Parcels along Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park soon will all be held by the park, as Iola and Hal Blake are going through the paperwork to transfer the last private inholding there to Grand Teton / David Swift

Iola and Hal Blake have spent their summers living on Mormon Row and running the Moulton Ranch Cabins for 20 years. This complex was the last privately owned inholding in Grand Teton’s well-known historic district. Clark Moulton, Hal’s grandfather and son of T.A. Moulton—one of the original pioneers who homesteaded the area in the early 20th century—transferred it to the Blakes in 1998.

Iola and Hal made the decision to put their home on the market last June.

The Blakes wanted the property to become part of Grand Teton. After discussing the opportunity with park leadership, they realized that the National Park Service did not have funds to purchase it outright. Grand Teton National Park Foundation is pleased to share that a strategy is now in place to preserve the property and ultimately transfer it to the park.

Under Teton County’s current zoning regulations, a private purchaser could have redeveloped the inholding, building up to 10,000 square feet of development that may not have been compatible with the surrounding historic district.

News of the one-of-a-kind real estate listing spread across the nation, highlighting the risk of losing this key piece of an iconic historic district in Grand Teton National Park.

A generous philanthropist approached the Foundation to see if there was a possibility to purchase the Moulton Ranch Cabins and donate the inholding to Grand Teton. The anonymous donor cares deeply for the park and is concerned about its pressing need for seasonal workforce housing.

The Blakes will transfer their Mormon Row property to Grand Teton National Park Foundation before year-end. This will continue a near century-long effort for the National Park Service to manage and conserve all land within Grand Teton’s boundaries, a vision that has incrementally shaped the park that we know today. Once transferred to the park, the existing lodging facilities will eventually be utilized for seasonal employee housing—a critical need for Grand Teton.

Although Iola and Hal are sad to see this chapter in their lives come to a close, they are ready to embrace what the future holds. “We are thrilled that the Foundation is purchasing the property for the park,” Hal said. “To have the park take over the stewardship of our family’s story and legacy, we are so grateful.”

Visit www.gtnpf.org for more information about Grand Teton National Park Foundation’s current projects, programs, and campaigns.