OSO, Wash. — A business owner has pulled his ad on Groupon, two days after the raft tour through the Oso slide zone was posted.
Capt. Dave Button, of Pacific Northwest Float Trips, said he wanted to do a fundraising trip to benefit people who survived or lost loved ones in the mudslide.
He initially said that part of the proceeds would go to them. After a firestorm of criticism that such a tour would be disrespectful, he changed the plan to make 100 percent of his proceeds go toward the charity fund. He also pulled the Groupon ad and told KIRO 7 he has no plans on when he might want to start the tour.
Button said he’d like to talk to the families first and talk to authorities about regulating access to the river in that area.
“It’s not a Disneyland here. It’s like the monument at Mount St. Helens,” Button said.
He said people are curious to learn about what happened.
But Robin Youngblood, who was rescued from the debris, said this is a burial ground.
“There are already people walking back through there, treasure hunting,” she said.
She feared that even with a raft tour that does not bring people on land, customers could see how they could return to the private property.
She said even donating 100 percent of proceeds doesn’t make the tour right.
“It’s from the wrong perspective if you’re still taking people where they shouldn’t be,” Youngblood said.
She said Button should have talked to the families first.
While KIRO 7 was at the site of Steelhead Drive, where 43 people died, several people stopped to take pictures and view the trees planted in memory of the victims.
One visitor, Jim Christensen, from Marysville, said he had not been to Oso since the mudslide and was curious to see it.
Christensen said he would probably take the raft trip if he could.
As far as respect for the victims who died there, Christensen said tours and general use of the area are "going to happen sooner or later. In another 5-10 years, you're going to have people fishing for steelhead."
The tour, which was going to be two hours at $90 for one person, was posted on Groupon at half-price. Groupon takes a cut of all sales. Only two or three people bought the deal, according to Button. He said they can receive a refund if they choose. He has not received any money from the transactions, because he said the business only receives funds when the customer actually takes the tour.
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