CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming has entered into an agreement to sell a one-square-mile (2.6-square-kilometer) piece of untouched land adjacent to Grand Teton National Park to the federal government for $100 million. Governor Mark Gordon approved the transaction on Friday, which puts an end to the state’s persistent consideration of selling the land to a developer.
The U.S. government will pay the assessed value of $62.5 million for this property, while the remaining funds will come from privately raised contributions. This picturesque land is covered with a diverse array of trees, shrubs, and sagebrush, boasting stunning views of the famous Teton Range and serving as a crucial habitat for wildlife such as elk, moose, and grizzly bears.
Governor Gordon, a member of the Republican Party, made the announcement that he will allow the land to become part of the national park after confirming that a management plan from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding a large portion of southwestern Wyoming would not impose excessive development restrictions such as limitations on oil and gas drilling—a condition established by the state Legislature last winter.
Nonetheless, Gordon expressed his discontent with the BLM’s overall strategy for the dry, mineral-rich area located approximately 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Grand Teton, referring to it as “the Biden administration’s parting shot” at Wyoming. He added, “I have been in contact with Wyoming’s congressional delegation and potential members of the incoming Trump Administration to fix the mess an ideological Biden administration is leaving for southwestern Wyoming,” as stated in his announcement.
Officials from the Interior Department did not promptly return inquiries for comments regarding the situation on Friday. Wyoming has maintained ownership of this Southeastern Jackson Hole property, which is bordered by Grand Teton National Park on three sides and national forest land on the opposite side, since well before the park was established in 1929. This land is notably the last and most valuable of four state-owned parcels sold for incorporation into the park over the last decade.
The federal government granted such parcels to many western states to help finance public education upon statehood. However, despite their prime location and significant value, these properties have yielded relatively modest revenue for the state through grazing leases and alternative uses. Over time, various governors have attempted to pressure federal officials into purchasing the lands by suggesting the potential for public auctions.
In November, the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners, which includes Governor Gordon and the state’s four other top elected officials, voted 3-2 to move forward with the sale after discussing the possibility of negotiating a trade for federally owned mineral rights situated elsewhere in the state.
