24 Acres of Dixie National Forest, Free of Charge: Utah Senators Push Land Transfer for Brian Head

A legislative push in the U.S. Senate has reignited the fiery debate over public land management in the West. Utah Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis have introduced the “Brian Head Town Land Conveyance Act” which proposes to transfer approximately 24 acres of Dixie National Forest land to the small, growing town of Brian Head, Utah, and it would do so for free. This land is slated for use in public works facilities to support the mountain community’s substantial growth aspirations.

Brian Head Town, located in Southwestern Utah, is a mountain community with a small permanent population but which hosts thousands of visitors annually. Its adjacent resort is also pursuing a massive expansion that could nearly triple its skiable acreage over the next three decades. The town’s preparation for this anticipated growth—specifically the need for public facilities—is cited as the motivation behind the land transfer.

Federal land transfers are not abnormal, but this specific legislation sets off alarms for its deviation from the usual process. Normally, these transfers involve financial compensation to the federal government or a land swap in exchange. In contrast, the Brian Head bill proposes granting it for free.

Senator Mike Lee, a long-standing proponent of moving federally managed lands to local control, argues that "Local communities understand their needs better than distant federal bureaucracies". He asserts the bill offers a "practical solution to Brian Head's space constraints". Meanwhile, Senator Curtis frames the ski town as "poised to become the next great Western ski town," arguing the bill removes "federal red tape".

However, not everyone is onboard with the gift. Public land advocacy groups, like American Hunters and Anglers Action Network, have voiced strong opposition, questioning why the land would be “just straight giving this away”. Therefore, this land deal immediately raises questions about whether it sets a dangerous precedent for the future of public land.

This debate is not just about 24 acres. It is about the fundamental principle of public access and management. This proposed land transfer is occurring in a rapidly expanding Western economy, where mountain towns are already facing extreme challenges with housing shortages and infrastructure strain.

The fear is that this Brian Head public land transfer could open the door for more large-scale, private development on public lands without the typical environmental and public review. Moreover, some critics point out that similar past efforts by Senator Lee to sell millions of acres of federal land faced massive public backlash and were ultimately withdrawn, suggesting this small-scale bill may be part of a larger strategy to privatize the West.

The Brian Head Town Land Conveyance Act (S. 1860) awaits approval in the Senate. The fate of the 24 acres of Dixie National Forest land remains uncertain, but it forces a crucial conversation: as ski towns seek to evolve into "great Western ski towns," how do we balance the needs of local communities and developers with the rights of all Americans to access and enjoy public lands? The stakes couldn't be higher for the future of recreation access.