By Billy Arnold
Jackson Hole News&Guide
Via- Wyoming News Exchange

JACKSON — For the next 35 years, a square mile of state trust land on Munger Mountain will officially be protected from development, despite fears about part of the parcel being converted into a glamping resort.

On Thursday, the state’s top five elected officials voted unanimously to approve Teton County’s plan to pay $2.6 million, plus an inflation adjustment, to lease the land. The county pledged to work to remove weeds, develop new trails and improve habitat for elk. In June, about 60 people packed a room in Jackson to back the proposal.

In a community known both for fighting itself over development and dueling the state over development on other state lands in Teton County, the June meeting was as significant as the unanimous Thursday vote.

“That’s the first time since Teton County was organized in 1922 that we’ve had a public hearing with unanimous support of a proposal,” Teton County Commission Chair Luther Propst said.

The proposal was developed by the Jackson Hole Land Trust and Friends of Munger Mountain, an advocacy group formed in 2021 when Under Canvas, an out-of-state firm, proposed developing a glamping resort on part of the 640-acre parcel. Katherine Dowson, one of the Friends of Pathways founders, praised the Thursday vote.

“It was looking pretty grim and I don’t think I could’ve projected out and seen this type of a favorable outcome when we were in the midst of fending off what looked to be open season on Munger,” said Dowson, who lives in the Butler Creek neighborhood near Munger Mountain and also serves as executive director of Friends of Pathways. “The one thing about this is without everybody’s input and without everybody doing what they do best, it wouldn’t have come together the way it did.”

For years, officials with the Office of State Lands and Investments, which manages state lands to make money for Wyoming schools, have clashed with Teton County residents and officials in meetings and in court. The reason: differing views about if and how Jackson Hole’s valuable land should be developed.

In 2020, the Wyoming Legislature directed state land managers to maximize revenue from state trust land in Teton County. Even though that directive has expired, the push to monetize Teton County’s 4,600 acres of state lands has continued. Teton County residents have fought back at almost every step.

Fights over new glamping operations on state trust land near Teton Village and a proposal to auction the Kelly parcel spurred outrage, lawsuits and hundreds of public comments — almost all in opposition.

But on Thursday, the State Board of Land Commissioners — Gov. Mark Gordon and the state’s four other top elected officials — were all on board with Teton County’s plan, a marked shift from the past acrimony.

“I’m very envious and excited for that community to have this security,” Auditor Kristi Racines said. “It really is beneficial, I think, for everybody involved. I hope that some of the other communities that have these really special spots are watching and paying attention to this, because I think this is an example that will certainly stick in my mind as we have some of these conversations moving forward.”

Max Ludington, president of the Jackson Hole Land Trust, chalked the shift in rhetoric and attitudes up to the Land Trust, Friends group and Teton County’s proactive move to propose a revenue-generating plan to the state, rather than reacting negatively to something the state proposed and sparring in public.

“I think most of the interactions with the land board are the community responding to proposals they don’t like,” Ludington said. “We had the opportunity to put together a proposal the community would like.”

Ludington and Dowson praised the Office of State Lands and Investments for working with the advocates, and helping them understand what the state could accept, and what it couldn’t.

“There was no hostility,” Dowson said.

The county is set to pay the state $75,000 annually plus an inflation adjustment — roughly 39 times more than the state currently makes from the Snake River Ranch’s $1,900 grazing lease on the parcel.

The ranch will be able to continue grazing, and hunters will be able to keep using the property in the fall.

Now, county officials will need to work with the Land Trust, Friends group and others to raise money to pay for the weed work and other trail improvements.

The county is expected to pay for the annual lease with funds from the $8 million conservation specific purpose excise tax that 60% of voters supported in 2022.

Dowson said that vote was instrumental in demonstrating community support for the proposal.

“You’re not doing it for a handful of people who live next door or people who want to hunt,” she said. “That gives you encouragement as an elected leader or person from the state that this was widely supported.”