Jackson Hole’s 2018-19 Winter Primer

What’s New at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for the 2018-19 Winter Season

Save $200 if you book your flight, lodging and lift tickets by Nov. 15 on the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort website with a 4-6 night minimum.
Flight Options are becoming easier to find as Jackson Hole becomes a more family-friendly ski destination. This year there will be direct flights from JFK, Newark, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Salt Lake, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake and Seattle https://www.jacksonhole.com/by-air.html. JHMR has also partnered with Private Jet Services providing an opportunity for avid skiers to go from the “tarmac to the tram.”
Jackson Hole Resort Lodging (JHRL) offers another deal where kids 14 and under ski and rent for free when you book a vacation rental and lodging package. Choose any condominium or home rental for four nights or more, receive 10% off your stay, and for each paying adult, kids ski for free.
Ski Pass Options – In addition to the Mountain Collective, which gives skiers two days access at JHMR and other participating resorts and 50% off after that, Jackson has signed on to be a part of the all-new Ikon Pass with access to 26 top ski destinations.
Solitude Station, a new 12,000 square foot Ski School facility for kids 7 and older and adults, will add two new cafeteria-style restaurants and a place to rent skis and boot up if you are taking a lesson. Hop on the Sweetwater Gondola in your street shoes and get off at mid-station to get there. You can buy your lift tickets with your lesson packages inside the new lodge.
RPK3 – code for powder day tomorrow and literally translated as more than 6 inches are predicted for Rendezvous Peak – is a new kitchen and apres ski bar adjacent to the Aerial Tram.
Free Ice Skating on the Commons will continue this year with rental skates available in the hut. https://tetonvillagewy.org/2017/11/06/village-rink-commons-teton-village/. Last year, Nancy Kerrigan graced the ice with her Olympic style figure eights.
In addition to all of JHMR’s steep and deep multi-day camps, there will be a new Mindful Ski Camp, January 31- February 3.

Elk Sleigh Ride

Day off from the Slopes

If you like craft spirits, you will be glad to know that list of Jackson’s local distillers, vintners and brewers keeps growing and getting more distinguished. In fact, it might take a couple of trips into town to sample all of the local flavors. StillWest Brewery & Grill introduces their Kolsch, Malty Red Ale, American Pale, Pilsner, Baltic Porter, plus three seasonal brews crafted at the a new 10-barrel brew house at the base of Snow King. Local label Roadhouse is opening Roadhouse Pub & Eatery on the town square for its Wilson, Family Vacation, Trout Whistle and other Teton inspired beers. Snake River Brewery, the first brewhouse on the block, hangs growlers above the bar. And Thai Me Up, the home of award-winning Melvin Brewing, offers swills along with screenings of kung fu movies. A private tasting room at Jackson Hole Winery features more than five varieties with grapes shipped up to Jackson from California. Jackson Hole Still Works makes Vodka & Gin. And then, of course, there is Wyoming Whiskey, which is made in Kirby, Wyoming and served at most local watering holes.
Get the kids dizzy by whirling around on sledding tubes and riding the Cowboy Coaster, a cross between a roller coaster and an alpine slide at Snow King Mountain Resort.
For a deluxe experience, consider the private dinner sleigh ride with Vintage Adventures. AJ Derosa provides a first-class winter experience.
A perfect family or couple’s day off could start with breakfast in town at the Bunnery, Cafe Genevieve or Parisian pastries at Persephone, an Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride tour and an afternoon at Turpin Meadows or Granite Hot Springs surrounded by winter’s majesty. Turpin Meadows Ranch in Grand Teton National Park has 15 km of cross-country skiing and motorized fat bike trails with on-site rentals. If you need to relax your legs, head to the hot springs. Book your sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge and snowmobiling or dogsledding to Granite Hot Springs early, these tours are very popular.
Spa time – try the Body Sage at the Rusty Parrot. Ask for Heidi.
Are you a wildlife and art lover? Take a ½ day or sunrise wildlife tour, return for an Elk Sleigh Ride and then visit our National Museum of Wildlife Art and dine at their restaurant, Palate, for lunch. Or tour the art galleries and local shops on the Town Square and stop into the cowboy bar (21 and older) to see the newly renovated rotating neon sign and sip a local whiskey. A new nonprofit calendar listing of events sponsored by The Center of Wonder, can be found here: https://dailywonder.org/cal

Sweet Cheeks Meat - Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Nick the owner at Sweet Cheeks Meats

What to Eat in Jackson Hole

Jeff Drew, executive chef and partner of the Snake River Grill, is known for exceeding expectations. His new winter menu makes the mouth water as much as the classic beef tenderloin and beer battered onion rings for which they are famous.
For Italian comfort food with a modern twist, check out the Old Yellowstone Garage in the new Caldera House, a luxury ski club. This is another reservation worth booking in advance. Chef Paulie O’Connor makes brick oven pizzas and lasagne that warms the heart.
Stop in at our local butcher, Sweet Cheeks Meats, for their $5 daily breakfast sandwich special to go and grab something delicious to cook at home. You can find them on Facebook – (https://www.facebook.com/sweetcheeksmeats/). There is always a unique selection of locally sourced cuts for the grill or something pre-prepared for the oven like meatloaf, lasagne or shepherd’s pie. It’s the real deal and Nick the founder makes it happen. Ask for him!
If you want to eat on the run or are looking for a run in with a hardcore apres ski crowd, the gas station across from the Mangy Moose offers gourmet vittles and sloshies, an adult version with a slushie with fresh juice and vodka. A giant leap up from 7 Eleven, the Bodega has handcrafted sausages, ice cream sandwiches to die for and a food truck that serves fried chicken sandwiches and tacos in a paper bag.
See more dining options on my restaurant site – JacksonHoleRestaurants.com

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar - Jackson Hole, Wyoming

World-famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

Nightlife

In addition to winter concerts and events at The Center for the Arts, The Pink Garter Theatre has some interesting programming this winter, including adventure films, plays and Salsa on Thursday nights.
The Wort Hotel’s Silver Dollar Bar and the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on the Town Square have live entertainment most Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
In Wilson, The Stagecoach Bar is a local watering hole that doesn’t get much tourist traffic. On Thursdays they have a DJ for disco night and on Sundays, an older and earlier crowd convenes for cowboy dancing, a.k.a “Sunday Church.”