Yellowhead County is planning to purchase nearly 2,000 acres of provincial Crown land near the east gate of Jasper National Park to develop recreation and tourism opportunities.
On Nov. 26, county council approved signing a purchase contract with the Alberta government for approximately 1,874 acres near the Jasper/Hinton airport, valued at about $6.37 million.
Stefan Felsing, communications co-ordinator for Yellowhead County, confirmed that the purchase has yet to go through.
“At this time, Yellowhead County administration is still working on the final conditions of the sale,” Felsing said in an email.
Felsing was unable to confirm if the county had specific plans for the land.
Among other sales conditions, the county would need to comply at the time of development with provincial legislation for wildlife, wetlands and wildfire.
It would also have to retain an established informal access corridor to the Brule Dune area, ensure West Fraser's access to their forest management area to the west of this property and approve an easement or right of way for the Overlander Lodge’s sanitary lagoon.
According to the county, this purchase aligns with council’s strategic plan to enhance tourism and economic development. County administration has been navigating the Government of Alberta’s process for the purchase since 2022.
The Alberta government previously published a policy statement supporting the development of recreation and tourism nodes along the Highway 16 corridor between Hinton and Jasper National Park.
