Ariel / Woodland, Washington — DB Cooper's Last Known Location
Southwest Washington · Population ~400
On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked a plane, collected $200,000 ransom, and jumped into the rainy Washington night somewhere over this region. He was never found. Every year, the tiny community of Ariel hosts 'DB Cooper Day' — celebrating America's only unsolved skyjacking.
Why Ariel / Woodland Is Strange
Some of the ransom money was found along the Columbia River in 1980, but the bulk of the cash — and Cooper himself — vanished completely. Local legends persist of a mysterious stranger who appeared in the area in the early '70s, paying for everything in cash.
Famous For
DB Cooper skyjacking, Annual DB Cooper Day festival, Lewis River wilderness
Documented Mysteries
- DB Cooper's fate
- Ransom money trail
- The stranger who paid in cash
- Unmarked graves in the forest
Real Estate Note from Captain Ron
Extremely rural, extremely affordable. Large acreage properties with total privacy. Perfect for someone who wants to disappear — legally, of course.
