The Huntsman family is looking north to Idaho, investing in a development near a mountain town that will include custom homes, cabins, a golf course and more.
Petrochemical industrialist Jon Huntsman, the founder of Huntsman Corp. and father of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., is described as a silent investor in the project, but Huntsman Springs carries the family name and is being led by two of his sons. Local approval could come by fall or winter.
"We're still in the preliminary concept stage and have a lot of work to do yet," said David Huntsman, the project's managing partner.
The development is in Teton County in southeastern Idaho, near Driggs, where hundreds of new homes already have been built.
"When I first came here in 1991 you could pick up land for $900 an acre. Now it is going for about $35,000 an acre," said Kathy Runyan, owner of Alta Realty in Driggs.
The Huntsman project involves approximately 1,400 acres, although 70 percent will be set aside as open space. The area has wetlands and other environmentally sensitive pockets.
David Huntsman said land will be reserved for bison. One thousand cutthroat trout have been released in local waters, and there's a plan to introduce 600 pheasants.
"So far they have been going about it in the right way," said Kathi Rinaldi of Valley Advocates for Responsible Development, a watchdog group. "They're talking about putting a lot of the density toward town and have offered to work closely with the community to address any concerns that might arise.
"We've only seen concept plans, and in Driggs those can be written on the back of a napkin if someone wants," she said.
David Huntsman said it is too early to estimate the cost of Huntsman Springs.
"A year from now we'll probably have a number," he said.