The billionaire Wilks brothers from Texas are listing more Idaho properties for sale. Wilks Ranch Brokers is advertising a 128 acre "private mountain retreat" in Valley County for $281,000, and the 411 acre "Timbered Valley Ranch" in Boise County for $472,000.
The Wilks' company, D-F Development, came under scrutiny last year when they installed gates on a Forest Service road near Bogus Basin. That road runs through their property that is also for sale. Country Homes of America lists the "Boise Ridge Mountain Ranch" as "over ten thousand deeded acres, with private access to an additional 640 acres of state land."
But Brian Brooks of the Idaho Wildlife Federation says the so-called private access is not private at all. He showed 6 On Your Side documents that he says prove the road, commonly known as Boise Ridge Road, should be open to the public forever.
Last week Brooks introduced legislation that would allow private citizens to sue landowners who illegally block access to public land. The Senate Resources and Environment Committee voted unanimously to move Senate bill 1089 forward.
