By Eileen Ogintz
Did you need rental bikes or snow gear?
If you are a Gravity Haus member, you get seven complimentary gear rentals a year—up to 14 with a family membership. Members can also get complimentary gear rentals—for kids too—at 40+ partner locations across North America.
There are eight Gravity Haus destinations across four states—we are at the 87-room Gravity Haus Jackson Hole, in Teton Village WY, just north of the town of Jackson with easy accessibility to the tram to the top of the mountain and just a few miles from the south entrance to Grand Teton National Park.
We a love the casual vibe, the comfortable rooms, and that the hotel is dog friendly. It offers a co-working space. It’s restaurant, Wild Pine, is an excellent. We enjoyed trout, steak, and lamb ragu for dinner, Unravel for coffee, a fitness center and big outdoor heated pool and hot tub. Wild Pine is also open for breakfast and lunch
A Gravity Haus is coming soon to Aspen, CO; there are locations in Breckinridge, Steamboat, Winter Park and Vail, CO; Moab, Utah, and Truckee-Tahoe, CA.
Memberships start at $140 a month for those 27 and under; $200 for individuals and $400 for families (You can save 10 per cent for annual memberships. Join in September and get an extra two nights free.) Haus Guides (think super concierges) available to members will guide you to locals’ favorites and hidden gems.
Do the math. For those who head to the mountains frequently and want to try the latest gear, this could be a good deal. For once-a-year skiers, riders and those who like the mountains in summer and fall, just staying at a Gravity Haus can be a nice bet.
Our family headed to the top of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort yesterday to take in the stellar views (and sample the resort’s famous waffles.)
Then we drove into Jackson for a little gallery hopping and ice cream at the family-owned Jackson Drug Original Soda Fountain. It’s been in business since 1919 and famous for their homemade ice cream, milkshakes, and burgers right near the iconic Town Square with its four iconic Elk Antler Arches—probably the best spot in town for family photos.
The local Rotary Club constructed the first arch in 1953, and it was an instant hit. The other arches have been built and rebuilt since then. They are lit up beautifully with lights for the holidays.
Building and rebuilding them is an intensive process, weaving antlers that can weigh up to 10 pounds together around the steel frame. In the end, there are 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of antlers used. Up to 2,000 pounds in each arch are courtesy from the Jackson Hole Boy Scouts, who pick them up at the National Elk Refuge where the elk from the national parks winter, according to Dina Mishev, author of “On the Road Yellowstone.”
Gravity Haus is a great base whether you want to ski or mountain bike at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, head to Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Parks. (The south entrance to Grand Teton is just a few miles from here) or head into town, about a 20-minute drive.
The hotel also can curate experiences whether you want a guided-bike tour in Grand Teton National Park, a tour of Yellowstone ‘s Lower Loop, stargazing, a whitewater raft trip or more. There are experiences offered at all of the Gravity Haus locales.
Today we visited the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, famous for its outdoor sculpture trail with its life-size sculptures, its collection of more than 5000 artworks representing wild animals from around the world and featuring work from artists including Georgia O’Keefe, Andy Warhol, John James Audubon and more. There is an interactive children’s gallery and well-regarded restaurant, Palate, that overlooks the National Elk Refuge.
It’s a great place for lunch with a view both inside and outside. The idea is the food, the view and the art all come together. Perhaps a Bison gyro, Elk meatloaf wrap trout po boi or a vegetarian salad. There is a kids’ menu too.
Bon Appetit!