Turning Dirt Into Yield: A 90-Acre Opportunity in Island Park, Idaho
TBD Yellowstone Basin Road - 90 acres in Island Park, ID only 10 miles away from Yellowstone National Park as the crow flies, or 35 miles in a car to the West Gate of the park!
By Audrey Williams
Associate Broker, Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty
January 3, 2026
In markets shaped by outdoor tourism, legacy ownership, and lifestyle migration, large tracts of land have quietly become some of the most flexible assets available. Not every buyer is chasing short-term yield. Some are looking for permanence and a place that becomes part of a family’s story.
Located just outside Island Park, TBD Yellowstone Basin Road spans 90 acres in one of the most recreation-driven corridors of the Mountain West. With close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, this property sits within a region defined by protected landscapes, low-density development, and generational ownership patterns.
What makes this offering compelling isn’t simply the acreage. It’s the optionality and long term value.
Location That Supports Long-Term Value
The property borders BLM land and offers meaningful access to Caribou-Targhee National Forest, placing it squarely within a protected recreation corridor that supports long-term land value.
Island Park has long served as a basecamp for Yellowstone exploration, fishing, snowmobiling, and seasonal living — making it equally suited for legacy ownership or future monetization.
90 acres in Island Park, Idaho on Yellowstone Basin Road.
Option One: A Private Family Retreat / Modern Yellowstone Ranch
For many buyers, the highest value use of land isn’t financial — it’s personal.
This property lends itself naturally to a private family compound: a modern interpretation of a Yellowstone-area legacy ranch. Think multiple cabins or residences thoughtfully spread across the acreage, room for extended family and guests, and infrastructure designed for privacy, recreation, and longevity.
A retreat-style layout may include:
A primary residence with secondary cabins or guest homes
Trail systems, gathering areas, fire pits, and outdoor living spaces
Storage for snowmachines, ATVs, horses, and recreational gear
A multi-generational design meant to be used — and loved — for decades
For families drawn to the idea of a private “Yellowstone lifestyle” without crowds, commercialization, or shared ownership, this land offers a rare canvas. It functions as a retreat first, with the flexibility to evolve if priorities change.
Option Two: Subdivide and Sell Smaller Parcels
Island Park has a consistent buyer pool seeking manageable acreage for cabins, vacation homes, and recreational use.
A strategic subdivision approach allows a buyer to:
Acquire land at a favorable blended cost per acre
Create multiple saleable parcels
Exit in phases rather than all at once
Capture value as access and infrastructure improve
Finished parcels in this market often outperform raw land pricing, offering liquidity while retaining upside.
Option Three: Glamping or Outdoor Hospitality
Yellowstone-adjacent experiential lodging continues to outperform traditional hotel models. This acreage supports:
Luxury glamping tents or safari-style units
Cabin or tiny-home accommodations
RV pads with seasonal or extended-stay income
Retreat, wellness, or adventure-based programming
With thoughtful planning, land becomes a recurring income platform rather than a single transaction.
Option Four: A Hybrid Strategy
A blended approach may offer the strongest long-term outcome:
Retain a private retreat or hospitality core
Subdivide and sell peripheral parcels
Use early lot sales to fund infrastructure
Hold the central asset long term
This structure reduces basis, accelerates flexibility, and preserves generational upside.
Final Takeaway
This isn’t just acreage. It’s a platform.
Whether the goal is a private family retreat, a Yellowstone-adjacent legacy ranch, strategic parcel sales, or income-producing hospitality, TBD Yellowstone Basin Road offers the optionality sophisticated buyers look for when land is viewed as more than dirt.
For zoning considerations, development strategy, and highest-and-best-use analysis, connect with Audrey Williams, Associate Broker at Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty.
📞 307-690-3044 | ✉️ audrey.williams@jhsir.com
Want to find out if this property will work for you? Let’s talk!