jackson hole

Paintbrush Ranch borders Grand Teton national park in Wyoming and has some of the best views of the Tetons anywhere in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The property includes a 9,100 square foot five-bedroom custom home; two-bedroom guest home; a one-bedroom caretakers home and a pair of shop buildings which can store all the toys you might need. Like many ranches, this one has a bit of taxidermy decor such as a half a stuffed deer jutting out of the fireplace. Antlers are everywhere including in a bed headboard and in a massive chandelier in the dining room. This home was once listed at $13.9 million but is now priced at $8.495 million with Hall and Hall.

Well, Happy Holidays! It could be me or you or a deserving friend, walking along that beach, looking toward one of the Quintess Villas at La Samanna, built on that cliff. The family would be either outside, sailing or swimming, or inside, relaxing, or fixing dinner, or lunch or breakfast. This is just one part of a Quintess vacation that turns memory to legacy.

I have written about Quintess, Leading Residences Of The World (LRW) before on Luxist: once about the mission and vision behind this high end Destination Club, others about it's inclusion of The Tour Club and DUO by Quintess, two other clubs that have been created under Quintess aegis, this year.

Quintess,LRW is one of two ultra high end. non-equity destination clubs in existence, and, according to Ben Addoms, Founding Member and CMO, it has been a good year. October was the best sales month in over two years, and Christmas is coming! "There are over 600 members now in Quintess, LRW, The Tour Club and the newest, DUO by Quintess. Not surprisingly, in the last quarter of the year, we receive requests for memberships to be used as holiday gifts, for family members, and business associates.. The Quintess LRW, and DUO by Quintess memberships are holiday gifts that keeps on giving, certainly."

Those gifts that keep on giving are usually not cheap, and a membership in Quintess certainly isn't. From 10 to 60 days of vacation, pricing levels range from $140,000 to $525,000 membership deposit, (but 75% is returned at resignation.) But, as with those gifts also, the members receives a type of travel that becomes needed, and unforgettable.

• The choice of any home and destination in the complete portfolio of over 80 luxury homes,on average priced at 4M in 40+ destinations around the world.
• Travel with comprehensive travel planning with on-site Destination Hosts and a personal member relations manager who gets to know you and your family's travel needs.
• Extended family use that allows the member to send the entire family, plus their friends, on their own club vacations, because of the ability to reserve and use 2 residences in the same destination.

If you head out to Jackson Hole, still a playground for the wealthy, despite the lingering effects of the recession, a jaunt through the mountains is probably on your itinerary. The Grand Tetons are simultaneously challenging and inviting, and you need to respond to that call! After having scaled peaks or stumbled along trails, however, your body will need some relief. The Avanyu Spa at the Snake River Lodge & Spa is the perfect fit for rejuvenating your weary muscles.

I visited this spa on a recent getaway to Jackson Hole and can tell you the staff's talented hands are the perfect antidote to the strain and pain that comes with an active vacation. The Avanyu Spa offers 17,000 square feet of pure relaxation ... with the exception of the gym on the fifth floor. It's a great place to get in shape, but I just can't bring myself to compare exercise to bliss – it's just not my nature.

The range of treatments is fairly wide, and includes a variety of unique massages (e.g., Komodo Massage, Sleeping Indian Custom Massage and River Stone Massage), as well as desert salt exfoliation, several facials and other skin treatments.

The spa's layout was certainly interesting. The gym is on its uppermost floor, and the four below included treatment rooms, locker rooms and, on the first floor, an indoor pool and access to one outside. An elevator transports you from one to the next. At first, this seemed cumbersome, but that's probably because I'm constantly in a hurry. Quickly, I came to realize that the forced wait encouraged a bit of patience, moving me into the mindset that a spa visit encourages.

Eighty-five acres of Malcolm Forbes's historic ranch have been listed for $12 million. The website for this listing is www.forbesjacksonholeranch.com, and the listing agent is David Viehman with Jackson Hole Real Estate Associates and Christies Great Estates.

The daughter of the former Forbes Magazine publisher, Moira Mumma, is selling the 85 acres but will keep a parcel near the property, Viehman said. She is selling the property because she doesn't need so much space, the Realtor said. "There are 20 some odd beds at the main compound," Viehman said. "The property was part of the original Jackson Hole Ranch. It borders Grand Teton National Park, and the Snake River runs through it. The Forbes listing is one of the few large land offerings along the river that has not been protected with a conservation easement."

The property is being sold as one parcel, divided into two tracts. One of the oldest structures on the property is an historic barn, over 1600 square feet, dating to 1918. A 4,100-square-foot main lodge includes an original homestead cabin, while a main room and gallery date to the 1940s. The main lodge, renovated in 1980, includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a recreation room and private sitting room. In addition, five guest cabins, ranging from 410 to over 800 square feet, offer another 10 bedrooms There is also a three bedroom caretaker's house. The modern kitchen and master suite were designed by well-known local designer Bobs Koedt.

The family ties to the Teton Valley date back more than 80 years to Forbes' wife, Roberta Remsen Laidlaw . In 1928, Laidlaw began visiting the valley with her parents when she was a child. After she married Malcolm Forbes, the couple honeymooned here, and Roberta insisted on returning often. "My mother, before her death in 1992, spent six months a year at the ranch," Mumma said recently. "She loved the valley more than anything on earth, and we were the lucky beneficiaries of that love."

This referral was generously suggested by Luxury Real Estate.Com, and the images were taken by Mack Mendenhall.

A ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, once offered for $47.4 million will be sold to the highest bidder above $15 million on July 16. Concierge Auctions will conduct a live luxury real estate auction of the Teton Valley Ranch in cooperation with listing broker Richard Lewis of the Lewis, Lewis & Kleiman team at Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty.

The ranch has views of the Teton Mountain Range and is adjacent to the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park with access to the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The property will be sold via three bidding segments. Estate Parcel I, originally listed for $29.5 million, has a reserve of $11 million; Estate Parcel II, originally listed for $17.9 million, has a reserve of $4 million; and the auction for both Estate Parcels I & II, originally listed for $47.4 million, has a reserve of $15 million. The seller is obligated to sell the properties to the highest aggregate bids above the reserve amounts.

The property was founded in 1927 as a cattle ranch and previously owned by a son of David Abercrombie, co-founder of the Abercrombie & Fitch chain. Nestled among 52 acres of perfectly preserved wildlife, the residences in Estate Parcel I include a main residence with beautiful views of the Tetons. It measures more than 10,000-square-feet and is 90 percent complete (some of the listing pictures are renderings) so the new owner can add their own finishes. The house overlooks a warm springs lake that remains approximately 70 degrees year-round. One particularly nice feature is the atrium off the kitchen which faces the lake. The home opens into an expansive hall with stained glass windows. The master suite features an office/study area, private deck and a wrap around his and her walk-in closet. Also in this parcel is a two-bedroom log-cabin guest home on the edge of the property across the warm springs lake from the main residence.

A rare riverfront property, Estate Parcel II has direct access to approximately ¾ of a mile of the Gros Ventre River. The river is a tributary of the Snake River, noted for its excellent Snake River Cutthroat trout fishing. This property includes the Marlboro barn which was made famous by the 1971 Western epic, "The Wild Country." The barn has existed for nearly a century and has been featured in a number of memorable advertisements, photographs and movies. This estate includes a 1,700-square foot home with three bedrooms and three baths, as well as two log cabins.

The Teton Valley Ranch auction will be held live, on-site, on Friday, July 16 at 11 a.m., MDT. Attendance will be limited to registered bidders and their representatives and bidder registrations are due by Wednesday, July 14. The property is available for preview daily by appointment. For more information visit TetonValleyRanchAuction.com.

Situated some 2,135 meters (7,000 feet) above sea level and high above the town of Jackson, Wyoming is Amangani, a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Ski Hotel.

If it is action-packed days on the slopes and a convivial après-ski atmosphere you are in search of, look no further than this 40-suite resort. Amangani, which translates to "Peaceful Home", is the first Aman resort in the United States. Opened in October, 1998, Amangani is near the southern boundary of Grand Teton National Park.

Constructed with soft-hued Oklahoma sandstone, Douglas fir, cedar and Pacific redwood, the three-story resort is cut into the hillside on the western edge of the East Gros Ventre Butte. The area is encircled by elevated peaks and buttes, hence the world "hole" is used to describe this extensive alpine valley. It is a peaceful location at the southern end of the Greater Yellowstone Area, a vast expanse of mountain and meadow, sage flats, river bottoms, national forests and wildlife sanctuaries.

Amangani is a short ride away from some of the North America's most acclaimed ski runs at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, where ski and snowboarding enthusiasts enjoy 1,000 hectares of high-thrill skiing and snowboarding terrain featuring a lift-serviced vertical drop at 1,260 meters (4,139 feet). As Jackson Hole averages 1,016 cm (400 inches) of snow a year, it offers some of the best skiing conditions in the world. During winter months, snow piles up to four meters (10 feet) in the mountains. The entire valley turns white after mid-November and winter can stretch past early April.

In Teton Village, at the base of Rendezvous Mountain, the resort has a private ski lounge where guests will find snacks, hot beverages and a concierge service (which organizes ski equipment rentals and lessons). The resort offers a complimentary shuttle service as well as private transfers to and from the resort and the ski lounge, which is 20 minutes away. After a day on the slopes, guests unwind before the large wood-burning fireplaces of Amangani's Lounge with the two-story window wall offering beautiful views of the Snake River Range.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, other winter activities enjoyed by the guests include snowmobiling, snowshoeing and half-to-full day dog-sledding. Amangani also offers horse-drawn sleigh rides which take guests up to the ridge of the butte where they will see panoramic views of the valley. Guests can also spend a day visiting nearby Yellowstone National Park, which is America's first national park and its largest outside Alaska. Yellowstone boasts its own Grand Canyon, plentiful geysers and Yellowstone Lake, the largest mountain lake in America.

While the resort has been nominated for best ski hotel, Amangani is also a great option for spring and summer vacations. During the warmer months, wildlife safaris led by biologist guides enable guests to view a wide variety of wildlife including black bears, grizzly bears, elk, bison, moose, pronghorn, bald eagles and golden eagles. Fly fishing enthusiasts enjoy the Snake River, which is a haven for local cutthroat trout as well as rainbow, lake and brown trout. Canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding and hot-air ballooning are other activities offered to guests.

The Health Center features treatment rooms, exercise studios, steam rooms and individualized yoga programs. The resort offers a 30 meter outdoor pool and whirlpool with magnificent mountain views; both are opened year-round.

Each of the resort's 40 suites have spectacular mountain and valley views. Rates start at $565 for April to mid-June and mid-October to mid-December; $725 from early January to early April (excluding Presidents' Day weekend when the entry rate jumps to $875); and $857 from mid-June to mid-October. A four-bedroom home with full hotel amenities is also available for $3,400 to $4,800 per night, depending on the time of year. The resort is a 20 minute drive from the Jackson Hole Airport.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

At a press event for Jackson Hole, we chatted with Travis Rice (a JH native) about his upcoming Quiksilver Natural Selection snowboarding competition -- and this awesome trophy.

This is just second place.

Luxist: Now, the first place one is 24 carat gold, right?

Travis Rice: That's correct. The first place trophy weighs about 40 pounds and it's 24 carat gold. This one right here is silver-plated, and the third place one is polished bronze.

L: Do you know the value of these things?

TR: I do.

L: Can you tell me?

TR: No!

L: Shoot!

TR: It's definitely a very impressive number, like, our whole thing is like, I think a lot of contests just slack on trophies. I think a solid trophy is so important instead of just like "we have a little ribbon for you," and you get 10,000 bucks.

L: So, I'd imagine you have a closet full of those little ribbons.

TR: Yeah, and it pisses me off! I mean, you try so hard for something and then you end up getting this cheap, laser-inscribed piece of glass or something.

L: And the trophy's different every year?

TR: Yeah, this is our second year, and we wanted to do metal this year. And it's original artwork, you know?

L: So tell me about the event; explain it to me like I'm a child.

TR: The contest is called The Natural Selection for a reason. If you've ever seen a snowboarding contest before, for the most part they're man-made, they blow snow for them, they build up all the features, make jumps. This contest, however, is actually held on natural terrain. We let God do all the work. And, you know, we live in Jackson Hole, so the insane snowfall that we get there allows us to hold a contest of this type of scale.

L: Last question: Can it be worn?

TR: You know what? I think it COULD be worn. But it is gonna HURT.

L: Heavy, huh?

TR: I mean, I could try an put it on your head right now, but I think it's not gonna feel that good.

L: I feel like we might get in trouble for that in here.

TR: Yeah, it might just be a faux pas.

If you want to hit Jackson Hole for the Quiksilver Natural Selection competition, start here.

Flagging bookings at many of the finest winter resorts in the country have created a boon for skiers in search of bargains. As the New York Times reports, enticing deals are to be found at such popular -- and typically pricey -- ski areas as Aspen, Vail, Jackson Hole and Lake Tahoe.

Vail Resorts is providing three nights' lodging and three days of lift tickets for the cost of two at its four ski areas in Colorado (Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone) and Tahoe's Heavenly Mountain Resort. In Jackson, rates for the four-night Skier's Dream package at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa have been reduced by $100 per night. Aspen/Snowmass has partnered with Frontier Airlines to offer a free flight, among other incentives, to group and family travelers. For a blizzard of more special offers, check out ski.com.

Luxury real estate in Wyoming has taken a big blow with the sudden closure of Real Estate of Jackson Hole, the largest locally owned and operated real estate firm in the area. The company announced Monday it would close immediately after stakeholders turned down an anonymous investor's offer, as well failed plans to restructure. Many of the firm's brokers have begun to seek work elsewhere. Employees were asked to remove all personal items from company offices and remove all Real Estate of Jackson Hole yard signs from properties. The company had 70 agents listed on its webpage so many will be looking for work in a market that is a bit oversaturated with brokers. Underpinning all this is the stagnant real estate market which Rob Cheek, a top commercial broker who has been a realtor in Jackson Hole nearly 30 years, tells Planet Jackson Hole has been similar to the doldrums of recession of the mid-1980s.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming vacation destination extraordinaire, has added a new convenience for its guests and residents alike!

The new tram, currently under construction and opening December 20th, will carry 100 passengers from 6,311 feet to 10,450 feet up in the mountains in just 9 minutes.

The views from the tram promise to be astounding, as with the old tram which has been there since 1966. A beautiful, "visually inspiring" new base terminal will replace the old clock tower base.

The opening of the new tram will feature live music, fireworks, and all kinds of Jackson Hole festivities. Click here for more information.

Whether you head to Jackson Hole for the skiing, the scenery, or just to get away from it all, the new tram, 100% funded by resort ownership, will make your stay more convenient. You can book a Tram-Slam Package this winter for a stay at Teton Village and be one of the first to ride!

Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has a long list of luxury, seasonal wildlife-focused getaways. The picture at right is for their photography workshops which they hold in September and October.

This year, Spring Creek Ranch has something new for the ladies: The Beauties and the Beasts Adventure is taking place October 2-6.

Subtitled "A Women's Wildlife Adventure," Beauties and the Beasts is a four day excursion, venturing from Jackson Hole up into Yellowstone, where there will be naturalist-led hiking and driving, a trip to Old Faithful, and finally, massages back at Spring Creek Ranch. Ladies only!

There's still room! The price is $1,710 per person for double occupancy and $2,110 for single occupancy.

If I weren't busy keeping tabs on New York for you, I'd be there!

One of Jackson Hole, Wyoming's popular hotels is for sale. The Inn at Jackson Hole is located at the base of the world renowned Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It has 83 hotel rooms: 25 poolside rooms, 25 mountainside rooms, 20 deluxe rooms and 13 premium suites. The hotel includes heated pool, conference rooms, onsite restaurant and bar, and a lobby complete with fireplace, deer heads and antler chandeliers. For $33 million you can own your own ski hotel.

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is a new luxury eco-boutique hotel set to open on January 29, 2008. The resort, which is located near the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming is one of a new crop of LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotels in the United States. The six-story, 72-room hotel has a fitness center, rooftop hot tub, two restaurants, and a snowboard and ski rental shop. The guest rooms include organic linens and organic amenities such as shampoo and lotion. The rooms are also home to less eco-friendly features such as flat screen televisions and Bose surround speakers.

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is the first in a collection of Green hotels launched by the Terra Resort Group. Examples of LEED, and other environmentally sound, elements in Hotel Terra include recycled Eco Shake roof shingles, low VOC carpets, paints and sealants, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, water conservation systems, wind power and the use of recycled products throughout the building. The Hotel Terra is offering a season-long Green Ski Package that offers a four nights' stay and daily lift tickets for two people, starting at $303 nightly.

Today's contemporary home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming sits on scenic 10-acre hilltop. The home has a large circular driveway with stone pavers set in a spiral design. The style is of the home is an interesting mix of sharp angles and circles. The home has four bedrooms and with 9497 square feet of space there is also room for a large kitchen, living room, dining room, study, office, game, media and exercise rooms, guest quarters and a wine cellar. The study has beautiful floor to ceiling white maple bookshelves and a stacked stone fireplace, wet bar and surround sound system making it the dream place to curl up with a good book. The kitchen has ebony granite countertops and two islands with sculptural stainless vents, pendant lighting and semi-circular windows. The office has floor to ceiling custom shelves, cabinets and two desks. The master suite makes the most of the views with a wall of windows and glass doors that open onto a private terrace, cantilevered above the hillside. The master bath has his and hers vanities and closets, heated French limestone floors and a jetted tub surrounded by circular glass windows. The lower level includes a media room with a stacked stone fireplace and built in cabinets, a game room with a contemporary pool table an exercise area and a 700 bottle wine cellar. Outside a hot tub on a stone cylinder above the terrace makes a great place to enjoy a star-filled night and stay warm. I'm not sure what the electricity bill is like on this place but the shot of the home at night all lit up is pretty amazing. This home is listed at $8.495 million.

I've written about stone bathtubs before but you don't often see them in houses because of the weight and expense. It takes a special house to pull off that look. This new house in the Indian Springs Ranch area of Jackson Hole, Wyoming is definitely one of them. This impressive custom home is a new build. It have five bedrooms and has over 9,000 square feet of space. This log cabin deluxe is done in a limited palette of natural materials, tawny marbles and stones, massive exposed wood beams, roughhewn fireplaces and staircases composed of twigs all contribute to the rustic charm. The five-bedroom home also has a home theater and an infinity hot tub outside the master bedroom. The home is listed at $13.75 million. After the jump, antlers, antlers everywhere.