Amenity-based development and protected areas in the American West

The amenity migration phenomenon and outdoor recreation growth has led to rapid amenity-based development of many gateway communities in the American West, particularly in regions adjacent to protected public lands. This amenity-based development typically enhances traditional regional economic indicators of income, employment, and taxes but can result in run-away housing costs, a hollowing out of income distribution, residential sprawl, and conflict among long-term residents and new arrivals. However, little research has focused specifically on how such migration and the existence of public lands is leading to the development of rural communities. To address this gap in the literature, we conducted econometric analysis to determine which natural amenities, including types of public lands and protected areas, were most associated with levels of amenity-based development in the rural West. We utilize the Destination Development Scale (DDS), an index of migration rates, housing values, and seasonal housing, to rank and regress the amenity development level of 356 non-metro counties. Spatial regressions illustrate that a county’s amenity-based development level is most influenced by cool summers, varied topography, forests, water, and regional access. Rural counties with more Wilderness and National Monuments were most highly associated with greater amenity-based development and all six protected area types showed higher DDS scores. Understanding the natural amenities that most influence the economic demand for rural destinations can inform regional planning efforts, helping to prioritize policies that balance conservation and development.