Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has finalized the sale of the state’s Kelly Parcel, a 640-acre plot within Grand Teton National Park, to the U.S. Department of the Interior for $100 million. The sale, which prohibits private development on the land, was made possible through a combination of federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund $62.4 million and private donations raised by the Grand Teton National Park Foundation $37.6 million.
The private funding was led by two anonymous families, as well as other organizations and nearly 400 donors across 46 states.
Governor Gordon has indicated plans to use the proceeds to acquire other federal lands and minerals in Wyoming, aligning with his goal to expand the state’s land holdings. However, he has criticized the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for delays in the sale process, particularly under the Biden-Harris administration. Gordon expressed confidence that future leadership would expedite such efforts.
The Kelly Parcel has been owned by Wyoming since its statehood and has been part of Grand Teton National Park since 1950. It has historically generated income for Wyoming’s public schools through permits, contributing about $2,800 annually. The sale is expected to contribute approximately $69.6 million to Wyoming’s Common School Permanent Fund over the next decade.
The transaction concludes years of discussions about the Kelly Parcel, including the possibility of it being opened for private auction, which would have allowed developers to purchase the land.