Heavy Metal Rocker Fences Out Marin Hikers

TERRA LINDA, Calif. -- A famed heavy metal rocker's plans for a new home and recording studio in the Marin hills has triggered an angry dispute with hikers and cyclists over a popular hiking trail that is now off limits.

James Hetfield, co-founder of the legendary heavy metal band Metallica, has erected a barbed-wire fence on his property near San Rafael, cutting off a fire trail that has been open to public use for decades.

Among those who have often used the trail is Connie Berto, who rides her horses in the picturesque Marin countryside.

"Right now, it's horrible," she told KTVU of the 10-foot barrier Hetfield has erected. "It's like a prison. It's got coils of barbed wire. We can't go through; nobody can go through."

Hetfield bought the land in 1999, according to countyrecords. He planned to make a 14,000-square-foot home as well as a 6,000-square-foot studio, which also functioned as a caretaker's home, according to a 2002 Associated Press story. Only the studio has been built.

He then expanded his Terra Linda holdings, purchasing the adjunct Luiz Ranch – the property the fire trail runs through.

Hetfield has not commented publicly about the dispute, but his representatives say the barrier was put up in response to vandalism. The fence itself has been vandalized as someone wrote on it “SHAME DISGRACE."



David Warner of Redhorse Constructors Inc. of San Rafael said vandalism of a previous, smaller gate, and of signs and other property along the trail, prompted Hetfield to block access.

"It is private property," Warner, who does construction work for the rocker, told the Marin Independent Journal. "There was some damage done by certain people. If people were cool, this would not be an issue."

Many like avid cyclist Ness Zolan hope the dispute will end soon and the access will be restored.

"We had to go all the way around, took another hour and a half to get back home," he told KTVU of the new detour.
"Hopefully this will all get resolved so people can easily go from one end of Marin to the other."

County officials are also hopeful.

"We realize and understand his concerns, and we respect those, but at the same time, we would like to find a way to maintain access," Ron Miska, deputy director of the county Parks and Open Space District, told the Marin Independent Journal. "I don't think the two are mutually exclusive."

But hiker Tom McMillan wasn’t hopeful about a possible deal.

"The answer I always get is negotiations are ongoing," he said. "Well negotiations have been ongoing for five years and given this huge fence was built very recently -- I guess negotiations aren't going very well."

Hetfield, who plans to build a house and recording studio on the land, was not available for comment. The County's Open Space Department says "We're committed to cultivating a long-term solution that will not only provide community access to this popular ridge, [but also] protect and preserve Mr. Hetfield's magnificent land."

Mr. Hetfield has been generous in the past, donating some 400 acres for conservation easement. Avid hikers and bikers in the area hope he'll be equally generous when this dispute finally is settled.