One of the things I've come to appreciate in my travels across America is that some of our greatest treasures are places that previous generations had the wisdom to protect.

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is one of those places.

Unlike many mountain ranges that gradually rise through foothills, the Tetons rise dramatically from the valley floor, with Grand Teton, the tallest peak, reaching nearly 14,000 feet. The range began rising less than 10 million years ago, making it relatively young in geological terms. Yet some of the rocks that make up these mountains are more than 2.5 billion years old. Over millions of years, movement along a fault pushed the mountains upward while the valley below dropped, and glaciers helped create the rugged landscape we see today.

But as beautiful as this place is, what I found most interesting was learning that much of what we enjoy today might have been lost to commercial development nearly a century ago. And that raises a question I think is worth considering: Just because we can develop something, does that mean we should?

Native American people traveled through this valley for thousands of years before fur trappers began exploring the region in the early 1800s. One of those mountain men was David Edward "Davey" Jackson, who trapped beaver in the area. Back then, trappers used the word "hole" to describe a valley surrounded by mountains, and the area eventually became known as Jackson Hole.

By the late 1800s, ranchers and homesteaders began settling in the valley. Winters were harsh, the growing season was short, and making a living was no easy task. Over time, Jackson Hole developed from a remote frontier community into a destination for visitors from around the world.

And with that growth came opportunities for commercial development.

Here's where history gets particularly interesting.

In 1923, a group of local ranchers and community leaders gathered at Maud Noble's cabin to discuss concerns about development and how the valley might be preserved. A few years later, John D. Rockefeller Jr. visited Jackson Hole and was so impressed by the landscape that he began purchasing thousands of acres with the intention of protecting the land and eventually donating it for public use.

His efforts were not without controversy. Some residents opposed transferring private property to the federal government, while others believed protecting the valley was essential. There were legitimate disagreements about property rights, local control, and economic opportunities.

The original Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929, but it primarily protected the mountains and lakes. It wasn't until 1950 that Congress expanded the park to include much of the surrounding valley, incorporating land Rockefeller had helped preserve. The Jackson Lake Lodge opened in 1955 as part of Rockefeller's efforts to make the beauty of the area accessible to visitors. Its enormous windows overlook the valley and the Teton Range, making the surrounding landscape the main attraction. The lodge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

During the visit, we saw herds of bison grazing beneath the Tetons, a large bull moose standing among the trees, pronghorn feeding in the meadows, and mule deer resting in the sagebrush. Bull moose have an impressive set of antlers. Moose are the largest members of the deer family, and a mature bull can stand more than six feet tall at the shoulder. They're fascinating animals to observe, although they're definitely best appreciated from a safe distance.

The bison we saw were also impressive. It's hard to imagine that tens of millions once roamed across North America before hunting and other pressures nearly wiped them out in the 1800s. At one point, a bison appeared perfectly content to claim his spot near the road, with absolutely no intention of moving simply because someone wanted to pass. I suppose when you weigh close to a ton, you don't feel much pressure to accommodate traffic!

Think about how different this part of the country might have been, if the efforts to preserve it had failed. .

The mountains would still be there, of course. But what would the view from the valley look like? How much of the open land would remain? And where would the wildlife go?

I've spent much of my career working with communities focused on economic development, creating jobs, attracting investment, and improving quality of life. Those are important goals, and I'm certainly not opposed to growth or development.

But I also believe there are places where our responsibility goes beyond determining how much economic value we can generate from the land.

Our national parks are among those places.

They aren't simply pieces of real estate waiting for someone to identify a more profitable use. They represent some of the most significant natural and historical treasures in our country. They belong to the American people, and we have a responsibility to protect them for generations who haven't even been born yet.

Once we begin carving up these landscapes for commercial development, what we destroy is gone forever. We cannot recreate a mountain valley that took millions of years to form, replace ancient ecosystems, or restore the natural beauty and wildlife habitats that have been permanently lost. No amount of money can ever bring those things back.

And there's something almost sacred about the responsibility to preserve these places.

What I find remarkable about the history of Grand Teton National Park is that the people who fought to protect it weren't necessarily making decisions that would benefit them personally. They were thinking about what the valley could become if it were left unprotected and what future generations might lose.

They certainly didn't all agree, and the process was far from easy. But the result of those efforts is something millions of Americans continue to enjoy today.

There's a lesson in that for those of us who work with communities. Good stewardship isn't always about what we build or how much money we can generate. Sometimes it's about having the wisdom to recognize what should be protected and the courage to make decisions that may not produce an immediate financial return.

As I looked across Jackson Hole, watching bison graze beneath the Tetons and seeing the fall colors stretching across the valley, I couldn't help but be grateful for the people who recognized the importance of preserving this remarkable part of America.

Because of them, we can still experience this landscape much as generations before us did. And if we take that responsibility seriously, generations after us will have the same opportunity.

Some things are simply too valuable to put a price tag on.

And some places should never be for sale.

To Learn More

If you'd like to learn more about Grand Teton National Park, the history of Jackson Hole, or the wildlife that calls this region home, visit the National Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/grte/)  or the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum (https://www.jacksonholehistory.org/).

About Ron on the Road

Ron Holifield speaks to over 2,000 local government officials annually and has coffee with over 250 local government officials each year as part of his travels. If you have a cool site you think he should visit, email Ron@CivicMarketplace.com. 

NOTE: This column was written with the assistance of Melissa Valentine, senior director of operations and support at Civic Marketplace. 

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