A billionaire has sparked fury among residents of a Wyoming town, who say he is trying to change its name to make it more “marketable” to the town’s wealthy elites.
Bondurant residents say Chicago Cubs owner Joe Ricketts is trying to erase their identity as he moves to build a sleek new 230,000-square-foot resort nearby.
The founder of Ameritrade reportedly wants to change the name of Bondurant to Little Jackson Hole in a bid to attract tourists.
Ricketts believes that residents of cities like New York might associate the new name with Jackson Hole, the famous ski town.
But the suggestion has upset locals, including longtime resident Pat Burroughs, who is among 200 people who have protested at local meetings.
“We are Bondurant,” said Burroughs Cowboy State Diary. “This is Upper Hoback.”
Billionaire Joe Ricketts has sparked fury among residents of a Wyoming town who say he is trying to change its name to make it more “marketable” to the town’s wealthy elites.
Ameritrade founder reportedly wants to rename Bondurant to Little Jackson Hole
Ricketts reportedly pitched the idea to locals at a lavish seven-course dinner complete with gift bags, most of which went unclaimed in protest.
“About 75% of the people got up and left the dinner at that point,” Burroughs said. “They left the gift bags on the table and just walked away.”
Bumper stickers reading ‘Don’t Jackson Hole Our Town’ have also been seen throughout the area.
But it’s not just the name change that worries locals, many fear the impact on local wildlife, house prices and the town’s unique character.
However, it may be too late to stop, as Ricketts has already acquired more than 1,800 acres of land in the area.
More recently, it quietly acquired the historic Haliburton Hotel, which locals suspect may be to bolster another recent White Pine Ski Resort purchase.
Burroughs explained that locals were already experiencing “infuriating” problems with the mail, as packages addressed to Little Jackson Hole appeared.
“One gentleman even had trouble getting his medication,” he said. “He kept telling them he lives in Bondurant, but they were looking for someone in Little Jackson Hole.”
Ricketts has already acquired more than 1,800 acres of land in the area, including the White Pine Ski Resort (pictured).
Ricketts reportedly pitched his idea to locals at a lavish seven-course dinner complete with gift bags, most of which went unclaimed in protest.
Another long-time resident, Richard Pearson, echoes their concerns.
“He’s bought several places around here,” Pearson said. ‘It’s like a cancer. He’s just absorbing everything. Whatever is available, he buys it.”
Ricketts already owns the 1,300-acre Jackson Fork Ranch and the 160-acre former Dead Shot Ranch.
There is speculation that he has been considering land swaps to try to connect the two into one sprawling property.
Some residents have expressed concern that the complex could drive up home prices, making them unaffordable for local residents.
They point to Jackson Hole’s impact on surrounding communities as evidence of their concerns.
“I have a friend who drives a truck with license plate number 2 for county 23. That’s how long his family has been here and he can’t afford to live here anymore,” said Justin Brummett.
Ricketts says the name change would have a historical basis and highlighted research he commissioned that showed a link to famous explorer Davey Jackson.
Ricketts plans to build sleek new 230,000-square-foot resort near Bondurant
Some residents have expressed concern that the complex could drive up home prices, making them unaffordable for local residents.
It states that the Hoback resort will be a “premium resort experience with a mission-driven focus on protecting, preserving and enjoying the natural beauty of the Hoback region.”
Many believe the complex can help revive Bondurant, which has seen shrinking class sizes at the local school and a litany of hotel, retail and restaurant closures.
If Ricketts’ plans are successful, it will likely become the area’s second-largest employer offering non-employment work in volatile sectors such as oil and gas.
‘Our federal lands are not going to be as lucrative as they once were. In my opinion, recreation is probably the next easiest thing for Sublette County to address,’ Sublette County Commissioner Mack Bradley told Cowboy State Daily.