Wyoming officials approve $100 million sale of Grand Teton National Park land to government

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Published 2:09 p.m. ET Nov. 9, 2024 | Updated 5:33 p.m. ET Nov. 9, 2024


Wyoming officials made the decision this week to sell a portion of land within Grand Teton National Park to the federal government. The Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners approved the sale in a 3-2 vote of the state's Kelly Parcel for $100 million to the U.S. Department of Interior on Thursday. The board is made up of five state officials, including Gov. Mark Gordon, who voted in favor of the sale. A closing date on the sale has yet to be set.

Megan Degenfelder, Wyoming superintendent of public instruction, voted against the sale, favoring a table of the decision for a later meeting. She also expressed support for a trade deal, whether than an outright sale. One of Degenfelder's main concerns is the amount of land the federal government already owns in Wyoming. She said 48% of the state's surface area and 65% of the state's minerals are owned by the federal government.

"I want to protect the Kelly Parcel from development. I have recreated there, I've hunted there, I've fished there, I've climbed the Grand Teton, as I believe the governor has, I don't want to see that be developed." Degenfelder said on Thursday. "I do want the best deal for Wyoming, and this is the most valuable piece of property Wyoming has ever had. To me, we can't sell Wyoming short."

Others expressed concern in delaying the project, which has been in the works for more than 15 years, including Grand Teton National Park Foundation President Leslie Mattson. Since March 2023, the foundation has raised more than $38 million to assist the federal government with the $100 million parcel purchase.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/national-parks/2024/11/08/wyoming-selling-land-kelly-parcel-grand-teton-national-park/76128589007/

[Tadpole Raisin]

1. If it is a national park shouldn't the federal government already own it? nt

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Apparently there are a couple state-owned parcels within the park area

In this case, the state is selling the "Kelly Parcel".

[Tadpole Raisin]

3. TY! Didn't know states might own land within a national park.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. It was probably part of a legacy agreement when the park was established

I saw one website that indicated an old coal mine that was situated within a national park as an example.

[KPN]

9. Western lands have a really complex and interesting history. The federal government generally turned

over 2 sections of land out of every township (2 sq miles out of every 36 sq miles) to the States when a State was admitted into the Union. (Some States later in time got 3 or 4 sections rather than 2 when admitted). The Kelly in-holding in Grand Tetons NP is one of those sections. A pretty expensive 1 square mile!

[KPN]

10. Oops! Delete -- posted in the wrong place.

[duncang]

4. And now with tfg going to the WH

It will be the first he tries to sell to developers.

[Farmer-Rick]

6. I was thinking the federal government bought it

For Musk, or some other filthy-rich oligarch. It would make a great place to build a golden palace.

[duncang]

7. Yeah the federal government bought it

But tfg has already talked about selling off federal land. There’s a lot of Bureau of Land Management land also that they might be able to sell off faster. They were also looking to lease off land for mining. They might not be able to do it but I’m sure they will try again.

[ananda]

8. My thinking also.

Predation is the name of the game now.

[KPN]

11. Maybe not the first, but yeah -- the wrecking balls are going to come out when it comes to federal reserve

for natural resource management purposes (NPs, National Monuments, National Rec Areas, National Forests, Wildlife Refuges ...).

Drill baby drill! Privatize baby Privatize!

[AverageOldGuy]

12. No problem . . .

. . . Trump will open the entire national park system to drilling, mining, and condo construction.

[DENVERPOPS]

14. And a Trump hotel

in every national park........

Teddy Roosevelt is rolling over in his grave.......

[bluestarone]

13. They are up to something, that's a given! (It won't be for the good of our country)

Foreign leaders (Russia North Korea China) Will have first crack at it.