Montana Public Land Lost to Private Yellowstone Club Resort – The billionaires’ club at the center of America’s public lands fight

The U.S. Forest Service’s 2025 land swap ceded nearly 4,000 acres of Montana public land to private ownership. This exchange, involving the Yellowstone Club, highlights a significant shift as wealthy private interests gain control over historically accessible wilderness areas.

The swap transferred land in the Crazy Mountains to the exclusive Yellowstone Club, which is converting Crazy Mountain Ranch into a private luxury resort. In return, the public received over 6,000 acres of private land valued higher than the land given up, yet lost access to two historic trails. Montana regulators sued the club in 2025 after it began illegally drawing water for its golf course in 2024, underscoring ongoing tensions. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who has financial interests in the club, did not divest, raising ethical questions. Public opposition was strong, with two-thirds of comments opposing the exchange. The Forest Service authorized the East Crazy Inspiration Divide Land Exchange in January 2025, while a new 22-mile trail is planned to partially replace lost access.

Montana’s rugged geography and cultural emphasis on hunting and public land access could intensify concerns about privatization’s impact on local recreation and conservation. The state’s business community may find the controversy relevant as land use policies influence tourism, real estate, and resource management in Montana’s wilderness areas.

The billionaires’ club at the center of America’s public lands fight
By Evan Simon, Ames Alexander, High Country News