logo
Blair Witch Project star at centre of woodland dispute

Blair Witch Project star at centre of woodland dispute

Heather Donahue starred in the low-budget 1999 film about three film students who disappear in the woods while making a documentary about a legendary figure known as the Blair Witch.
Now, 50-year-old Donahue – who left acting behind years ago – lives in the US state of Maine, in the town of Freedom, which has around 700 residents.
In a twist of fate harkening back to her movie career, Donahue has been embroiled in a spat with locals that hinges on her marking trees with orange blazes to help people find their way in the dense forests.
The dispute centres on public vs private land (AP)
Donahue had been a member of the town's governing body, its select board, but lost a recall election recently after a controversy about whether a rural road that cuts through the woods is public or private property.
The matter remains unresolved, with the town and abutting landowners fighting it out in court.
The route in question is Beaver Ridge Road, a narrow, partially hilly stretch flanked by wild plants and songbirds that goes from paved to gravel to dirt as it stretches deeper into the forest.
Several people whose property abuts the road say the unimproved section is private, and to use it for activities such as all-terrain vehicle riding constitutes trespassing.
Donahue, and the town itself, hold that the entire road is public.
The former actress painted the orange blazes using historical maps to show what she holds is the centre of a public easement.
Abutting property owners were incensed and the first successful recall petition drive in the town's 212-year history followed.
Donahue was removed in April and an election to pick her successor is planned for next month.
Tyler Hadyniak, one of the abutting property owners, said the recall was not just about the orange blazes or the woodland trail. He said it addressed a pattern of behaviour by Donahue that chafed longer established residents in the year since she took office.
Heather Donahue starred as one of the three film students who disappear in the woods (AP)
'I was relieved that the recall was successful. I thought Heather's demeanour and behaviour toward others was just unbecoming of a town official,' Mr Hadyniak said.
Donahue, who is originally from Pennsylvania and has spent long stretches of time living in California and travelling abroad, said she is aware of her status as what she called 'a lady from away'.
She arrived in Maine after a winding journey in which she struggled with alcoholism, quit acting, became a medical marijuana farmer and wrote a memoir.
Donahue said she came to the Pine Tree State eight years ago, overcame her addiction and bought land in Freedom in 2020.
Recently, she has worked as a life coach and shared her passions for gardening and medicinal plants with anyone who will listen.
She is not especially interested in reliving the glory of starring in The Blair Witch Project, one of the most successful independent movies of all time.
The 50-year-old left acting behind years ago and now lives in the small community of Freedom, Maine (AP)
An extreme close-up of Donahue's character in distress close to the film's climax is one of its most memorable moments.
The movie sparked a resurgence of interest in 'found footage' style horror movies, wowed critics and polarised audiences with its homespun take on terror. Becoming lost in the woods is a key component in its spooky charm.
Unfortunately, The Blair Witch Project also led Donahue to years of legal wrangling over compensation and the right to her likeness.
Donahue makes occasional tongue-in-cheek references to the movie in passing, but also said it struck her several years ago that her life was inseparable from the film in ways that were not entirely comfortable.
She added: 'I had this really difficult moment of realising my obituary was written for me when I was 25.'
Ordinarily, the hottest gossip in Freedom concerns the peskiness of the local blackflies or the quality of the fishing on Sandy Pond.
Donahue has battled back from addiction (AP)
But the row over the road has become the talk of the sleepy town some 30 miles north-east of the state capital of Augusta.
Donahue has defenders in the town, including Bob Kanzler, who served on a local roads committee and agrees that the disputed path is public land.
'Heather has done a wonderful job in researching these discontinued roads in town,' Mr Kanzler said. 'I know the road is public.'
Despite the ongoing battle over the road, Donahue said she has found peace in Maine – and she is not going anywhere.
'I mean, this is where humans flourish,' she said of the Freedom woods.
'I've figured out a way to do a lot with very little. That was all kind of centred around being able to walk in the woods.'
And she says of her life in the woods: 'For me, reading fairy tales, I always wanted to live in the forest.
'It is absolutely as magical as it seemed in those storybooks.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Denmark approves US military bases on Danish soil as Trump eyes Greenland
Denmark approves US military bases on Danish soil as Trump eyes Greenland

Glasgow Times

time4 hours ago

  • Glasgow Times

Denmark approves US military bases on Danish soil as Trump eyes Greenland

Critics say the vote ceded Danish sovereignty to the US. The legislation widens a previous military agreement, made in 2023 with the Biden administration, where US troops had broad access to Danish airbases in the Scandinavian country. The new parameters follow Mr Trump's coveting of the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island even as the US and Denmark are Nato allies. JD Vance tours Pituffik Space Base, in Greenland (Jim Watson/AP) Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, in a response to politicians' questions, wrote that Denmark would be able to terminate the agreement if the US tries to annex all or part of Greenland. Ninety-four politicians voted for the bill, with 11 against. The legislation now goes to Danish King Frederik X for his signature. Greenland's prime minister previously said US statements about the island have been disrespectful and it 'will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone'.

Curbing free speech at WC a ‘betrayal of the spirit of football' – fans' chief
Curbing free speech at WC a ‘betrayal of the spirit of football' – fans' chief

Glasgow Times

time5 hours ago

  • Glasgow Times

Curbing free speech at WC a ‘betrayal of the spirit of football' – fans' chief

The United States is co-hosting the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with FIFA's Club World Cup starting in the US on Saturday. Policies adopted by the US government under the presidency of Donald Trump have raised concerns among human rights group, particularly around immigration and the right to peacefully protest. Civil unrest has occurred in Los Angeles days before the Club World Cup is due to start (Eric Thayer/AP) A travel ban for citizens of 12 countries – including World Cup qualifiers Iran – came into effect earlier this week, while the federal government's response to civil unrest sparked by immigration raids in Los Angeles has also drawn criticism from human rights groups and California governor Gavin Newsom. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, a city in Los Angeles County, will host six matches in the Club World Cup starting from Sunday, and the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, also in Los Angeles County, will host eight matches at next summer's World Cup. The Sport and Rights Alliance is concerned at what it sees as 'escalating crackdowns' on freedom of expression by the US government, particularly protests related to Palestine. Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe, said: 'Fans travel to the World Cup to celebrate and express their passion and any attempt to curtail our fundamental rights, including the right to free speech, is a betrayal of the spirit of football. 'We're particularly concerned about the potential for selective enforcement and discrimination against fans based on our perceived political views or national origin. 'FIFA must obtain the necessary guarantees to ensure fans from all over the world are able to safely travel and attend the games.' The Rose Bowl in Pasadena – a city in Los Angeles County – will host six matches in the Club World Cup (Carlos Delgado/AP) The US government has said the travel ban will not affect players or support staff of any qualified nations, but it will make it impossible for fans to travel from Iran to watch the team. Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said: 'FIFA should publicly acknowledge the threat US immigration and other anti-human rights policies pose to the tournament's integrity and use its leverage with the US government to ensure that the rights of all qualified teams, support staff, media and fans are respected as they seek to enter the United States, regardless of nationality, gender identity, religion or opinion.' FIFA and the US State Department have been contacted for comment.

Curbing free speech at WC a ‘betrayal of the spirit of football' – fans' chief
Curbing free speech at WC a ‘betrayal of the spirit of football' – fans' chief

South Wales Argus

time5 hours ago

  • South Wales Argus

Curbing free speech at WC a ‘betrayal of the spirit of football' – fans' chief

The United States is co-hosting the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with FIFA's Club World Cup starting in the US on Saturday. Policies adopted by the US government under the presidency of Donald Trump have raised concerns among human rights group, particularly around immigration and the right to peacefully protest. Civil unrest has occurred in Los Angeles days before the Club World Cup is due to start (Eric Thayer/AP) A travel ban for citizens of 12 countries – including World Cup qualifiers Iran – came into effect earlier this week, while the federal government's response to civil unrest sparked by immigration raids in Los Angeles has also drawn criticism from human rights groups and California governor Gavin Newsom. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, a city in Los Angeles County, will host six matches in the Club World Cup starting from Sunday, and the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, also in Los Angeles County, will host eight matches at next summer's World Cup. The Sport and Rights Alliance is concerned at what it sees as 'escalating crackdowns' on freedom of expression by the US government, particularly protests related to Palestine. Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe, said: 'Fans travel to the World Cup to celebrate and express their passion and any attempt to curtail our fundamental rights, including the right to free speech, is a betrayal of the spirit of football. 'We're particularly concerned about the potential for selective enforcement and discrimination against fans based on our perceived political views or national origin. 'FIFA must obtain the necessary guarantees to ensure fans from all over the world are able to safely travel and attend the games.' The Rose Bowl in Pasadena – a city in Los Angeles County – will host six matches in the Club World Cup (Carlos Delgado/AP) The US government has said the travel ban will not affect players or support staff of any qualified nations, but it will make it impossible for fans to travel from Iran to watch the team. Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said: 'FIFA should publicly acknowledge the threat US immigration and other anti-human rights policies pose to the tournament's integrity and use its leverage with the US government to ensure that the rights of all qualified teams, support staff, media and fans are respected as they seek to enter the United States, regardless of nationality, gender identity, religion or opinion.' FIFA and the US State Department have been contacted for comment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store