The Armstrong family started a dairy farm in Park City in the 1920’s. Utah Open Lands and the family have worked together for a number of years to place an agricultural conservation easement on the property which would forever preserve the farming operation. Carolyn Murray has this story on the history of the property:
The $48 million-dollar Treasure Hill Bond has dominated headlines in local news but built into that bond initiative is $3 million dollars that will go toward preserving the Snow Ranch Pastures dairy operation. It’s tucked into the Thayne’s Canyon area just below Park City Mountain. Dustin Armstrong said his father, Herb Armstrong left college to manage the farm when Herb’s grandfather passed away.
“My Grandfather started that in the 20’s. He was a banker from Salt Lake City. He loved ranching. He loved Park City. He built that barn in the early 20’s, like I said and he raised Guernsey’s. They don’t use those much for milk today because they were really fatty. And, he loved taking his big prize bulls to the county fair and he won a few prizes. Yeah, my Dad, Herb Armstrong went into college. I think it was his Freshman year. And, his Grandfather passed away and then he dropped out of school because he wanted to see that dairy farm and that barn keep going. So, he came up here and he milked cows every day.”
Dustin Armstrong moved to the family property when he was about 6-years old. He moved away after college and returned in recent years to help maintain the property as a working dairy farm.
The property is vested for 1/3 acre lots which would allow for 57 building lots if approved by city planning.
“I grew up there. I was raised there. I never came inside. Cause, it’s just a piece of paradise up there. My Mom could never get me to come in to eat dinner. I went to college at the University of Utah. Got my degree in Geology and unfortunately had to move away for a little while. Came back four years ago specifically to help him with this property and some of his assets and make sure it’s maintained.”
Armstrong said he wants to do everything possible to keep houses from being built there. The property has been appraised for $16 million-dollars. Utah Open Lands Executive Director, Wendy Fisher said there is $10 million-dollars in value the family is donating. She said they must raise a total of $6 million-dollars, but three of that six will come from the City.
“And only $3 million-dollars is going to come from the city. And so, Utah Open Lands, in order to get that $3 million- dollars, we’re going to have to raise $3 million-dollars. We have an option deadline of December 15th. So, we are really up against it. I think a lot of people have talked about how tough it is. We’ve had a lot of fundraising efforts, Bonanza Flat…but we never want to give any of this open space back. There’s at least $10-million-dollars in value that the family is giving up by not developing it. But, they’re making a substantial contribution in order to make this happen and we think that is something that is worthy of a $3 million-dollar ask of Utah Open Lands to the community.”
She’s worked with the Armstrong Families for 25 years to conserve other property in Park City. She said it’s one of the reasons that the Armstrong-Thayne’s Canyon property was protected with the now popular Armstrong Trail. She said it’s a similar preservation opportunity with the Armstrong Snow Ranch Pastures conservation easement. The 136-acre Armstrong Trail that winds above Thayne’s Canyon and links into the mid-mountain trail is a result of their preservation efforts.
“Well, that was only possible because of the Armstrong family. And, it is amazing wildlife habitat. There are some springs in there, so it’s got a riparian area. But that was purchased in 2009 by the city and there’s a conservation easement over that property with Utah Open Lands. So, when you look at the Armstrong Snow Ranch Pastures, what you realize in protecting this, it is contiguous with a city parcel that is contiguous with that Thayne’s Canyon Property. So, it’s that entire area that is going to be permanently protected.”
The family will donate 5-acres to the city for recreational use and allow connectivity to the Armstrong Trail. Fisher said the Armstrong family is making a unique offering to the community.
“This is one of the last heirloom agricultural properties within the city limits. It has prime agricultural soil on it. So, the family wants to continue to have that agricultural value on it and the family wants to continue to raise cattle on the property. This has tremendous economic benefits to the city of Park City from that perspective but also there will be that recreational trail to connect up into that other property.”
Fisher said they’ve tapped faraway funding sources including a $250,000-dollar challenge grant out of a Chicago based community foundation. She said they need to raise $3 million-dollars regardless of the open space bond passing. Go to: Utahopenlands.org to make a donation or call them at 801-463-6156.
