owned by the Zacherles...... tribal members.
In fact, you have to be a tribal member to access about 90% of the beaches on Omak Lake.
Luckily they haven't thought to restrict the airspace yet

Well, there you have it. Certainly not as exciting as a good ghost story
Understand also that most of what I have said is hear-say....like I said before, it was before my time. The fact remains however....someone for some reason burned down every last structure on the lake :-?

[patchz]

Thanks for the information Chuck.

And I found it very interesting. Being of Cherokee descent, I can understand the tribe's views, but I would never condone arson. Seems conflict like this is

usually because some group wants to infringe on some rights of another group, and the two just can't seem to work things out peacefully.

Seems to me, the thing for the tribe to do, would be to open a resort, build their own cabins, and rent them out. The tribal Police could make rounds to

ensure rules were complied with. They could also keep certain areas for tribal use only and make them in-accessible to the general public.

The end result would be jobs created for tribal members, income for the tribe, and recreation areas for the general public.

If they want more information on how to do it, tell them to contact the Choctaw tribe in Choctaw (Philadelphia), MS.

[CHUCK79]

Thanks for the information Chuck.

And I found it very interesting. Being of Cherokee descent, I can understand the tribe's views, but I would never condone arson. Seems conflict like this is

usually because some group wants to infringe on some rights of another group, and the two just can't seem to work things out peacefully.

Seems to me, the thing for the tribe to do, would be to open a resort, build their own cabins, and rent them out. The tribal Police could make rounds to

ensure rules were complied with. They could also keep certain areas for tribal use only and make them in-accessible to the general public.

The end result would be jobs created for tribal members, income for the tribe, and recreation areas for the general public.

If they want more information on how to do it, tell them to contact the Choctaw tribe in Choctaw (Philadelphia), MS.

Brilliant ideas Larry.....we have all thought the same thing about Omak Lake. It would make a beautiful resort destination. It is almost completely unused and unheard of as it is now, and jobs are something that would be benificial to everyone here. The problem is that the tribes' council kind of has it's head up it's you know what lately. There is some dishonesty going on among the people trusted with the funds I think.

Anyhow, if I sounded like I was taking sides before, I'm not. I've lived here almost all of my life and have spent equal time on both sides of the river
I'm what you'd call an "honorary" Indian

[patchz]

No, I never got the impression you were taking sides, just that you did not want a confrontation with the 'ancestors' flying around the lake. Not sure I would either.

[Daube]

Very cool shots !
It's been a while since I used any hydroplane in FS, now that I think about it. Thanks for that inspiration

[CHUCK79]

Very cool shots !
It's been a while since I used any hydroplane in FS, now that I think about it. Thanks for that inspiration

Thanks Stephane