Billionaire Joe Ricketts, who recently abandoned his controversial “Little Jackson Hole” resort project in Bondurant, has purchased a 33-acre inholding in Granite Creek, closer to Jackson Hole. The $9 million property was previously owned by Safari Club International, which used it for wildlife conservation education.
Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade, is known for conservation efforts, including funding wildlife research and buying out Wyoming Range oil and gas leases to protect Noble Basin. While his Bondurant resort faced strong local opposition over concerns about resort-style encroachment, some residents supported it as an economic driver.
With his new purchase, conservation groups and forest managers are speculating on potential development, though Ricketts has not disclosed his plans. His spokesperson, Sarah Rothman, stated that the acquisition is separate from his larger properties in Sublette County—the 1,300-acre Jackson Fork Ranch and 160-acre Dead Shot Ranch—where he previously sought approval for a guest ranch.
Local conservationists remain cautious. Amy Kuszak of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance noted that, given Ricketts’ past ambitious proposals, it’s difficult to predict what he might do with the Granite Creek property. His previous plans in Bondurant were viewed by many as encroaching on the quiet, rural lifestyle of Sublette County.
While Ricketts’ next move is uncertain, his continued land acquisitions suggest ongoing interest in both conservation and potential development near Jackson Hole.
Read more at Jackson Hole News & Guide here: https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/the_hole_scroll/ricketts-buys-33-acre-granite-creek-inholding/article_61738ede-711f-11ef-8382-6b25edd0f575.html
