Anonymous donor gifts $40 MILLION to help house Yellowstone staff who've been priced out of living near National Park by millionaire nature-lovers

An anonymous benefactor has donated $40 million to Yellowstone National Park, with the money specifically earmarked to build affordable housing for park staff to live in. 

During the peak tourist season the park employs more than 3,000 people, but for the last several years there has been a problem finding suitable housing for Yellowstone's workforce.

The lack of housing is due in part to wealthy wildlife lovers who have snapped up homes close to the park, paying the equivalent of big city prices.

It leaves little left over for those looking for short-term rentals or affordable housing. 

In turn, the lack of inventory means a number of critical job positions remain unfilled with prospective applicants being put off by the lack of options when it comes to housing.

A generous benefactor has donated to $40 million to Yellowstone National Park aims to alleviate the longstanding housing crisis faced by its 3,000 employees

'I can count at least five critical positions where we've tried to recruit, but we got turned down by the applicant because of a lack of housing,' said Park Superintendent Cam Sholly, pictured

Yellowstone has many employee housing trailers dating back to the 1960s that represent some of the worst employee housing in the national park system, but the new cash will be used to build modular homes. 

'I can count at least five critical positions where we've tried to recruit, but we got turned down by the applicant because of a lack of housing,' said Park Superintendent Cam Sholly to NPR.

The $40 million donation, made through the National Park Foundation, will be used to construct around 70 housing units within the park. 

Foundation CEO Will Shafroth expressed the hope the philanthropic gesture would inspire similar initiatives across other national parks.

'These people are public servants, and they deserve a great place to come home to and call home,' Shafroth said. 

Yellowstone had traditionally relied on nearby towns to accommodate about half of its staff. 

But as the park's visitation rates have soared to record highs, the availability of affordable rentals has fallen with property owners converting long-term rentals into short-term accommodations.

Finding housing near the park has become increasingly difficult.

During the peak tourist season the park employs more than 3,000 people but there has long been a problem of finding suitable housing for its workforce for the last several years

Yellowstone has many employee housing trailers dating back to the 1960s that represent some of the worst employee housing in the national park system, but this new cash will be used to build modular homes

Some of the old cabins built in the 1960s are in poor condition and being demolished 

The old-style cabins are dilapidated and in urgent need of replacement 

The interior of the new homes are a vast improvement and have all modern home comforts

Finding housing near the park has become increasingly difficult for staff

New housing for Yellowstone seasonal employees is seen completed

'Nothing has ever felt as much as home as Gardiner,' Ashea Mills, a self-employed Yellowstone guide, who has been forced to leave the area due to rising costs, said.

'The decision to pick up and actually, like, move my bed has been one of the greatest heartbreaks of my life. Incredibly difficult, because of how place-based our lives are,' she said.

Caroline Gold began an archaeology job at Yellowstone in 2021, moving from Texas. 

But as soon as she saw the cost of housing in the area she quickly regretted her decision.

'Am I going to have to un-resign from my job because there's no housing here?' she asked herself.

Eventually, she took a job in the eastern part of the country where the cost of living is substantially less and with a better availability of housing.

Old-style trailers from the 1960s are being removed in favor of modular homes

Here, the same location but with brand new homes on the site 

Yellowstone staffers are seen smiling for the camera. During the peak tourist season the park employs more than 3,000 people

One of the new modular homes is seen being hoisted into position

Last year's park report show homes in nearby gateway towns, such as Gardiner, Montana, running close to double the national average and more akin to prices in Seattle or Denver than rural Montana with prices close to $1 million.

The rising cost of living and the increase in the amount of vacation rentals has only further exacerbated the housing crisis in the area, taking up the local supply.

The crisis extends beyond Yellowstone, affecting numerous parks, including Acadia and Yosemite, all grappling with the difficulties of providing affordable housing for their staff.