Vance Brand bought 160 acres for $32,000; family later donated 40 to park

In a generous act, former astronaut Vance Brand has gifted forty acres of land to Rocky Mountain National Park. This pristine, undeveloped forest area now forms part of the park's eastern boundary, following congressional legislation passed in 2021 to officially recognize the donation. Protecting popular hiking trails from potential development, this land also ensures the preservation of essential high-elevation ecosystems for the enjoyment of future generations.