Tourismupdated 1h ago2 min read
Tallgrass Gives Yellowstone National Park $105 Million For Conservation And Visitor Education Center
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Tallgrass, backed by Blackstone, donates $105 million to create Yellowstone Conservation and Stewardship Fund. Fund aims to advance conservation/research, strengthen park infrastructure, and expand visitor access at Yellowstone.
$105M for Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is set to receive a $105 million private gift from Tallgrass, the largest single private contribution in the history of the US National Park Service, to establish a permanent Conservation and Stewardship Fund. Tallgrass will direct the money toward three priorities, including a new visitor education center at Norris Geyser Basin, long-term programmes to expand access for Wyoming students and families, and support for conservation and research.
Yellowstone Forever President and CEO Lisa Diekmann said, "This is a transformational investment in Yellowstone National Park," and she added that it gives the nonprofit "the ability to meet urgent needs today while building enduring support" for research, education, stewardship, and visitor infrastructure. The National Park Service will retain full authority over park management decisions, and the fund’s projects will be consistent with applicable laws, policies, and park priorities.
Where the money goes
Tallgrass’ $105 million gift will include $35 million planned for a new visitor education center at Norris Geyser Basin, and it will also support conservation and research, park infrastructure, and visitor access. The funding will earmark $50 million for conservation and research, and it will allocate $20 million to expand opportunities for students and community members in Wyoming to experience Yellowstone.
Steven Davidson, senior vice president of government and public affairs at Tallgrass, said the company’s donation is not a reputational effort, adding, "From a reputational perspective, this isn't the initiative that we're gonna hang our hat on." Davidson also said, "Very few places offer what Yellowstone does," and he pointed to Yellowstone’s impact on three different states' economies.
Stakes for access
Yellowstone Forever President and CEO Lisa Diekmann framed the initiative around mission and access, saying, "Being consistent with our mission is absolutely paramount." Yellowstone Forever President and CEO Lisa Diekmann also said, "Whether it's thirty-five dollars, thirty-five million dollars, or one-hundred-and-five million dollars," the mission comes first.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the $105 million investment honors President Theodore Roosevelt’s cornerstone of Yellowstone’s iconic gateway, and he described the gift as bringing together "the best of American enterprise and conservation" to expand access and inspire the next generation. WyoFile reported that the Park Service estimates $1.2 billion in deferred maintenance and repairs, and the same report said Barclay Trimble assumed duties as Acting Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park after Cam Sholly left his post.