For Sale: Jackson Hole ski resort

Snow King, an iconic and popular Jackson Hole, Wyoming ski resort is up for sale, and the current owner hopes to have it sold before the snow begins to fly this winter. The move isn’t a popular one with the locals however, who worry that their favorite hill could be shut down altogether.

The resort, which is just six blocks from the Jackson Hole town square, features 400 skiable acres, three ski lifts, snow making equipment, and well lit runs for both day and night skiing. It also has a lodge with 200+ rooms for visitors, condominiums for extended stays, and even a conference center.

Current owner Mauel Lopez hasn’t said how much he is asking for the resort, but he is reportedly in negotiations with more than one interested party. He also notes that he is selling Snow King for personal reasons and not financial ones, and that he would prefer to sell it as a single unit, and not break it up into separate pieces.

Snow King first opened back in 1939, which means it has actually been around longer than Jackson Hole itself. The resort is a popular one with local skiers and snowboarders however, many of whom have learned to ski on its slopes. Because of this sentimental attachment, many in town are worried that a buyer won’t be found and Lopez will simply shutdown operations before the season begins.

If reports are to be believed, La Nina is cranking up for another year, which could mean lots of snow in Jackson Hole again this season. Loads of powder could also translate into a busy season on the slopes, which means Snow King just might be a good investment for someone looking to break into the resort business.

Anyone up for a Gadling ski resort?

Great destinations for fall foliage viewing outside of New England

One of our favorite fall trips is a long drive into the country to view the changing leaves. Last year was considered one of the best on record, and we’re hoping this year will be no exception. Break from the expected and enjoy these five off-the-beaten-path destinations for fall foliage viewing:

Moonlight Basin, Montana
Montana seems to constantly get overlooked by more publicized destinations like Colorado and Wyoming, but come autumn, take advantage of this fact and skip the crowds. Rent a rustic, but very luxurious Cowboy Cabin at Moonlight Basin, complete with front porch hot tub and views as far as the eye can see.

Asheville, North Carolina
Take a scenic drive through the North Carolina mountains before stopping to enjoy some of the East Coast’s best breweries and chic indie art galleries. We’d bunk at the luxe Grove Park Inn, where the President stayed on his last visit, or perhaps continue the drive into the mountains and rent a cabin at Fontana Dam.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Leaf peeping in the rugged Teton National Park is tough to beat, and the prime spot to stay during the autumn season is at the luxe Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, where you can enjoy amenities including nightly s’mores. As an added bonus, the hotel also offers Wildlife Safari Tours, hosted by its own in-house Wildlife Biologist, Tenley Thompson.

Whistler, British Columbia
Enjoy some of Canada’s most scenic glaciated peaks and roaring rivers. Arrive early enough and you’ll also catch quite the leaf show. We’d opt to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler or the Four Seasons Resort Whistler.

Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is dwarfed by the surrounding Pikes Peak National Forest, and the towering 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. The number of easily accessed areas for leaf peeping the city is astounding. Cheyenne Mountain Resort is the perfect base camp for a trip to Colorado Springs. The resort boasts its own golf resort, on-site herb garden and ease of access to Garden of the Gods and the Pikes Peak National Forest – including the Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

[Flickr via ForestGladesIWander]

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers discounted ski passes

While most of the U.S. continues to recover from a nasty heat wave, certain parts of the country are already looking ahead to winter. For instance, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, located in Wyoming, has already announced new pricing on season passes for the upcoming ski season in advance of those passes going on sale on August 1st.

Last year, the resort introduced the Grand Pass, as an all new alternative to the All Mountain Pass that skiers had previously been use to. The Grand Pass was offered at a 25% discount at that time, and this year it will be even more affordable. When the passes go on sale next week, the price will be $1195 for a full season of skiing, which will extend for 135 days this winter – the longest season in the resort’s history.

JHMR also offers discounted pricing for skiers of all ages as well. For instance, the Grand Pass for Seniors (65 years and older) is just $815 for the full season, while the Junior and Student passes make skiing affordable for the younger crowd as well. Junior passes, aimed at kids age 6-14, is priced at just $159, while the student pass, for 15-18 year olds, is just $289. Children under 6 get to ski for free any time.

Each version of the Grand Pass comes with similar benefits. Those include unlimited skiing or snowboarding between November 26, 2011 and April 8, 2012, a complimentary bus pass for the winter season, discounted food and drinks, as well as lower rates on equipment rental and purchases. The pass also comes with a free adult group lesson, as well as complementary tram access during the summer and a discounted pass to the resort’s mountain bike park in the summer as well.

I know that it is difficult to think about hitting the slopes in July, particularly when the mercury climbs into the triple digits, but for frequent skiers, these passes offer significant savings at one of the premiere destinations in the western United States. And for those who don’t have time to ski the mountain as often as they’d like, there are several other discounted package options as well. For more information on the Grand Pass and the other options click here.

[Photo courtesy Jackson Hole Mountain Resort]

The smallest big mountain you’ll ever see

Rule number 18.57b in the travel blogger’s handbook states that we have to fawn over tilt-shift videos, and this gem from Jackson Hole, Wyoming is no exception. In a way, it makes big-mountain snow riding a less daunting endeavor, making the precarious slopes look like tiny hills over which one might jump to get to the neighborhood creek or the community pool. In another way, it makes me miss the long hard days of double black diamonds and the trees in Blackcomb. Either way, it’s a great, unique method to capture this beautiful terrain.

Great work by Tristan Greszko in composing this slick video.

[via Wired and Jenna Schnuer]

Photo of the day – Cunningham Cabin, Grand Tetons

Today’s Photo of the Day was snapped last summer by JasonBechtel inside the famous Cunningham Cabin in Grand Teton National Park. The sky, mountains, and clouds contrast startlingly with the log cabin interior, presenting a skillfully handled double framing. The contrast is so sharp that it almost looks fake.

We’re fans of JasonBechtel, and in fact today’s selection isn’t his first visit to our rodeo. But even if you’ve never submitted an image to us for consideration, don’t be shy. We want to see your work. Upload an image or several to Flickr’s Gadling Group Pool. Chosen images end up as future Photos of the Day.