A significant portion of the latest season of Sister Wives has revolved around the ongoing disagreements between former polygamist Kody Brown and his ex-wives, Meri Brown and Janelle Brown, concerning their shared property in Arizona known as Coyote Pass. Kody’s complex marital history includes his relationships with Meri, Janelle, Christine Brown—who left the marriage in 2021—and Robyn Brown, who was introduced as Kody’s fourth wife during season one. Although the Browns worked together to debunk stereotypes and raise their 18 children, they faced enormous challenges that led to the dissolution of their polygamous family.
After the exits of Christine, and subsequently Janelle and Meri, tensions flared over ownership of Coyote Pass. While Christine relinquished her claims to the property, both Meri and Janelle continued to hold stakes in it. This led to a contentious standoff, prompting them to contemplate legal measures due to Kody’s reluctance to allocate them their rightful shares. On April 1, 2025, Starcasm reported that Kody had finally restructured the land ownership, providing a more equitable distribution for Meri and Janelle. However, it seems likely that the disputes will persist, leaving Kody and his ex-spouses with unresolved tensions.
Kody Retains Ownership with His Ex-Wives
Coyote Pass: A Barrier to Moving On
The recent reallocation of Coyote Pass, which was documented on March 27, 2025, addresses previous inequities in land ownership. Previously, Kody and Robyn possessed most of the property; however, the two largest plots are now co-owned by Kody, Janelle, and Meri. The smaller parcels are divided equally, with Kody and Robyn on one, and Meri and Janelle on the other.
While this step marks progress for Meri and Janelle in their efforts to receive fair compensation for their familial investment, it does not entirely disentangle them from their financial commitments to Kody and Robyn. The property continues to symbolize both their aspirations and disappointments.
Coyote Pass has been a contentious issue since Kody urged his four wives to leave their stable lives in Las Vegas for the uncertain future in Flagstaff, Arizona. The failure to develop the land due to financial difficulties, coupled with the unraveling of their marriages, has made Coyote Pass a painful reminder of their past ambitions. Although the recent modifications to ownership—highlighted by Starcasm—represent a positive change, the emotional weight associated with the property persists. While I applaud Janelle and Meri for gaining equal stakes, I remain concerned about their ability to move forward from their complicated relationships.
Delays in Signature: Robyn’s Dilemma
Hesitation Reflects Emotional Complexity
As noted by Starcasm, while Kody, Meri, and Janelle promptly signed the deed documents in January, Robyn delayed her signature until March 26, just before the documents were officially recorded. This suggests that tensions surrounding the property negotiations were still very much in play during this period.
Robyn’s sentimental connection to Coyote Pass has been a focal point during the previous seasons of Sister Wives, with her grappling with the disintegration of her plural family. She held onto the hope of reunification with Kody and her sister wives, despite witnessing the collapse of the other marriages.
I believe that Robyn’s delay in signing reflects her lingering aspirations for mending familial bonds. Her commitment to polygamy remains strong, and considering the bitter atmosphere surrounding the land, it is understandable that she would hesitate to acknowledge the changed ownership dynamics for Coyote Pass. The environment is still charged with raw emotions, and redistributing the land doesn’t resolve the underlying rifts among the Browns.
Future Sale of Coyote Pass: A Looming Challenge
Collaborative Selling: A Difficult Path Ahead
Meri and Janelle aim to recover their financial investments in Coyote Pass. The complexities of the Browns’ finances are well-documented, with Kody serving as the guarantor for their shared financial obligations. Since only Kody and Robyn’s marriage holds legal validity, Meri, Janelle, and Christine lack claims to the family’s assets.
Janelle has expressed feelings of embarrassment regarding her financial situation following her split from Kody. The path forward is not only about fair ownership but also necessitates selling the property to access her equity. Despite the likelihood of a sale occurring, the history of conflict between the former spouses casts doubt on the smoothness of this process.
Selling Coyote Pass will require the consent of Kody, Robyn, Meri, and Janelle regarding sale conditions like timing, pricing, and the extent of land being sold. Season 19 of Sister Wives has highlighted Kody’s challenges in effectively communicating with his ex-wives, a pattern I expect will recur during the sale discussions. Although Meri and Janelle have managed to secure a better arrangement, substantial hurdles remain in their journey.
The latest season of Sister Wives continues on Sunday, April 20, at 10 PM EDT on TLC.
Source: Starcasm