For over 50 years skiers have flocked to Jackson Hole to enjoy the epic ski terrain, après ski at the iconic Mangy Moose Saloon and to take in the incredible views of the Teton Range and Grand Teton National Park.
This past Thanksgiving, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opened it’s slopes to their devout followers for its 50th year. During those 50 years we have watch the Village and the ski resort grow into a world-class resort that offers something for everyone.
We were all thrilled to see the new tram, Gondola and the Casper lift improvements several years ago. This year the mountain will unveil the new Teton Lift on December 19th giving broader access to The Craggs. There will also be a fireworks celebration that evening!
Here are some fun facts and history about Jackson Hole Mountain Resort compiled by their staff.
1. When the resort opened in 1965 the cost of a lift ticket was $6.
2. The resort has the longest continuous vertical rise of any ski area in the U.S rising 4,139’ from the valley floor to the top of Rendezvous Mountain.
3. JHMR is not just for experts. 40% of the trails are intermediate and 10% are beginner, 50% are expert.
4. The original aerial tram opened in 1966. It took 10.5 minutes and held 52 passengers.
5. A new tram was built in 2007, opening in 2008, and whisks 100 passengers to the top of Rendezvous Mountain in 9 minutes.
6. The aerial tram is able to operate in winds up to 70 mph.
7. The resort’s original owners and developers were Paul McCollister and Alex Morley.
8. The Kemmerer family purchased JHMR in 1992 and have since invested more than $110 million into capital improvements.
9. The state of Wyoming is also honored in the naming of runs at JHMR, all are named after cities and towns in the state. Ridges are named for the area’s early mountain men.
10. McCollister was honored with the first National Ski Area Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994 for being a “true pioneer” and creating Jackson Hole from just a dream.
11. Barry Corbet was not the first person to ski Corbet’s Couloir. In fact it was ski patrolman Lonnie Ball. The couloir was named for Corbet after he looked into the couloir and told McCollister, “someday, someone will ski that – it will be a run.” Corbet did eventually ski his namesake couloir.
12. In 1978 Melissa Malm became the first woman on the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol. She moved to Jackson Hole from New York.
13. The Bridger Gondola was opened in the winter of 1997-98. The new Gondola took only 7 ½ minutes to rise 2,700’.
14. 1964 slalom gold medal winner, Pepi Stiegler, was signed on as the ski school director of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in 1966. McCollister wanted a world-class skier to head the ski school and even named a run after him on the edge of Cheyenne Bowl, Pepi’s Run.
15. Continuing with the Olympic tradition, Tommy Moe was signed on as the Ambassador of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in 1994. That was also the year he was the gold and silver medal winner.
16. JHMR won the NSAA Golden Eagle in 2011, the highest recognition for environmental achievement in the ski industry. The resort is a 2-time winner of this award.
17. Dick’s Ditch is named for ski patrolman Dick Porter, who survived a 55-minute avalanche burial in the steep gully.
18. Love skiing the Hobacks? They are named for John Hoback who explored the area with Lewis & Clark in 1806.
19. The cowboy spirit lives on. Ski joring is slated to come back to Teton Village in February 2016. This crazy event consists of a skier being pulled by a horse through a course of jumps and turns.
20. Jackson Hole receives an average of 475” of snowfall. 2011 was a record year with 605”.
21. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is 2,500 acres.
22. Resi Stiegler is Jackson Hole’s most recent Olympian. You might recognize her last name, her father was Pepi Stiegler. She competed in the 2006 and 2014 Winter Games.
23. Do you own a season pass at any other ski resort in the world? You can ski Jackson Hole January 11-31 for 50% off that day’s ticket window rate if you show them your current pass and purchase the Golden Ticket.
24. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has won many awards including being named the #1 Ski Resort in the U.S. in 2013. Forbes named it the Best Place to Ski in 2014.
25. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is simply the best. Fact: If you haven’t visited yet, this is the winter to visit and celebrate the big 5-0.
3 Creek Ranch Golf Club offers the only private ski-in ski-out at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, located across from the Tram in the Teton Club building. Our members enjoy a warm an inviting Club to store their ski equipment, take breaks from skiing and taken in the beautiful vistas of the resort from our patio. We look forward to wrapping up our 10th anniversary year at the ski club this holiday season and helping JHMR celebrate their 50th anniversary!
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