The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort of yesteryear had a do-it-yourself ethic, and diehard skiers communed in all weather conditions. Every face seemed familiar. Very romantic, right? That’s all over. Now it’s fusion of slope side hot tubs, gourmet pubs, faux and fur. Rustic mini-markets and liquor stores combine with private grocery shopping services to make sure you are provided for on vacation and at home – just in case the 13 mile drive to Jackson doesn’t fit into your active schedule.
Teton Village, Wyoming
Year-round, full-service resorts have residential Jackson Hole real estate offerings from fractional ownership, to condo, to unfurnished apartments and valet parking. The first slope-side Four Seasons Resort in the world presents spas that seem to be the reason half-day lift tickets were invented. Newer and single building real estate developments cluster with shops and an olio of bars and restaurants at the base of the mountain. From here lifts and gondola whisk skiers above the winter bustle. From the top, views of the Jackson Hole valley and the Gros Ventre Range are similar to the ones you might have from an east-facing Teton Village condo window. This is the ski resort consistently ranked among the best on the continent.
If you think Teton Village sounds like a little slice of heaven within the Jackson Hole real estate market, you’re not alone. Life – and real estate – comes at a price, some of the biggest prices in the Jackson Hole real estate market, in fact. The upside, you can select from the widest range of homeownership opportunities. Such diverse offerings bring a spectrum of architecture. Many of the newer condos and residence clubs describe themselves as “cowboy chic” or “contemporary western.” This usually means lots of wood, stone, and leather furnishings. Single-family homes run the gamut from ultra-contemporary to full-on western lodge. Just south of the Teton Village epicenter you can find a jumble of older condos still sporting shag carpet. No matter what Teton Village condo or real estate you choose to buy, views will suit your visual appetite.
One day of life in Teton Village is worth the price of ownership – ski from home to the lifts, then walk to a massage at the Snake River Lodge & Spa’s River Spa, and finally head to one of the rustically elegant dining establishments for dinner and drinks. The iconic Mangy Moose offers up a broad schedule of nightly music from big-name bands to solo acoustic. You get to do all this in the relaxed, anything-goes atmosphere that separates Teton Village from peers like Aspen and Vail.
Lest you think Village life slows down once the ski season ends, get ready because summer is full of festivals, theatrical performances, antique and art shows, nightly Grand Teton Music Festival symphony orchestra and chamber music concerts, craft fairs, auto shows, mountain bike races, and more. Grand Teton National Park is less than two miles away. Ten minutes after leaving your house you can chase moose up Granite or Death Canyons. Be warned, they are more likely to chase you. //
