Join us in Victor City Park for this fantastic event. Every Thursday June through August starting at 6pm

• Thursday, June 28, 2012 |Andy Frasco’s UN
  Opener: Mandatory Air with the Miller Sisters
• Thursday, July 05, 2012 Headlining band Blitzen Trapper
  Opening band The Shook Twins
• Thursday, July 12, 2012  Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
  Opener: Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass Unit
• Thursday, July 19, 2012 March 4th Marching Band
  Opener: Scott McDougall
• Thursday, July 26, 2012 Stone Foxes
  Opener: Alta Boys
• Thursday, August 02, 2012 Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys
  Opener: Random Canyon Growlers
• Thursday, August 09, 2012 Carrie Rodriguez
  Opener: Bluegrass Camp All-Stars
• Thursday, August 16, 2012 Young Dubliners
  Opener: Elk Attack

The community asked for more live music downtown, and the town of Jackson and Center Management Inc. answered.

This summer, Jackson is getting its own free, all-ages, outdoor summer concert series.

A la Music on Main in Victor, Idaho, the inaugural JacksonHoleLive! summer concert series will stage six free shows at the Snow King Ball Park.

“We wanted to create a community event that brings residents and visitors to the base of Snow King,” said Jeff Potter of Hole Lotta Music.

Potter is organizing the series with Shannon McCormick of Live Event Strategies, the town of Jackson and Center Management Inc., the nonprofit operator of the Snow King Sports and Event Center.

Proceeds will support youth sports programs and operations at the Snow King center.

The series begins June 23 with the Dunwells, an acoustic and electric roots band from the United Kingdom and continues July 7 with Boom Chick, a surf-rock outfit from Brooklyn, N.Y.

Justin Townes Earle, Steve’s Earle’s son, brings his rockabilly twist July 25.

Aug. 8 welcomes indie rockers The Features from Tennessee, and Aug. 26 sees the pedal-steel gospel group Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

The article appeared in the Jackson Hole News & Guide on 5/17/12.

Thirsty? Grand Targhee Resort has the best drinking water in the state. That’s according to the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems (WARWS).

The judges in this year’s Best Tasting Drinking Water contest—State Senator Bill Landen, Casper City Councilman Paul Bertoglio, U.S. Senator John Barrasso’s Casper Field Representative Marci Schlup, and K2TV Evening Anchor Lindsay Joy voted Grand Targhee Resort the tastiest water in the state at the association’s annual technical conference and trade show in April, according to an April 19 press release from WARWS.

“Each year across the country water systems compete at the state level judged on clarity, odor and taste. Winners of the state contests are invited to attend the National Great American Taste contest held each year during the National Water Rally in Washington, DC,” the press release said.

The national competition will take place in February 2013. This is the second time in five years that the resort has won the contest.

This article appeared in the Teton Valley News on 5/15/12.

(Alta, WY – April 24, 2012)  Grand Targhee Resort is proud to announce the granting of over $5,500 to Teton Valley non-profits for environmental projects benefitting the local community. The Targhee Protect Our Winters (POW) Foundation awarded four local non-profits funds for projects ranging from Teton River education to Jedediah Smith Wilderness trail maintenance.

The Targhee POW Foundation collects donations throughout the year from employees who generously donate a specified amount from each paycheck. These donations are matched 100% by the Resort. New this year was an Employee Choice, with that recognition going to Teton Valley Trails and Pathways for their project maintaining and upgrading trails in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. “Employees not only donated to POW this year, but also had the opportunity to vote for their favorite project to receive their payroll deduction donations”, explained Brigid Sinram, Environmental Programs Manager at the resort. “Grand Targhee employees chose TVTAP’s project as their favorite. Many employees mentioned their use of TVTAP Nordic trails and their love of our local hiking and biking trails as their reason for choosing TVTAP.

The Foundation’s grant selection committee selects recipients that meet the intent of foundation’s mission: to enhance and protect the environmental quality of Teton Valley through projects that protect ecosystems, promote environmental education and foster community stewardship of natural resources. The committee selected the following grants for funding:

Friends of the Teton River        $1500

FTR will increase awareness and support for conservation of land and water resources along the Teton River by creating a natural resource guidebook and providing river user trainings. FTR will design and publish a waterproof Teton River conservation map and host outreach events to disseminate information and maps. This conservation map will educate river users about land conservation easements and river restoration projects, and will highlight efforts to conserve Yellowstone cutthroat trout and other riparian species.

Teton Valley Community Recycling    $1100

TVCR will be focusing on outreach on reduction with presentations in schools to engage school children in rethinking consumption and disposal. TVCR will launch a program to mentor Teton valley youth in the creation of short waste reduction films and host a community event with a showing of the documentary, “Bag It”, which will be accompanied by these short student films. While films are the highlight of the event, TVCR will also provide educational activities and tools for waste reduction.

Teton Regional Land Trust        $1500

TRLT will provide educational opportunities for the public about sandhill cranes and complete annual crane surveys in the Teton Valley. These public education forums and species monitoring will assist Teton Regional Land Trust’s efforts to protect priority sandhill crane habitat. TRLT will host “a night with sandhill cranes” for the community and work with area biologists and volunteers to monitor sandhill crane population numbers and document habitat utilization during fall migration. TRLT works with private landowners and federal and state agency partners to enhance and restore habitats that benefit sandhill cranes.

Teton Valley Trails and Pathways:     $1500

TVTAP’s work accomplished this summer will help to assure that visitors to the Jedediah Smith Wilderness will be greeted with trails that are sustainable, protect valuable vegetation and eco systems, and have campsites that do not impact flora and fauna.

Targhee is a proud partner with the national Protect Our Winters organization, committed to uniting the winter sports community in fighting climate change. For more information, please visit our website at www.grandtarghee.com

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Grand Targhee Resort is a year round mountain resort situated on the western slope of the Tetons in Alta, Wyoming, accessible only through Teton Valley, Idaho. Tucked among spectacular Teton views and national forest land, Grand Targhee is an intimate summer getaway for adventure-seekers, with miles of lift-accessed hiking, running and mountain biking trails, renowned music festivals and a variety of activities in a pristine high alpine environment. During the winter, the abundance of light powder snow (more than 500 inches annually) and virtual lack of lift lines creates an uncrowded skier and snowboarder paradise, continually recognized for great snow, genuine western hospitality, scenic beauty and excellent value. A leader in environmental resort practices, Grand Targhee Resort has twice been honored with the prestigious Golden Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence, most recently in 2011.  For more information, please visit our website at www.grandtarghee.com

People want the park, near the intersection of highways 22 and 390, to be a place where they can walk, bike, enjoy the river and see some wildlife.

Those were some of the responses gathered in a survey done by the Rendezvous Lands Conservancy, the nonprofit group that is developing the 40-acre park. Over a period of a month, the group received nearly 500 comments about what residents would like to see in the park.

Residents will have another chance to comment on the design of the park May 24, when the design team and lands conservancy staff are scheduled to host another open house.

Meanwhile, citizens can enter a contest to name the park. Suggestions are being accepted through the website www.rendezvouslandsconservancy.org.

The final park design and the name of the park are expected to be unveiled June 20.

Earlier this month, members of the park design team hosted two meetings to give residents an opportunity to weigh in on the new park. From the information they collected, the design team — headed by Pierson Land Works — created three sketches for a park layout.

One concept has small hills in the middle of the park to mimic the terrain of the gravel pit that historically operated on the property. Another incorporates water features. The third design shows an open space where the gravel pit is now as well as several water features.

Members of the design team said they wanted to create three distinct plans so they could gauge residents’ interest in various design elements. They are expected to unveil a chosen proposal later this month.

The park is expected to be built in two phases. During the first phase, crews will grade the site and build water features. The second phase will see installation of recreational amenities such as trails and a picnic area.

Park planners said some of the park should be open in 2013. The entire site is slated to open in 2014.

The three designs that were presented to residents can be seen at the conservancy’s website.

This article appeared in the Jackson Hole News & Guide on May 14, 2012.

Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP) promotes a trails and pathways connected community. The organization brings together citizens, businesses, and local governments to expand the Valley’s opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature appreciation, while linking communities, providing access to National Forest trails, and promoting healthy mountain lifestyles.

Goals

To build and maintain a complete, connected network of pedestrian and bicycle pathways and trails throughout Teton Valley to create a practical alternative to driving as a means of both transportation and recreation.

History

TVTAP was formed in the fall of 1998, with the focus of creating a paved, pathway along Teton Creek between Driggs and Teton Canyon. The Valley’s first paved pathway, built in 1997 by the Idaho Transportation Department between Victor and Driggs, encouraged the founding members to form TVTAP to pursue additional pathways.

We are a small non-profit supported by the volunteer efforts of our Board of Directors and approximately 800+ members. TVTAP currently has one full-time employee, Executive Director Tim Adams and one part-time employee, Nordic Program Manager, Nick Beatty. During the summer months we gather over 140 volunteers to work on trails and in the winter of 2010-2011 had over 25 volunteers working on grooming trails.

Programs

TVTAP’s current programs include our Nordic Grooming Program, which provides groomed Nordic ski trails in Teton Canyon, Alta, Pioneer Park in Victor, Teton Springs Resort, and new in the winter of 2011 the Driggs Nordic Track located between the High School and Middle School (all these trails are free for public use); our partnership with the US Forest Service to help build, maintain, and restore trails in the Caribou-Traghee National Forest; and we work closely with the local, county and state agencies to build a Valley-wide connected pathways network. The Executive Director, with help from board members, regularly writes grant applications for organizational support to obtain funding for new pathways in Teton Valley. TVTAP facilitates a Summer Trail Work day program which amasses over 1,200 hours of volunteer work annually in the National Forest. We also facilitate a Mountain Bike Festival as well races in the summer and winter to support our mission.

Snow King managing partner Manuel Lopez and co-owner Clarene Law said they hope to partner with local government and community groups to raise the money necessary to pay for projects.

“This is the introduction to the dance,” Law said. “This is going to take a lot of collaboration.”

On Monday, Lopez and Law — along with Sebastian Lopez-Wilson, Manuel’s son — described plans for the hill. They said Snow King needs new features to be profitable and to ensure it remains open in the winter.

Their vision is an attempt to link the historic hill to the rest of town, attract new users and open new activities across the entire site, they said.

“This is the only way I see that it’s going to be possible to keep it open,” Lopez said Tuesday. “It has to be sustainable. I think it can be profitable.”

Before the 2011-12 ski season, Snow King’s owners threatened to close the ski area, saying it was a $500,000-per-year drag on the resort.

Although owners worked with community members who wanted to take control of the hill, the resort ultimately opened Snow King for skiing.

The plan to keep the ski hill financially viable focuses on five areas: an activity center near the hotel, a camp near the top of the Rafferty lift, a gateway into the property at the corner of Cache Street and Snow King Avenue, a yurt area on the south side of the mountain and another activity area at the summit.

“We would like to bring out our strengths,” Lopez-Wilson said. “The location in the center of town, it’s highly visible from everywhere in town. It’s easily accessible by any means of transportation. It has steep and challenging terrain. It’s a ski-racing destination. It’s the community hub. It’s the Town Hill.”

Near the existing hotel, Lopez said, he hopes to build a ropes course, a free-ride bicycle park, a zip line and an alpine coaster.

Lopez-Wilson described the latter as a mix between a roller coaster and an alpine slide that could be used year-round.

Construction of those improvements could start as soon as next year, he said.

Lopez said he hopes to improve the Panorama House, the existing structure at the top of the mountain. He wants to run water lines to the top of the King and stretch snowmaking to the top of the ski hill

The proposal included a small cluster of yurts on the south side of the mountain. Lopez-Wilson said this area likely would see more trails for Nordic skiing and bicycling and possibly could include dog sled tours to the yurts.

“When you’re back there, it feels very isolated, but it’s very easily accessible,” Lopez-Wilson said Monday. “It’s kind of the best of both worlds.”

The summit also might be tapped to serve as the takeoff point for a zip line that would run to the base of the mountain, a drop of roughly 1,500 feet.

Near the middle of the mountain, west of the Rafferty lift, Lopez envisions an area for camps. He mentioned a small amphitheater for lectures or weddings as well as space for selling food and drinks and giving skiers and bikers a place to rest.

That area might also serve as a location for a new horse corral and an area for a bicycle and terrain park.

That part of the mountain would need water and power, Lopez said.

He said he might try to work with the town, which has a tank on Snow King, to provide water. Power would have to be brought to the site from the base.

For the area near the corner of Cache Street and Snow King Avenue, Lopez-Wilson outlined plans to remove the parking area and create room for concerts and other events.

He also said that area would be the landing zone for the pair of zip lines, one from the top of the mountain and another from near the top of the Rafferty lift.

“It will be a huge visual cue that could be natural marketing,” Lopez-Wilson said. “Anyone who comes into town will see a huge zip line coming down from the top of the mountain.”

Lopez and his son said the improvements are intended to appeal to a wide range of users and to introduce Snow King as destination for sports other than ski racing.

“Freeriding is a trend that is becoming a norm and a necessity in our industry,” Lopez-Wilson said Monday. “To maintain our relevance and move into the future, it’s really something we need to address while still maintaining our focus on snow sports.”

Though they probably will need approvals from town and U.S. Forest Service officials to offer the added attractions, many of the proposed uses would fall within the existing master plan for the site.

Under the approved master plan, Snow King still has the ability to develop a large amount of square footage and new recreational activities.

The resort has more than 620,000 square feet of potential development that could still be built as part of its original master plan, a document approved in 2000 that granted Snow King the ability to develop more than 900,000 square feet of commercial, residential and lodging space.

Town Planning Director Tyler Sinclair said the recreational amenities, such as zip lines, bike park and alpine coaster, likely would be allowed under the existing resort plan.

“Really, everything he was talking about falls under that general category, which falls under allowed use outside building footprints,” Sinclair said Tuesday.

Even though it is allowed under the master plan, Sinclair said new development still would need to go through some kind of public review process.

Forest Service officials could not be reached by press time.

The extensive list of new amenities and facilities on the mountain is the latest plan keep the struggling ski area operating.

Last year, a deal collapsed that would have seen the ski area run by a nonprofit group called Friends of Snow King. Members of the Jackson Hole Land Trust also negotiated with Lopez to preserve parts of the ski area.

Lopez said he is still in talks with an unnamed group to buy the hotel, but he would not offer any more details about the status of those negotiations. Lopez said the buyers likely would be involved in the project simply because of its proximity to the mountain, but he was unsure of exactly how that relationship might play out.

“The talks are in good shape,” he said.

The proposed changes mark a big shift in the historic ski hill, changes its owners say are necessary to help the community ski area survive.

Last year, Lopez said the mountain saw a sizable increase in revenue from an outpouring of community support. Ski area officials launched a promotion last ski season encouraging residents to buy season passes to help the mountain keep its lift running.

The ski area has been a significant feature of the town since skiers began hiking up the mountain in the 1920s.

The first ski jump was constructed in 1926.

The mountain, sometimes called Kelly’s Hill or the Town Hill, was officially renamed Snow King in 1938.

A year later, the first lift — a rope tow purchased from an oil drilling company in Casper — opened to the public. It was powered by a tractor and could carry 18 to 20 people at a time.

A recent report, commissioned by the Teton County Historic Preservation Board, said the ski area is a “cultural landscape” that is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

This article was published in the Jackson Hole News & Guide on May 9, 2012.

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Town and county staff and staff from Nelson Engineering are expected to present two new designs for the 700-foot bridge, which is part of a larger project that could connect downtown Jackson and Wilson with pathways.

One design is a straight bridge that would parallel the existing highway. The other option would incorporate a slight curve into the structure. Both options have three piers in the river. Both also include small guard rails.

Members of the design team held a meeting in March to solicit input about the bridge. Based on what they heard at the open house, the team moved forward with a “minimalist” design, keeping a “flat, narrow vertical profile.”

Cost estimates for the bridge have not yet been finalized.

If elected officials pick one of the concepts, members of the design team will move forward to the halfway point of the bridge design. Members of the design team predict they would be ready to bid out the project next winter, with construction starting in 2013.

The bridge will connect the Emily’s Pond recreation area with the Wilson boat launch and a new park that is being developed by the Rendezvous Lands Conservancy.

Elected officials also are considering how to move forward with a new pathway along Broadway. They are expected to review several new options for that section of the project during the meet-ing today.

The bridge design discussion is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. today at Town Hall, 150 E. Pearl Ave. An agenda for the meeting is available at www.townofjackson.com. Staff reports for each agenda item also are available.

This article appeared in the Jackson Hole News & Guide on May 7, 2012.

With almost a quarter century of bluegrass under its belt, and after seven years of rock and roll at Targhee Fest, Grand Targhee Resort announced its inaugural Country Fest this week, featuring a star-studded lineup that boasts Dierks Bentley and Dwight Yoakam.

Working with the Knitting Factory Presents, the same producer that brought Widespread Panic to Alta last year, Targhee’s slopeside stage will support country sensation Dierks Bentley on Thursday, July 26. With Stoney LaRue and Rodney Crowell opening Thursday, Targhee will honky tonk into the night during its first-ever Country Fest.

After the dust has cleared the following Friday, July 27, Dwight Yoakam will close the show after performances by Elizabeth Cook, Lost Trailers and David Nail.

“We are very excited to be bringing country music to Teton Valley, and we are honored that Dierks Bentley and Dwight Yoakam will be the headlining artists for what is sure to be an annual festival,” said Peter Baker,  Grand Targhee Resort’s Director of Dining & Entertainment.

Together with its Bluegrass Festival and Targhee Fest, Grand Targhee Resort has put itself on the map for music lovers. Last year’s Wipespread Panic concert at the resort had a significantly positive economic impact not only to the resort, but also to the Idaho side of Teton Valley that supports it.

“We are very excited to add an additional festival to the summer schedule at Grand Targhee,” said Ken Rider, Director of Sales and Marketing. “This season’s three festival schedule combined with the increase in the resort’s summer conference and wedding business will benefit the entire Teton Valley community by bringing additional tourists here. We are working on ways to promote the entire region to these visitors so that everyone benefits.”

With Targhee Fest scheduled for mid-July and Bluegrass traditionally set for mid-August, Grand Targhee had considered September for Country Fest, but weather is a huge factor for outdoor concerts and early fall was just too risky.

“Whether you’re hosting the 25th year of a festival or bringing a new one in, it’s always scary financially, but I think country has been missing from our lineup,” said Geordie Gillett, Grand Targhee Resort owner and General Manager. “When you bring three to five thousands visitors into the area, everyone benefits. People gas up their cars, buy supplies, take advantage of lodging and hopefully stay for the weekend. Our assumption is that these big country acts will have regional draw.”