Jackson Hole Lifestyles

Jackson Hole Real Estate Owners Share Adventurous Souls

For 100 years, adventurous souls have sought their hearts’ desires in the woodlands, mountains, and fraternity of wildlife in Jackson Hole. But while natural beauty and the freedom of wide open space have lured thousands to this high mountain valley, it has been the lifestyle they found here or made for themselves that kept them coming back. Those thousands found the right combination of refuge and amenities, solitude and community, natural beauty and cultural options. They became a part of it, enjoying all the valley has to offer, and in many cases adding their own talents and passions to the mix.

The common denominator here is the wilderness – and lots of it. Jackson Hole is considered part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest intact temperate ecosystem in the lower 48 States – 18 million acres of protected wildlife habitat, national forest and national park lands. Within an hour or two of Jackson Hole, there are nine major mountain ranges – the Teton, Gros Ventre, Snake, Wyoming, Salt River, Wind River, Big Hole, Absarokas and Madison ranges. There are countless lakes, streams and rivers, thousands of miles of highway and byway, and scores of communities, many no bigger than a crossroads. All this adds up to a region it would take three lifetimes to explore, a land full of challenges both physical and philosophical, a geography that both invites and resists settlement.

Outdoor Attractions in Jackson Hole
All around the world, hikers, mountaineers, river runners, hunters and fishermen think of Jackson Hole when they dream of adventure. Skiers long for a challenge like Rendezvous Peak at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, or a cozy mountain village like Grand Targhee Ski and Summer Resort, or a convenient hill like Jackson’s Snow King Resort.

Golfers find 360 degrees of unparalleled scenery at two superb golf courses. Such outdoor attractions have been enough for many western adventurers, but much has changed in Teton County over the decades. Alongside its community of outdoorsmen lives a community of artists and aficionados. Sophisticated tastes have begotten a sophisticated array of galleries, restaurants and arts groups.

For more information on recreation in Jackson Hole, visit Locale's article on Jackson Hole recreation.

Jackson Hole Art and Galleries
Nearly 40 galleries offer paintings and sculptures, from western themes to contemporary abstract interpretations of the land and its inhabitants. The Grand Teton Music Festival gathers 200 musicians from the world’s top orchestras for 40-plus chamber and symphonic concerts during July and August.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art houses thousands of masterpieces by western icons such as Charlie Russell, Frederick Remington and Carl Rungius as well as works by European masters and living artists. Two theater companies, a professional dance troupe, and several community music ensembles present dozens of performances each year. At the Jackson Hole Writers Conference, guests like Wally Lamb, Sue Grafton and Elizabeth Berg meet with aspiring novelists from across the country.

For more information on art in Jackson Hole, visit Locale's article on Jackson Hole art.

Local Involvement
There’s a joke that if you ask five local residents how they feel about a proposed development or change in park policy, you will get six opinions. Every person and their dog has to have their say, so much so that the county of less than 20,000 requires two weekly newspapers. But such passion and involvement are in large part responsible for preserving the character of the life in Jackson Hole, a result of the fact that Jackson Hole real estate owners are truly “bonded” with the land and lifestyle.

There are nearly 200 nonprofit organizations in Jackson Hole – arts groups, social clubs, groups to help children, groups to save wildlife – all supported by community members who sit on boards, give millions of dollars in donations, and spend thousands of hours each year on volunteer projects.

For more information on life in Jackson Hole, visit Locale's article on Jackson Hole quality of life.

 
Perfect Mixture
The crowning touch in Jackson Hole is how remarkably egalitarian the valley is. Shop owners, fishing guides, ski hosts, ranch wranglers, artists and CEOs of major corporations mix and mingle at scores of social events and gatherings each year. They all came to Jackson Hole for the same reasons: clean air, sublime natural beauty, a safe environment and a spectacular four-season recreational experience. What has kept them here? It shouldn’t take you long to figure that out for yourself. //