JACKSON, Wyo. — A bill is being discussed on the Wyoming House floor today, March 17. House Bill 164, sponsored by Teton County Rep. Andy Schwartz and Sen. Mike Gierau, would authorize the board of land commissioners to sell land to the United States or a federal agency.
The land in question is a 640-acre parcel known as the Kelly Parcel on Gros Ventre Road located in Grand Teton National Park. The land is currently owned by the state of Wyoming.
The bill requires a direct sale for cash. Proceeds from the sale will go to the school account, within the permanent land fund.
The bill was passed out of the House Appropriations Committee in a 5-2 vote on Tuesday, March 9. An amendment was added to the bill by the House Appropriations Committee. The amendment adds, “Any direct sale for cash as required by subsection (b) of this section shall be for not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) per acre.” The amendment requires the sale price to be $320 million.
Another 640-acre state school land parcel on Moose Wilson Road has also been discussed in the past. The land, also owned by the State of Wyoming, has been the topic of development for a few years. The land is about 2 miles from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. In 2020, land developer John Resor withdrew a development plan for the parcel. At the time, the state was seeking development plans to drive revenue from 18 state parcels in Teton County.
