Board denies appeal; Bungee America cleared to keep operating at Bridge to Nowhere

2783990 · March 27, 2025

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Summary

After a public hearing with safety and environmental concerns on both sides, the Board of Supervisors denied an appeal and upheld planning approval allowing Bungee America to continue operating its long‑standing bungee site in the San Gabriel Mountains, 5-0.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on March 25 denied an appeal of a conditional-use permit for a bungee-jumping operation at the so-called Bridge to Nowhere in the San Gabriel Mountains, allowing the operator, Bungee America, to continue under county approval.

The appeal raised safety, evacuation planning and CEQA-review questions. The applicant and multiple speakers, including former employees, customers and state inspectors, said the operation has a long safety record and performs trail stewardship and rescue support in the canyon.

Nut grafs and context - Appellant counsel Grace Holbrook argued the unpermitted long-running commercial use and wildfire- and flood-related trail risks required a full environmental review and a formal evacuation plan before approval: "We would like an evacuation plan in place for those customers so that if another fire breaks out…there are a clear evacuation plan in place to limit impacts on health and safety." (Grace Holbrook, appellant counsel) - County staff and the applicant told the board the project received regulatory scrutiny from state agencies and planning staff recommended a minor permit and a conditional-use permit with an evacuation and wildfire-safety plan written into conditions. Planning staff noted the project predated CEQA in part and that the county's Airport Land Use Commission process (acting through regional planning) determined a minor permit was appropriate. - The county also introduced a supportive letter from Cal/OSHA's amusement ride unit confirming inspection history and the operation's safety record.

Public testimony - Dozens of in-person speakers and remote participants addressed the board; the overwhelming majority of speakers were current and former employees, customers, and local volunteers who said Bungee America performs education, trail maintenance and on-site rescues, and urged approval. Multiple speakers described personal experiences of rescue, first aid and community stewardship on the East Fork trail.

Board action - The Board voted 5-0 to deny the appeal and uphold the conditional-use permit/variances as recommended by staff. The decision preserves county conditions that require a wildfire- and evacuation-safety plan and year‑to‑year review of those conditions.

Clarifying details - County fire and planning staff said compliance will require a wildfire evacuation plan and ongoing annual review of safety conditions; county staff emphasized that a plan would be required as part of the conditional-use permit and repeated the project would be subject to yearly safety conditions. - Appellant raised CEQA concerns; planning staff said the project's history and specific permit pathway were unusual due to the facility's long-standing, pre-CEQA presence and state-level approvals tied to small heliport use, but confirmed the county review included appropriate findings and a future minor permit at the board's consent calendar if the board permits the project to proceed.

What the vote does and does not do - Outcome: Appeal denied, CUP and variances upheld. The county required conditions remain in place, including a wildfire evacuation plan and ongoing safety oversight. - The board did not, in this session, impose additional environmental analysis beyond staff recommendations; the decision focused on the permit findings and safety conditions required by county fire and planning departments.

Ending note - The board's unanimous decision preserves an operation that supporters said has a multi-decade safety record while requiring county oversight and an evacuation plan as part of the permit. Appellants cited flood and wildfire risk and continuing CEQA concerns; those issues remain part of the administrative record and could be subject to later legal review.