Grand Teton National Park's Jackson Lake Lodge
One of Jackson Hole's Most Popular Resort Hotels
Apr 23, 2009
Nobody who’s ever ascended the staircase to the upper lobby of Jackson Lake Lodge will ever forget the view of the Grand Tetons through the 60-foot windows that greet them. Operated by the Grand Teton Lodge Company, Jackson Lake Lodge sits on a bluff on the East side of Jackson Lake with perhaps the single best vantage point of the unforgettable Teton Range in the whole Jackson Hole valley.
GTLC also operates two other concessions in Grand Teton National Park. Jenny Lake Lodge, about 10 miles to the south is the company’s high-end yet rustic offering nestled at the foot of the mountains, while Colter Bay Village, 5 miles to the north is its family-oriented, budget-friendly stopover. Jackson Lake Lodge fills in the gap between the extremes.
Jackson Lake Lodge Hosts Presidents, Diplomats
Opened in 1955, Jackson Lake Lodge has hosted numerous notables through the years, including Presidents Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan and Clinton, as well as Lady Bird Johnson. It can also claim some historical political significance, as it played host to the 1989 U.S. / Soviet talks between Secretary of State James Baker and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze. An agreement signed between the two at the lodge meetings ultimately contributed to the end of the Cold War.
In 2003, Jackson Lake Lodge was listed as a National Historic Landmark. Although it is architecturally unremarkable, it is considered a prime example of the “International Style,” not uncommon in mid-century park structures.
The lodge blends well with its surroundings, and it is the placement of the structure, said to have been personally chosen by John D. Rockefeller himself, that makes it special. Rockefeller and his contributions of land, time and dedication was largely responsible for Grand Teton National Park’s existence.
The lodge was also featured on the PBS series Great Lodges of the National Parks in July of 2008. Author, journalist and architectural historian Christine Barnes, who chose Jackson Lake Lodge for the series, calls these park lodges “solid functioning examples of American history: museums with beds, restaurants, and places to look at and reflect on the grandeur of it all.”
Lodge Offers Great Rooms, Restaurants and Activities
Jackson Lake Lodge features 37 guest rooms. Rooms with mountain views are in the $300 range, without views about $200, reasonable for prime season in prime country. There are also 348 guest cottage rooms on either side of the lodge for similar rates.
Two restaurants, the Mural Room and the Pioneer Grill, offer a wide variety of cuisine, and the Blue Heron Cocktail Lounge has live entertainment most nights during the summer season. The lodge also has several stores, both gift and apparel, and operates numerous activities, from tours to horseback riding, river floats to swimming.
Located about 20 miles south of Yellowstone National Park and 30 miles north of the town of Jackson, Jackson Lake Lodge is centrally located to everything in the Jackson Hole Valley. For more information, or reservations, visit the Grand Teton Lodge Company’s website.
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