Grand Teton National Park is one of Wyoming’s major tourist attractions, And now there will be even more of the park for visitors to see. The National Park Service (NPS) partnered with several organizations to purchase an additional 35 acres of land for the park, the last in a series of land deals that have expanded the park’s footprint.
What happened
Grand Teton National Park is located near Jackson Hole, Wyo., in Teton County. With an average annual per capita income exceeding $530,000, the region is consistently one of the wealthiest in the country. And thus, the price of land here is also very high; So, if the NPS wants to buy private land to add to the park, it better come prepared with a big check.
For the past several years, the NPS, along with the city and state governments, has been seeking to purchase the land from a particular source: the Resor family. since 1929The family owns and operates the Snake River Ranch, the largest privately owned ranch in the state.
Periodically since 2001, NPS and partners have purchased six tracts of land totaling 212.4 acres from the Racers. In the most recent deal, it was officially celebrated at a public event. 15th JulyThe park purchased 35 acres of land for $10,995,000.
A major player in these deals is conservation fundA non-profit organization dedicated to protecting lands at risk. The purchased areas located close to the south-western entrance of the park contain important wildlife habitat.
“Together, these lands help preserve the natural character, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities that define the park and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem,” TCF said in a statement. Press release.
A portion of the money came for the deal Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Established in 1965, this program uses a small percentage of funds from offshore energy revenues for conservation and recreation.
“The landscapes that define Grand Teton National Park exist today because generations of people have made a commitment to protect them,” Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said in a press release. “This milestone represents decades of leadership and collaboration to preserve wildlife habitat, maintain the natural character that visitors cherish, and preserve the integrity of this landscape.”
How does it matter?
TCF estimates that approximately 3.6 million people will visit the park in 2024, generating a $983 million economic impact on the local economy. “Outdoor recreation jobs account for 4.5% of the state’s GDP – the fifth-largest share of any state in the country,” Wyoming Chamber of Commerce Explained.
The larger the park, the more visitors it can attract, and the more employees it and local businesses may need.
And of course, the land is now safe. TCF Wyoming State Director Dan Schlager told The Local jackson hole news This land, located right next to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, was at high risk for development. Many endangered, threatened and endangered species are called Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Home to the Canada lynx, yellow-billed cuckoo, greater sage grouse and western glacier stonefly.
Given the size of the park was over 300,000 acres before these deals, these few hundred acres of land may seem like a drop in the bucket, but to those in the world of conservation and public lands, it is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
