Summit County Buys 910 Cattle Ranch for $55M, Plans Phased Public Opening

Summit County has completed what officials call the largest conservation acquisition in county history, closing on the roughly 8,588-acre 910 Cattle Ranch for $55 million and beginning a carefully staged plan to open parts of the property to the public. County leaders say the purchase preserves contiguous Wasatch-range forestland and creates a key corridor for wildlife movement while prioritizing long-term stewardship over immediate recreation.

County leaders signed final documents in mid January, with county officials publicly announcing finalization later in the month. The purchase was financed with a combination of the county’s open-space bond funds and federal Forest Legacy grants, though the closing was delayed last fall after a federal government shutdown temporarily froze grant payments.

The ranch stretches north from the Jeremy Ranch area into Morgan County and to the Salt Lake County line. While the county’s materials and multiple reports use 8,588 acres as the primary figure, one account used 8,576 acres and some stories round the property to 8,600 acres. Summit County intends to produce a formal Recreational Management Plan before broadly opening the land.

Public access will be phased and limited. Jess Kirby, County Lands and Natural Resources Director, said, “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and back and forth, but we’re here, and it feels great.” Kirby added, “Within the next year, we’re hoping to have a phase one soft opening with some pilot projects on the property.” She said, “By next summer, we can have some community footprints on the land, or at least that’s the hope right now, but it’s going to be a soft opening. It’s not going to be the whole ranch at once.”

Summit County’s official policy makes some restrictions clear from day one: hunting on the property is strictly and permanently prohibited, this is a non-negotiable commitment to the landowner, and fishing remains barred until restoration work establishes a sustainable fishery. At present the general public may not freely roam the ranch; seasonal access is limited to East Canyon Road, which the county closes to vehicles each year from December 1 to April 30.

Canice Harte, Summit County Council chair, framed the acquisition as a mandate from voters who backed open-space spending, saying, “The people of Summit County have identified (open space preservation) as a priority. They made that clear when they voted for the open space bond to essentially tax themselves to raise $50 million to purchase open space and protect wildlands. We’ve had the Ure Ranch, the 910 Cattle Ranch and several other projects that are really just great wins for the people.” Federal partners also emphasized conservation benefits. Doug Campbell, Forest and Fish and Wildlife program manager, said, “Through [the federal grant] program, open space is preserved and working forests are protected that provide wildlife habitat, clean water, and recreational opportunities.”

The county plans expert roundtables, consultant baseline assessments of plants and animals, and robust public engagement, with the Volunteer Ambassador Program active during planning. Residents interested in updates are encouraged to sign up for the Lands and Natural Resources newsletter for notices about public meetings, volunteer restoration days and the anticipated spring celebration of the acquisition.

For Summit County readers, the purchase locks in long-term habitat protection close to the valley while promising cautious, community-minded access that balances recreation with ecological restoration. Expect more detail this spring as the county finalizes the Recreational Management Plan and outlines specific pilot projects for the phase-one soft opening.