Why Rockefeller secretly bought 35,000 acres, then donated them

Rockefeller toured Jackson Hole in 1926. (Alamy stock photo) In the 1920s, Jackson Hole in Wyoming was changing quickly. Tourism was growing, development was spreading and wealthy visitors were arriving in the valley for an authentic cowboy experience. At the same time, local ranchers and businessmen were becoming concerned about the growing number of cabins, gas stations, dancehalls, billboards and racetracks appearing across the landscape.According to National Park Servoce, the push to protect Jackson Hole began to take shape in 1923, when local residents met at Maud Noble’s cabin. Their aim was to preserve the valley’s open spaces and prevent further unwanted development. A few years later, the conservation effort gained a powerful supporter when businessman John D Rockefeller Jr visited the area.Rockefeller toured Jackson Hole in 1926 with Yellowstone Superintendent Horace Albright. He was impressed by the mountain scenery and began considering a plan to buy private land across the valley. The eventual aim was to donate the land to the federal government so it could become part of the now Grand Teton National Park.But the land-buying plan was not made public at first. Rockefell...