Gordon Signs Agreement to Sell Kelly Parcel to Grand Teton National Park for $100 Million
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed an agreement to sell the 640-acre Kelly Parcel, located within Grand Teton National Park, to the park for $100 million, Wyo File reports.
The sale is contingent on the governor’s approval of a federal land management plan that affects millions of acres in Wyoming.
The sale hinges on whether the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final plan for 3.6 million acres of public land, known as the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, meets two specific conditions set by the Wyoming Legislature. Although reports suggest that the plan may satisfy these conditions, the BLM must first finalize the environmental study and issue a “record of decision.” Gordon has stated that he will not certify the sale until this step is completed.
The governor’s office noted that the BLM had responded to Gordon’s earlier concerns regarding the proposed conservation measures in the plan. However, Gordon intends to appeal the BLM’s response before the December 18 deadline. The appeal must be resolved before the BLM can finalize the record of decision, which will determine whether the federal plan aligns with state requirements.
If the conditions are met, the sale of the Kelly Parcel will proceed. This 640-acre parcel, appraised at $62.4 million in 2022, is valued for its scenic beauty and wildlife habitat. It is surrounded on three sides by Grand Teton National Park. The US Department of the Interior has secured $62.4 million through the Land and Water Conservation Fund to purchase the land, while the Grand Teton National Park Foundation has pledged the remaining $37.6 million to complete the $100 million purchase price.
The Wyoming Legislature had initially debated auctioning the land for development, but ultimately approved the sale to Grand Teton National Park under the condition that certain restrictions in the federal plan be eased. These restrictions relate to oil and gas leasing and rights of way that could impact local residents’ ability to manage livestock and engage in other activities.
