JACKSON, Wyo. — On Friday, March 29, the Wyoming Bureau of Investment and Land Affairs (BILA) released plans for the construction of an international airport on the 640-acre Kelly Parcel, in an effort to raise funds for Wyoming’s schools.
After years of heated public input, the Kelly Parcel, a square mile of school trust property in Teton County bordering Grand Teton National Park, (GTNP) was approved to be sold to the federal government for no less than $100 million.
During the Friday, March 29 Legislature meeting, BILA attached an amendment to the sale, releasing the design plan for the development of an international airport on the Kelly Parcel, which will “benefit all stakeholders, schools and residents in Wyoming.” According to the State, the revenue from the airport would be an alternative to the contested alteration of the Office of Land Administration’s (OLA) Public Lands Allocation Strategy.
“It’s time we bring Jackson Hole the international air service it needs. Building a high-volume airport on this stunning state land, where we can collect millions in revenue for the students of Wyoming, will ensure long-term sustainability for the newest and soon-to-be busiest airport in the state,” BILA Associate Director Mason Chowder said in the announcement.
The proposed plan for “Harrison Ford International Airport” includes two 10,000-foot runways, nearly twice as long as Jackson Hole airport, which allows for the world’s largest and longest range planes to land safely, and accommodates the increased demand of both commercial and private aviation. Modern two-story terminal design would provide jet bridges to aircraft, to keep travelers sheltered from the harsh seasonal weather.
Contracts are in progress with international carriers Air France-KLM, Air China and Emirates, along with U.S.-based airlines Southwest and JetBlue. Wyoming residents will be eligible for up to 14 consecutive days of free parking at the new airport, while non-residents would pay $10 per day to park.
Jackson Hole Airport Board Chairman Fred Wetight responded to the proposed competing airport on the Kelly Parcel sheepishly, noting, “The Jackson Hole airport’s monopoly on local air travel was sure fun while it lasted, wasn’t it?”
Grand Teton Superintendent Skip Benchkin responded favorably to the proposal. “More flights coming in and out of the valley will dramatically lower fare costs for travelers due to increased competition between airports and airlines,” he said.
According to BILA, twelve-foot wildlife fencing will be constructed around the parcel, with a complete one-mile underpass to allow animals to freely migrate below and across the parcel. The critical migration corridor will be enhanced with temperature controls and natural tone lighting that adjusts with the sun and weather, and a state-of-the-art sound system will mirror the existing pre-construction recorded sounds of nature throughout passage within the tunnel.
Some wildlife advocates welcomed the proposal, and especially the underpass design, which will enable unprecedented opportunities for research as ungulates are funneled through the new feature.
“Counting the migrating pronghorn, mule deer and elk will be so much easier now. Tagging animals using special locking partitions of the underpass corridor will enable us to cut down on the expenses involved in tracking animals all over the valley,” said biologist Hali Quarterhatch of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Other conservation groups strongly oppose the proposal, and have already started a public campaign to “Flight or Fight: Protect Our Skies, Preserve Our Parcel!”
“The State has said that the ‘Kelly Parcel is the crown jewel of Wyoming,’ how can we allow massive Airbus A380s to fly right over it…this priceless land should not be the crown jewel of airports,” Teton Wildlife Conservation told Buckrail.
However, many locals are already excited over the possibility of cheaper tickets, and opportunities to travel to exotic locations.
Twenty-five-year-old local Rocky Summitter said, “We all value the wildlife here, but what about the real needs of the community? I have not been able to afford to go home to see my parents in over five years, and the new nonstops to Hawaii and Costa Rica will really up my off-season Instagram game.”
A state-wide survey will be distributed to help assess the travel needs in the community, and a public meeting will be held on the Kelly Parcel on May 1 to discuss the proposed plan.
Does a local second airport, lower priced air travel and international flights sound too good (or bad) to be true? Well, that’s because it is… Happy April Fools’ Day from Buckrail!
