Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [221]
Spring Creek Ranch
1800 Spirit Dance Rd. (on top of East Gros Ventre Butte), P.O. Box 4780, Jackson, WY 83001. ☎ 800/443-6139 or 307/733-8833. 125 units. A/C TV TEL. $310 double; $375–$1,200 condo. AE, MC, V.
Atop East Gros Ventre Butte, 1,000 feet above the Snake River and minutes from the airport and downtown Jackson, this resort commands a panoramic view of the Grand Tetons and 1,500 acres of land populated by deer, moose, and the horses at its riding facility in the valley below. Though it seems a little less exclusive now that Amangani has opened next door, Spring Creek still has a lot going for it. The rooms spread over four buildings with cabinlike exteriors. They have fireplaces, Native American floor and wall coverings, refrigerators, coffeemakers, and balconies with views of the Tetons. Most rooms have king- or queen-size beds, and the studio units boast kitchenettes. In addition to its own rooms, the resort arranges accommodations in the privately owned condominiums that dot the butte—large, lavishly furnished, and featuring completely equipped kitchens. The resort also has a pool, two tennis courts, a concierge, and in-house naturalists.
IN TETON VILLAGE
Although lodging in the town of Jackson tends to be a little cheaper in the winter than in the summer, at Teton Village the pattern is reversed—rooms by the ski hill get more expensive after the snow falls.
The Alpenhof
3255 W. Village Dr., Teton Village, WY 83025. ☎ 800/732-3244 or 307/733-3242. www.alpenhoflodge.com. 42 units. $159–$429 double; $439–$529 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Closed Nov.
This Swiss chalet–style hostelry has a prize location only 50 yards from the ski-resort tram. Four stories tall, with a pitched roof and flower boxes on the balconies, the hotel combines an old-world atmosphere with excellent service. The dining room and deluxe accommodations were recently upgraded with brightly colored alpine fabrics and handcrafted European furnishings; rooms have tiled bathrooms with big, soft towels. Two junior suites have kitchenettes, five rooms have fireplaces, and four rooms have a shared deck that you reach by climbing an outside staircase. Economy rooms offer double or queen beds. Your choices for dinner include fondue and Continental fare served in the Alpenrose dining room, and pork, game, and pasta, which are staples in the bistro-style loft.
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole 7680 Granite Loop (P.O. Box 544), Teton Village, WY 83025. ☎ 307/732-5000. www.fourseasons.com. 140 units. $400–$750 double; $700–$4,000 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
The newest—and most deluxe—lodging option in Teton Village, the ultra-stylish Four Seasons opened in December 2004 and immediately set a new standard for ski-in, ski-out luxury. From a year-round slopeside pool (landscaped to resemble a mountain creek), to the cowboy-hatted doorman, to the stately, luxurious, and definitively Western rooms, this is one of the top slopeside properties in the country. The range of rooms starts at the high end and goes up from there, but even the standard kings are large and plush. Every unit has a balcony or a fireplace. One especially notable perk: The hotel's "Base Camp," a full-service outdoor activity concierge who can arrange custom outings involving mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and ballooning, and outfit you in style.
Hostelx
3315 W. Village Dr, Box 546, Teton Village, WY 83025. ☎ 307/733-3415. Fax 307/739-1142. www.hostelx.com. $50–$60 double. MC, V.
If you came to Wyoming to ski, not to lie in the lap of luxury, get yourself a room at Hostelx and hit the slopes. Called "the soul of Jackson Hole," it's a great bargain for skiers who don't need the trimmings, but it's not a dormitory, either—the comfortable private rooms are above the caliber of a roadside