Inspired by the heritage of the old West, Jackson Hole today embodies the spirit of the new West while maintaining much of its authentic western character.
Just as the early explorers and pioneers experienced when they first discovered this 50-mile long flat “hole” in the mountains, residents and visitors to the valley today are amazed by the area’s natural beauty. With Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to the north, the town of Jackson to the south, the spectacular peaks of the Teton mountain range bordering the valley to the west and the Gros Ventre range to the east, the sinuous Snake River flowing north to south from its headwaters in Yellowstone, the ecosystem here is one of the most exceptional in north America. As if the natural scenic splendor were not sufficient, the diversity and proliferation of wildlife is unmatched anywhere in the lower 48. Sightings of moose, bison, deer, pronghorn and elk are frequent, and with time, patience and a little local knowledge you may be lucky enough to see a black bear, grizzly or wolves from one of the region’s packs. With three ski resorts and mountain peaks to climb, rivers to float and fish, extensive hiking and biking opportunities, horseback riding, paragliding and hot air ballooning, the valley is a playground for the adventurous.
Jackson Hole is also a reputable cultural center for the arts. The internationally acclaimed National Museum of Wildlife Art, nestled on a hillside overlooking the National Elk Refuge, is the only art museum dedicated exclusively to wildlife art, holding more than 5,000 artworks from the world’s most renowned wildlife artists. The Center for the Arts in downtown Jackson hosts an array of events, bringing to our mountain town excellent and varied programing spanning all aspects of the cultural arts, while providing a hub for creative activity within the community. The town itself boasts a myriad of high-caliber galleries and renowned restaurants. Rated as one of the most philanthropic communities in the country, Jackson is home to over 200 non-profit and charitable organizations, the more prominent of which host fantastic fund-raising events offering opportunities for participation at all levels in community-minded endeavors. There is a tangible passion in the people who live here for their community.
The on-going preservation of Jackson Hole’s physical terrain is largely due to the fact that 97% of the 3,826,407 acres in Teton County are federally owned or state managed, including Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge. Only 3% of the land in Jackson Hole is privately owned. Aside from the recreational and lifestyle opportunities inherent in the area, there are some significant advantages to living in Jackson Hole. Wyoming’s status as one of the USA’s most tax-friendly states accommodates a slew of benefits for residents, making it a compelling place to call home.
- No state income tax
- No inheritance or estate tax
- No state gift tax
- No tax on out-of-state retirement income
- No intangible taxes
- No excise taxes
- No taxes on mineral ownership
Yellowstone National Park
Sixty miles north of Jackson is the south entrance to Yellowstone, America’s first national Park. A unique landscape of more than 10,000 hydrothermal features and geologic wonders, Yellowstone is home to more geysers than anywhere else on earth, most famous of which is Old Faithful. Beneath this extraordinary landscape boasting pristine rivers and lakes, largely unexplored mountains and sheer scree slopes, prairie like grasslands studded with iconic bison, the pounding torrents of Upper and Lower Falls framed by a golden-hued Grand Canyon more than 1000 feet deep, and the magnificent Mammoth Hot Springs and Terraces, lies one of the world’s largest active volcanoes. While the volcano is still active, it has been about 70,000 years since the last lava flow. Yellowstone is also home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48.
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Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park comprises the northern portion of Jackson Hole and extends all the way to Yellowstone National Park’s southern boundary. Threaded with over two hundred miles of trails, the Park’s alpine terrain encompasses 310,000 acres comprising redolent sagebrush flats, alpine meadows lush with wildflowers, a string of glacial lakes and the towering peaks of the Teton Range. Wildlife abounds and so do opportunities for exploration and adventure year-round.
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Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Widely reviewed as one of the best ski resorts in North America, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has the longest continuous vertical rise of any ski area in the U.S., rising 4,139 feet from the valley floor (elevation 6,311 feet) to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. The Resort offers 2,500 acres of in-bounds terrain on Apres Vous and Rendezvous mountains with a summit elevation of 10,450 feet, and more than 3,000 acres of backcountry terrain. Amenities include a Mountain Sports School, Kids Ranch, a race course, two terrain parks and four Burton Stash parks, along with multiple Teton Village and on-mountain dining facilities. The Resort is open during the summer for hiking, mountain biking in the Resort’s Jackson Hole Bike Park, disc golf, horseback riding and paragliding. There is also an Aerial Adventure Course to challenge the entire family.
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Town Of Jackson
Named in 1829 after David, or “Davey” Jackson, a fur trapper working the valley in the early 19th century, the town of Jackson sits at an elevation of 6,237 feet at the southern end of Jackson Hole and spans approximately 3 square miles. Four elk antler arches mark the corners of the Town Square, where locally owned boutiques, interior design and gift shops front the boardwalks alongside restaurants and art galleries offering a diverse selection of western art and bronzes, wildlife art, works by American and international artists, and contemporary artwork. One-story log cabins from the 1800s rub shoulders with contemporary architecture, and dining establishments abound from popular burger and pizza joints to sophisticated eateries offering a culinary dining experience. The town’s north east boundary borders the National Elk Refuge, where thousands of elk overwinter before returning to their summer grazing and birthing grounds in the valley’s forests and foothills. The town boasts its own in-town ski resort, one of the first in the country established in 1920, on Snow King Mountain.
Travel
The Jackson Hole Airport is one of the most scenic and close proximity to town airports in the nation. Located just 15 minutes north of Town Square, and within Grand Teton National Park (the country’s only airport located inside a national park), Jackson Hole Airport offers easy access and direct flights.