tourists

town seeks input on lodging

By Jim Stanford on April 4, 2013

Nearly 20 years ago, the community drew a boundary around town where lodging — hotels, B&Bs, short-term rentals — would be permitted. The goal was to concentrate tourists around the Square and in areas where services and amenities are easily available.

Now, in an era of VRBO and AirBnb, those boundaries have been muddied. Also, developers are pitching new hotels on North Cache and the old Sagebrush Motel site on Flat Creek, west of Staples.

The Town of Jackson is seeking input from citizens on where lodging should be allowed. Planners are taking a fresh look at the boundary, called the lodging overlay, as they begin to write regulations for the new Comprehensive Plan.

It’s a key decision because lodging generally is seen as the most profitable use of land, meaning property owners could stand to gain or lose value. Also, the community wants to preserve the quiet character of residential neighborhoods.

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Posted under Economy, Environment, Politics, Town Government

Tags: conservation, development, tourists

5-way construction zone actually improvement

By Jim Stanford on April 3, 2013

Comments: 9 Comments

Westbound traffic flows more easily along Broadway, thanks to rerouting.

Granted, it’s spring break and the dead of off-season.

But reconstruction of the five-way intersection on Broadway — a potential traffic nightmare billed as “carmageddon” — appears to be an improvement on the existing configuration.

Even with the road reduced to two lanes from five, traffic flows better, thanks to the stoplight being turned off and no left turns allowed.

For those in east Jackson or downtown heading west, the key is getting on Broadway early enough to avoid getting stuck at the end of Pearl Avenue or Flat Creek Drive. Willow and Millward streets are the best options. Eastbound traffic flows to Pearl, Flat Creek Drive and East Broadway unimpeded.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” town manager Bob McLaurin said. “We’ll have to see how it goes when everybody gets back and there are a few tourists around.”

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Posted under Economy, Politics, Town Government

Tags: tourists, wydot

Snow King seeks zip line approval

By Jim Stanford on January 22, 2013

Comments: 16 Comments

Today the Jackson Town Council will consider a request by operators of the Snow King Ski Area to build a zip line on town land at the bottom of the mountain.

Snow King first floated the idea last May, and the reaction (here and here) has been less than enthusiastic.

This clip, apparently a promotional video made by the manufacturer, illustrates how the zip line would operate. Snow King has provided little information about the design, other than a diagram showing the proposed location.

The zip line would be 700 feet long, constructed east of the Cougar chairlift and west of the ice rink. The top and bottom stations would be on two parcels of land owned by the Town of Jackson. Snow King owns the parcel in between.

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Posted under Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Politics, Ski Resorts, Sports, Town Government

Tags: development, mountain biking, skiing, snow king, snowboarding, tourists

Band of Horses roams Antelope Flats

By Jim Stanford on September 27, 2012

Comments: 1 Comment

The musicians from Band of Horses weren’t exactly Shut-In Tourists on their visit to Jackson Hole earlier this summer.

As Aaron Davis reported last week, the group stretched out in Jackson prior to performing at the Pink Garter on July 31. The rockers rehearsed at the theater for three days and enjoyed an off day before joining My Morning Jacket on tour.

The band’s time here bore fruit, as evidenced by the above video of “Slow Cruel Hands of Time,” a track from the latest album, Mirage Rock. Fans also can listen on Spotify to a live version of “Knock Knock,” the lead single from the album, recorded at the Pink Garter (see video after the jump).

While working their new songs into shape, the players ventured into Teton park to strum in the sagebrush. Was there a Ghost on Mormon Row?

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Posted under Music

Tags: grand teton national park, pink garter, rock, tourists