Yellowstone For Sale

To help bolster falling revenue and a stalled economy, National Park Service plans to sell portions of America's first national park

Has it really come to this? In a sure sign that the recession will leave permanent scars on our landscape, the National Park Service has announced plans to auction off sections of Yellowstone in an effort to offset falling revenues, ballooning budgets, and diminished expectations from President Obama's stimulus package.

Environmental groups have been quick to protest the decision, calling it an even greater betrayal than any of the notorious land grabs perpetrated by the Bush administration. But park officials are calling for pragmatism, noting that famous portions of the park like the Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone Lake, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone will remain protected, while the sale of the less-visited portions of the park's interior and periphery could improve overall infrastructure and services.

"We're facing down some of the worst financial problems for the park ever, so we have to be honest with ourselves and with the public," said Deputy Superintendent Patrick Diggman. "There are parts of Yellowstone, mostly in the backcountry, where almost no one ever goes. Those places can be sold to interested parties, and we can use the revenue to continue paying salaries, keep the park open, and perhaps even fund development and roads around more popular spots."

Interior Department officials won't name names, but they say several corporate entities have expressed interest in purchasing or leasing portions of Yellowstone's interior, including local snowmobile tour and safari hunting companies. Energy companies haven't commented publicly, but independent surveyors concede that the oil and gas reserves of Wyoming's central deserts could extend into Yellowstone.

"We have to balance preserving our nation's natural heritage while also keeping an eye on reducing our dependence on foreign oil in the short term," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. "Both President Obama and I would like to see the U.S. transition to green energy, but until that day, we have to keep all options on the table."

According to preliminary plans, about 30-40 percent of Yellowstone's total area would be up for sale/lease, perhaps as early as May. Forest Service officials are said to be considering similar options in the surrounding Gallatin, Targhee, and Shoshone National Forests.

One thing's for sure: Visit Yellowstone soon—before it changes forever.

—Ted Alvarez

Citing Mounting Economic Troubles, NPS Offers Up Sections of Yellowstone (NY Times)

Image Credit: blmurch

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READERS COMMENTS

It's an April Fool's joke, you morons.
Posted: Apr 16, 2009 Rick

That was a mean joke!!!!
Posted: Apr 04, 2009 Nate

Yup, and we are also offering up wolves, bears, bison, and elk for adoption to the highest bidders.
Posted: Apr 02, 2009 nps ranger

There is no patrick diggman in Yellowstone
Posted: Apr 02, 2009 Anonymous

oh, people, lighten up. this has to be an april fools joke. very funny........
Posted: Apr 02, 2009 vic

Is this an April fools joke? If it's not then fuck you national park service. This is the most ridiculous idea I've heard in a long, long time. Get a grip people, use the revenue to pay salaries and fund more roads? I'm sorry but national parks shouldn't be run like businesses. They are not there to provide employment or salaries, and they sure as hell don't need any more roads! I'm really hoping that clearer heads will prevail...
Posted: Apr 02, 2009 Tres Jones

20 year Yellowstone Park Employee! All you have to do is type in the Salazar quote into Google to find out that this is the only site on the web that has this quote. Not a single newspaper has the quote!

APRIL FOOLS DAY you fools!
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 Doug

this is so not true.
everyone knows the NPS is filling in the grand canyon with a recently found cloud of garbage in the pacific.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 erichapman

Am I a victim of a very cruel april fools day joke?...well played
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 sean

I've always known the nps would do something stupid like this. This is why they need to go away and leave the backcountry to us.
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 Sean, again

I wonder how much a piece of land Yellowstone will go for.
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 Chris

Dumb story.
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 Mike D.

If you can't come up with something more creative than this for AFD, you shouldn't bother.

Maybe I'm a tough crowd, but this is lame.
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 Tom

I've always known the nps would do something stupid like this. This is why they need to go away and leave the backcountry to us.
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 Sean, again

FUCK YOU NPS
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 Sean

A source close to me in the Wyoming legislature has showed interest in damming the Yellowstone River to provide greenhouse gas free source of power just outside the park. The deal could fill some of the valleys downstream of the lower falls.
Posted: Apr 01, 2009 outside investor