Changes Are Afoot in Teton Village

Teton Village, Jackson Hole’s premier ski resort, is undergoing one of the largest and most exciting transformations in its 40+ year history. Teton Village’s two iconic landmarks, the Aerial Tram and the Clock Tower, will be replaced this year with a larger, faster tram and an impressive new Clock Tower and Tram dock. In addition, Teton Village is also the home of a brand new, eco-friendly, luxury hotel that opened February 2008 and is also the site of Jackson Hole’s second five star hotel set for completion in 2010.

Since Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s beginning in 1967, no two landmarks have become more renowned than the Aerial Tram and the Clock Tower. The tram, affectionately known as the “little red box,” has given JHMR a leg up on competing ski resorts because of its unique ability to take 45 skiers at a time to the top of Rendezvous Mountain – a vertical rise of 4,139 feet - in just a matter of minutes. From Rendezvous, a myriad of trails and groomed runs can be accessed as well as phenomenal backcountry skiing. Decommissioned in the spring 2006, the “little red box” has made way for a faster, larger tram that can hold 100 skiers and make the journey to the top of Rendezvous Mountain in only 9 minutes! New developments and updates on the tram can be viewed by clicking on this link : http://www.tram-formation.com/

A familiar fixture in the Village skyline is also strangely missing. The old Clock Tower was disassembled in the fall of 2007 and JHMR has commissioned local architect John Carney to design a new, contemporary clock tower and tram loading dock that will have glass walls on three sides and an open side facing the mountain to make boarding much easier than before. The clock tower and tram loading dock are expected to be up and fully functional for the 2008-2009 winter season.

Teton Village is also home to a new eco-friendly, luxury hotel. The Hotel Terra, which opened February 2008, is located adjacent to the Teton Mountain Lodge and features seventy two rooms and suites, a spa, and a fabulous new restaurant called Osteria, which offers gourmet pizzas, pastas, and a wide selection of Italian wines. Hotel Terra has placed a strong emphasis on using new technology to conserve water and energy and to use recycled and reclaimed materials whenever possible. Almost everything, from the roof shingles to the springs in your mattress are made from eco-friendly materials with low impact to the environment. You can click here to book a reservation and find out more information Hotel Terra also features two and three bedroom luxury condos that range in size from approximately 1000 sq ft to 1500 sq feet. These units are offered as resale only and are currently priced between $1,495,000 – 2,764,000.

In other exciting news, Teton Village will be home to its second five star, five diamond hotel in 2010. The renowned Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, Colorado has chosen Jackson Hole as the site of its second location. The hotel will be managed and operated by the Terra Resort Group (Teton Mountain Lodge, Hotel Terra) and will have 45 luxury condos that can be arranged into 120 hotel rooms. This design is indicative of a new trend in the hotel industry, particularly in resort towns, that uses the capital of residence sales to offset the high cost of the hotels real estate and development.

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress in Teton Village. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send them to andrew@jacksonholerr.com