Small sleepy town wins big victory over 'tone-deaf' billionaire's plans to build luxury resort: 'We'll see what happens next' READ MORE: Billionaire and ranchers clash over luxury Wyoming resort By Miles Dilworth, Senior Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 18:39, 13 July 2024 | Updated: 19:42, 13 July 2024 e-mail 27 View comments The billionaire owner of the Chicago Clubs has scrapped his plans to build a luxury resort in a sleepy village in Wyoming following fierce resistance from locals. Joe Ricketts this week ordered crews to immediately stop construction on his $50million tourist retreat in Bondurant to the delight of its 156 residents.
Locals had strongly opposed the Wall Street trader's plans to plant a swanky new 230,000-square-foot retreat in the village and rename it 'Little Jackson Hole' to attract high rollers from New York and Los Angeles . Residents said his 'tone deaf' plans would 'erode' their culture, destroy wildlife and drive up the cost of living . After a toxic four-year battle, it appeared Ricketts had won the day after Sublette County greenlit the project.
But he has now decided to ditch it altogether after officials denied him an exemption from seasonal building restrictions, a decision the billionaire claimed would double construction time and increase the cost by $60million to $100million. Billionaire Joe Ricketts this week ordered crews to immediately stop construction on a proposed $50million luxury resort in the sleepy village of Bondurant, Wyomi.