A Long Romance Generations Of Couples Have Had A Love Affair With The View Of Spokane From Atop Historic Cliff Drive

A gainst a backdrop of tony homes and towering pines, people from all over Spokane come here to watch the city lights twinkle.

It’s an overlook on the South Hill’s historic Cliff Drive with enough space for about seven cars.

Generations of young couples have flocked to the bluff, a couple of miles from downtown, seeking privacy and romance. On any given summer night, they smooch in their cars or cuddle on huge boulders near the cliff’s edge.

Carloads of families also visit, with children oohing and ahhing at the spectacular view.

“Awesome!” gushed 4-year-old Joel Orozco.

Ed Orozco brought his son and out-oftown relatives to the overlook last Friday night.

“Dad, I think I see Loon Lake!” Joel said.

“No, I think that’s too far,” his father replied.

On another night, a freelance photographer hoped to catch some of the remaining orange light on the western horizon.

Nearby, a man sat chatting on his CB radio with his buddies throughout the Inland Northwest.

“This is a great place to talk,” said Robert Asterino, 32, a Spokane sprinkler installer. “The height is the best.”

At that altitude, Asterino said he could easily chat with longtime friends south to the Palouse and north to Usk, Wash.

People wanting more privacy park nearby along the shoulder of Cliff Drive.

Sometimes, security guards hired by the City Parks Department patrol the area and ask lingering lovers to leave. The overlook is part of Cliff Park and all city parks have an 11 p.m. curfew.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever arrested anybody,” said Tony Madunich, a Spokane parks supervisor.

One neighbor wasn’t even aware of the curfew.

“They’d have a hard time getting me out of here at 11,” said Bob Johnson, who lives two blocks away.

He brought his 13- and 15-year-old daughters to the overlook one evening earlier this summer.

Renee Johnson, 13, said she loves visiting by herself.

“You can come up here and just think, and nobody bugs you because they’re on their own little trip,” she said.

Some of those who take in the view can’t even remember their first time there.

Bill Sulpizio, 20, said he’s been coming to the overlook “ever since I was born.”

His mother used to bring him to the spot. Later, he brought girlfriends there.

“In Spokane, the sidewalks roll up at 9 o’clock,” Sulpizio said. “This keeps you out of trouble.”

Nicole Hilliard, 20, brought her date to the overlook recently.

Christopher Wilkinson, 33, had never been there before. He put his arms around her as they nestled on a boulder.

He was impressed. “It’s just got a fantastic, romantic view.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo Map of area.