30.10.2025 11:08
The two-story mansion, which was built in the 1980s for Kenan Evren in the natural wonder of Kurşunlu Waterfall in Antalya, features an area with seven small waterfalls and a pond, as well as a helicopter pad. It has been operated as a cafeteria for 14 years. It is claimed that Evren visited the mansion once by helicopter, accompanied by a famous artist, hidden among the century-old trees.
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In the Aksu district, at the 24th kilometer of the Antalya-Isparta highway, Kurşunlu Waterfall, one of the city's most important tourism and natural values, is flooded with visitors during the busy summer months. The waterfall, which is part of a 2-kilometer canyon under the management of the Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP) 6th Regional Directorate, features a large waterfall of 18 meters, as well as small cascades and seven interconnected small ponds. It was opened as a park in 1986. The waterfall and the park area gained the status of 'Nature Park' in 1991.
THERE'S EVEN A PRIVATE HELICOPTER PAD In 1983, during Kenan Evren's presidency, a two-story lodge was built by the Ministry of Forestry of the time near the seven small waterfalls and a small lake located about 500 meters below the large waterfall in Kurşunlu, which covers an area of 200 acres. The lodge, which has a luxurious interior from the fireplace to the terrace and includes a private helicopter pad in the wooded area about 20-30 meters above, was gifted to Kenan Evren. In 1993, upon the request of the then Ministry of Forestry, the lodge was transferred back to the Nature Conservation and National Parks. According to some rumors, Evren never visited this lodge, while others say he came once, even accompanied by a famous artist of the time. After being abandoned in the 1990s and not used until 2011, the 'Kenan Evren Lodge', which fell into disrepair due to being idle, was restored by the initiative of the DKMP 6th Regional Directorate and the renting business. The lodge began serving local and foreign tourists as a cafeteria in 2011.
THE NAME OF THE LODGE: KENAN EVREN Erol Avcı, one of the operators of Kurşunlu Waterfall, said, "This is 'Kenan Evren Lodge' and we turned it into an Ottoman coffee house. But before, there were signs of Kenan Evren here. There was a biography. When his epaulettes were removed, we took that down. We restored this place and opened it as an Ottoman coffee house."
CAME WITH A FAMOUS ARTIST Erol Avcı mentioned that there are reports that Kenan Evren came to the lodge and stayed once, although he is not sure of its accuracy, but it is said that a famous artist was with him at that time. Avcı stated that the location of the lodge is the last point open for visitors to the waterfall, saying, "Our visitors come here, cross the bridge, and turn back. It's a very beautiful place. If you leave without seeing this place, you haven't seen the waterfall. There is also a helicopter pad above. It is special, built in the name of Kenan Evren. The Ministry of Forestry at that time built it. But we are not using it right now. They say he came once. He came by helicopter," he said.
RICH VEGETATION On the other hand, Kurşunlu Waterfall, which has a unique natural area with its rich plant community, water and rock formations, a 200-year-old water mill, and forest texture, is home to eastern plane trees, laurel, carob, wild olive, mastic, willow, and fig trees, primarily consisting of red pine. The lower flora of the waterfall is formed by wild pear, oleander, blackberry, wild rose, spurge, tamarisk, fir, kermes oak, thyme, wild mint, reed, fern, and ivy. It is possible to see aquatic plants such as water mint, bulrush, water lilies, and water avens in the waterfall. Within the nature park, wild animals such as wild boar, fox, rabbit, squirrel, bat, hoopoe, woodpecker, turtle dove, carp, and water turtle coexist with dogs, snakes, and lizards.
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