RESIDE WINTER 2020
WILD WESTERN WONDERS
s anyone who has visited Jackson Hole can attest, this particular secA tion of Wyoming—the valley between
the Teton Range and the Gros Ventre Range—is truly one of the most spectacular settings in the American West, if not all of the U.S. To some, it’s a winter playground for the international jet set, while others think of it as a companion stop when exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. But now more than ever, Jackson Hole has become a yearround destination appealing to visitors from all corners of the globe. “There has been an increase in demand to be in Jackson year over year; all four seasons in Jackson provide new and different opportunities to e perience the beauty of this area that keep people wanting to stay here,” explains Brandon Spackman, associate broker,
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Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty. The region makes such an impression, it leads many visitors to look into putting down roots. “There is a strong trend nationally to move to mountain towns for the lifestyle offered, and Jackson seems to be at the top of the list. In addition, there are significant ta advantages to becoming a Wyoming resident which many take advantage of. Most of the land in the Jackson Hole valley is permanently protected from development. Less than 3% can be developed, so we have a very limited supply and a high demand.” egardless of the season, any firsttime visit to the area should start in the town of Jackson, which serves as a hub for the entire region. With a year-round population of only around 10,000, the historic town is filled with inviting boutiques, galleries, and eateries. During
peak tourist periods in the winter and summer, the area’s roads and rooms are filled with thousands of visitors, leading to the kind of hassles traffic, parking, reservations—that locals don’t have to deal with the rest of the year. “We have more visitors in the summer than winter since we are a gateway town to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks,” Spackman says. “There is also an abundance of outdoor activities to do in the summer, when the climate is very comfortable.” Both Yellowstone—created in 1872 as the world’s first national park, it now receives more than four million visitors annually—and Grand Teton have grown in popularity in recent years. The surrounding area has become a magnet for serious fly fishers, cyclists, hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
This page: Wyoming Office of Tourism; opposite page: Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole (2)
GETTING TO KNOW JACKSON HOLE, THE AMERICAN WEST’S PREMIER YEAR - ROUND RESORT TOWN
