I spent three days exploring some of the most coveted real estate in the US in a 60-mile-long valley on the edge of Grand Teton National Park.
I was reporting from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, one of the most unequal places in America. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the top 1% of residents earn 132 times more than the bottom 99%.
The area comprises the town of Jackson and surrounding suburbs like Wilson, Teton Village, and others.
The Daily Mail recently dubbed Jackson Hole the “new Aspen,” as celebrities and billionaires, from Kanye West and the Kardashians to Sandra Bullock and Harrison Ford, have transformed the Wyoming ski town into a vacation home hub.
During my trip, I spotted several signs of extreme wealth and luxury in the Aspen of Wyoming.
The first sign of luxury was landing at Jackson Hole Airport, a popular spot for private jets in the US.
Before I flew into Jackson Hole, I assumed the only way I’d ever get an aerial view of a national park was to book one of those expensive helicopter tours.
But as I gazed out my window during our plane’s descent into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), my jaw dropped.
We were soaring above Grand Teton National Park, which was lush with green forests. Rocky mountains with bits of snow on top towered above the forests, and bodies of water were dotted with islets.
Business Insider reported in 2023 that JAC is the second most popular small-town airport for private jets after Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.
As I deplaned onto the tarmac, I spotted some smaller planes on the runway.
The next came immediately after landing when I entered the airport.
JAC doesn’t have lounges. It doesn’t have an array of stores or restaurants. It doesn’t even have more than one terminal.
But it’s still the most luxurious airport I’ve ever flown through.
Located within Grand Teton National Park, JAC is a small airport with windows for walls and supportive pillars made of Douglas fir trees.
Inside, it felt like a luxury mountain lodge. When renovating the space, CLB Architects wanted to give the interior a “living room” feel — and I think they succeeded.
After deplaning, I stepped into the cleanest terminal I’d ever seen. The walls were coated in murals and wildlife paintings, and cowboy sculptures decorated the baggage claim area.
The terminal had a free library bookshelf, one restaurant, a grab-and-go snack area, and two shops, including an official Grand Teton National Park store.
I had one of the most luxurious stays of my life in an adults-only hotel that costs $1,500 per night.
I stayed at Hotel Yellowstone a month after its August opening. The upscale, adults-only hotel overlooking the Teton Range is in the town of Jackson, but it’s so high up a winding hill that it feels secluded from civilization.
There’s a reason the company picked this specific spot for the hotel — the property boasts clear views of Snake River Valley and the Tetons.
The scene was more dramatic and awe-inspiring than any other hotel I’ve stayed in.
I’ve stayed in many upscale accommodations, but none impressed me as much as this hotel room.
My 600-square-foot room had a king-sized bed, two sitting areas, and an elegant bathroom. The most luxurious part was the balcony with unobstructed views of the Teton Range.
The room felt modern and chic but with a Western twist. One seating area had chairs coated in 100% New Zealand sheepskin, and the other had a floor lamp that resembled moose antlers.
The hotel’s restaurant provided the most dramatic views I’ve ever seen while dining.
Dining at Olivia’s felt like dining in a luxury restaurant in the middle of the wilderness. With gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows and a cathedral wooden ceiling, the views were the centerpiece of the eclectic restaurant.
During dinner, I watched the sun set over the mountains while munching on bao buns. In the morning, I spotted a moose just outside the window — a regular sighting at Hotel Yellowstone, according to my server — while scarfing down steel-cut oats.
I spent the next night at the Four Seasons and toured a penthouse that wealthy travelers book for $11,000 a night.
I spent my second night at the five-star Four Seasons hotel in Jackson Hole, a ski-in, ski-out resort. Built to highlight the destination, the interiors scream upscale Western chic.
The most luxurious part of this Four Seasons is the 31 private residences. These penthouse suites have full kitchens and up to five bedrooms, and they start at $11,000 per night in the peak winter season.
During my stay, I got a tour of the Granite Residence — a five-bedroom accommodation. Like the rest of the hotel, the penthouse blended American Western culture with modern luxury.
Each bedroom had a balcony, and there was a large terrace in one of the two living spaces.
“The majority of people who come to Jackson are really coming here to immerse themselves in nature,” Sarah Kennedy, CLB Architects’ principal and lead design director of the Four Seasons penthouse suite, told Business Insider.
I spent my final night at a hostel — the cheapest booking in town. Even that stay felt luxurious.
After two nights in lavish hotels, I spent my final night in the cheapest accommodation I could find — a queen-sized bunk in a hostel for $150.
The price seemed steep for a bunk in a room with dozens of strangers. But I quickly learned that this hostel wasn’t typical.
A company representative told BI that Cache House is a “modern, elevated interpretation of the classic European hostel.”
Inside the mid-century-modern space was a large communal room, 50 bunks, a private locker for each guest, and a large bathroom with sparkling clean shower stalls and Co Bigelow toiletries.
Each bunk had a sound-and-light-proof curtain, a storage drawer, and a lamp, fan, and shelf inside the bunk nook.
The mattress felt like one you’d find in a luxury hotel with wool bedding. It was cozy, and the curtain blocked light and sound so well that I easily slept through the night.
While exploring the most expensive neighborhoods in Jackson Hole, I was impressed by the spread-out mansions on hilly roads.
Local real-estate agent Sam Haack told BI that millionaires in Jackson Hole build ranch-style homes outside the Jackson town center.
I taxied around these ultra-luxe neighborhoods and spotted short, wide homes sprawling across multiple acres.
These homes are coveted, as 97% of Teton County is public land that cannot be built on, according to Haack.
“As a buyer, it is so competitive because of simple supply and demand,” Haack told BI. “We have always had much more demand than supply because, well, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the US, and the lifestyle is unmatched.”
A report by the local real-estate company the Viehman Group found that the average listing price in Jackson from July through September was $6.42 million.
The most expensive home on the market is a 9,100-square-foot, six-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion listed at $40 million.
I was in awe of the architecture. Most of the homes I saw were made of multiple materials, like wood and concrete, which made for a pleasant contrast.
I also had the luxury of spending two hours exploring one of these swanky homes — a vacation home worth more than $10 million that buyers co-own through Pacaso.
I spotted an outdoor water feature that reminded me of a museum courtyard.
On the top deck of the vacation home, I turned on a fountain that looked like a mini waterfall. The water flowed down a concrete barrier into a shallow, boxy pool on the first floor.
I thought it looked modern and sleek. From inside the house, wide windows in the foyer provided a stunning view of the pool and surrounding mountains. It reminded me of water features I’ve seen at art museums in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas.
The layout and interior design of one of these homes seemed to bring the outside in without sacrificing luxury details.
Inside, the vacation home was three stories, including the basement. The top two floors were lush with natural light, as floor-to-ceiling windows graced every room.
On the top floor, between the living room and the kitchen, there was a gigantic blue structure that looked like an oven, but I later learned it was a double-sided fireplace. It was easily the largest fireplace I’d ever seen.
On the first floor, every bedroom had access to a long patio lining the water feature.
“When we set out to design it, we wanted to create a minimalist aesthetic that would let the stunning landscape take center stage,” Lauren Farrell, the vacation home’s principal designer, told BI.
“Every detail was carefully considered, from the use of organic textures to the way the architecture seamlessly blends with the natural surroundings, creating a harmonious connection between the home and its environment,” Farrell added.
The same home had a sauna in the basement.
I found a wood sauna in the basement and felt a twitch of envy. What’s more luxurious than a spa treatment in your own home?
I imagined sliding my boots off after playing in the snow and cozying up in here.
I also visited members-only clubs where affluent residents pay more than $100,000 to join.
I visited two members-only clubs during my trip to Jackson Hole — the Mountain Club for skiers at the Four Seasons and Shooting Star, a golf and ski club that Golf Digest has praised for its 18-hole course sprinkled with streams and lakes beneath the Teton mountain range.
Residents dish out loads of cash for these memberships.
At the Mountain Club, the starting rate is $9,000 a year, along with a $100,000 initiation fee, according to the Four Seasons.
It’s unclear what membership rates are at Shooting Star today, but the club’s president, John Resor, said in a 2015 interview that the annual fee was $100,000 when it opened in 2009.
In Downtown Jackson, I spotted several high-end shops.
The streets surrounding the town square were filled with luxury retail stores.
There seemed to be a fine art gallery and an upscale furniture store on every block. I peered through the windows and saw chairs coated in fur hides, tiered chandeliers, and canopy beds with wool blankets.
Elevated luxury wear, from bespoke leather products to plaid vests, was draped over mannequins in the retail windows between art and furniture stores.
I stepped inside one of these shops, Kemo Sabe, the celebrity-loved Western brand that started in Aspen about 35 years ago.
Kemo Sabe sells boots, belts, clothing, knives, and other accessories, but it’s famous for its cowboy hats, which can cost up to $895. Each is hand-molded, and additional accessories like extravagant bands can cost thousands apiece.
My three-day trip was loaded with luxury.
From top-tier travel offerings to mountainside mansions, I could easily see why the ultrawealthy flock to Jackson Hole.
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