OK! We’re gettin’ close to the end of the tour. So, how about one final story about the creation of Grand Teton National Park? 

Now, depending on which areas of the park you visited today, you might’ve heard me talk about the Snake River Land Company. If ya did, then I’m afraid you’ve really only heard half of the story. 

If you visited Menor’s Ferry, or Mormon Row, then you got a pretty good picture of what life was like here, around the turn of the twentieth century. Heck, just spending a day here in the cool shadows of the Teton peaks is enough to make you never wanna leave, right? That’s probably one reason the locals didn’t wanna sell their homes. But that same beauty is the reason that John D. Rockefeller Junior formed the Snake River Land Company. 

When you hear the name Rockefeller, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? I’m willing to bet money that your answer is, well…money.

John D. Rockefeller Senior was America’s first billionaire. But his son, John D. Rockefeller Junior, had a unique outlook on being born rich.

“I was born into [wealth] ... It was there like air or food or any other element ... The only question with wealth is what you do with it. It can be used for
evil purposes or it can be an instrumentality for constructive
social living.”

John’s philanthropic work has had a lasting impact on the country, and even abroad. But he’s also remembered for his role in the Ludlow massacre, when 1200 coal miners went on strike against poor working conditions. In 1914, the Colorado National guard, and private security personnel, attacked the workers and their families, killing 21 people, including men, women, and children. Some say that John himself ordered the attack. 

Despite whatever evils the man may have done, we can’t deny the good he also did. For example, in 1924, John brought his wife and children on a vacation to Yellowstone National Park. They were horrified to see that much of the park was in disrepair, and there simply wasn’t enough government money to fix it. For John, it was a crash course on the importance of keeping America’s natural resources protected. So, John befriended Yellowstone Park Superintendent Horace Albright, and offered to help.

In 1926, Horace brought John to the Jackson Hole area, and suggested they turn the area into a national park. They could see that the area was already being overrun by developers, and the valley was in jeopardy. So,  John jumped at the idea. But, he was smart enough to know that the locals wouldn’t be quite as excited to sell their land to the government. That’s why he created the Snake River Land Company. The company served as a sort of front, to keep both his name, and the government, outta the equation. That meant the locals wouldn’t be scared away, and land prices wouldn’t skyrocket. Sure, it might be a little deceitful, but John was determined to preserve the Jackson Hole Valley.

One hundred years later, thanks in part to John’s Rockefeller’s efforts, we can enjoy crystal clear lakes, fresh mountain air, historical landmarks, and unmarred views of those beautiful Teton Mountains.

Want more stories like this?

Check out our Grand Teton National Park tour for more!