Teton Tattle #16

Jackson Traffic Is Bananas, Mega Hotel Approved + Aurora Review

JACKSON TRAFFIC!

Traffic in and around Jackson has reached epic levels.

We live north of town, and it can take 45 minutes just to get my son to football practice at the high school. Hearing about the congestion is one thing—experiencing it daily is another.

What’s been your experience with traffic in Jackson?

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Teton Takes

1️⃣ Snow King Views & Aurora Restaurant

Check out the image from the 1950’s versus the built up valley today!

My wife and some friends went to Aurora when it first opened back in March. Their feedback at the time? The place was still working out a few kinks.

Despite all my visits to Jackson, I had never taken the gondola up to the summit of Snow King. I figured this was the perfect excuse—and a good chance to see if Aurora was ready for prime time.

A few quick notes:

  • The service was excellent!

  • For appetizers, we ordered the grilled octopus, Yellowtail Tartare, and Wagyu Tartare. All three were delicious.

  • I had the lamb chops—fantastic.

  • My wife really enjoyed the King Salmon.

  • And my picky 16-year-old? Surprisingly big fan of the gnocchi.

The views from the restaurant are stunning. Seeing the whole valley in one sweeping panorama is something special.

If I had one critique, it’s that the space feels a bit cold—not quite cozy. A fireplace or some stonework could go a long way in warming it up.

2️⃣ Tattle Time? Happy Hour Interest Check 🍻

I am tossing around the idea of hosting a Teton Tattle Happy Hour in Jackson this August. Nothing fancy—just a laid-back chance to meet fellow readers, maybe some local business owners, and toast to this wild valley we call home.

Got a bar, restaurant, or killer backyard and want to host? Hit reply and let us know. 

Otherwise, if you'd simply show up for a drink and some good company, I would love to hear that too!

3️⃣ A Take on Cake

What is it about getting older and suddenly not being able to handle dairy?

As you can imagine, Jackson doesn’t exactly overflow with non-dairy options—especially if you’re trying to celebrate something.

Enter Bake Me Vegan. Owner and baker Courtney is incredible. I completely forgot to order a cake for my wife’s birthday, and with just two days’ notice, Courtney saved the day and delivered the cake to my house!

Her dairy-free cookies are also insane. You can find Bake Me Vegan online and at the Jackson Farmers Market every Saturday morning in town.

Now For Your Takes….

After months of heated public debate and multiple rounds of revisions, the Jackson Town Council has approved a massive hotel and mixed-use development by Mogul Capital on North Cache Street. The project, one of the largest private commercial proposals in Jackson’s history, has been reshaped to reduce its footprint.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Basics

  • Size: 244,600 square feet (down from 366,000).

  • Design: Five separate three-story buildings rather than one large block.

  • Rooms: 109 hotel rooms.

  • Housing: 17 long-term market-rate units, 22 deed-restricted workforce units (off-site), and 17 off-site affordable units.

  • Amenities: Restaurant, spa, rooftop decks, fitness center, retail space, and a pedestrian-friendly paseo.

The project sits on a 2.75-acre lot and is now heading toward the Development Plan stage, where even more detail will be hammered out.

The Look & Layout

Town leaders and design reviewers pushed Mogul to rethink the original bulky block layout. The result?

  • Five distinct buildings, no taller than three stories.

  • A more “mountain lodge” style, aimed at better blending into the Jackson streetscape.

  • Public alleyway enhancements, including a small roundabout to ease traffic.

  • Rooftop decks and retail frontages to maintain walkability and flow.

  • Streetscape and landscaping improvements that emphasize pedestrian access.

Despite these changes, some locals still feel the development is “too big for Jackson” and out of sync with the town’s scale.

What do you think?

Jackson, WY Weather This Week

Day

High

Low

Conditions

Tue (Today)

82°F

43°F

Rain Showers

Wed

77°F

39°F

Sunny

Thu

82°F

42°F

Sunny

Fri

78°F

42°F

Partly Cloudy

Sat

79°F

41°F

Partly Cloudy

Sun

82°F

40°F

Partly Cloudy

Mon

81°F

40°F

Partly Cloudy

Tue (Next)

78°F

43°F

Partly Cloudy

It’s been a bit hot by Jackson standards lately, so we jumped at the chance to cool off at Jackson Lake with some neighbors who own a boat… so boujee.

After a quick stop at a beach in Moran Bay to drop off some chairs and paddle boards, we headed out for tubing and wakeboarding. But when we returned to shore, we were greeted by the scene below—our beach chairs tossed around and clear signs that we had just missed a pretty wild bear encounter.

Maybe it was this guy…..

🫎 JULY & AUGUST EVENTS IN JACKSON

 🏞️ July 17: Western Scholars Talk: Jackson Hole & Dammen Bia-Devope [Our Treaty] Doors open at 6, starts 6:30pm

🎭 July 17–20: Thin Air Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet
Second weekend, same tragic love. Free on the Center lawn.

🎶 July 18: King Concert Series: Slightly Stoopid
Summit show at Snow King. Come for the reggae fusion, stay for the gondola ride.

🎪 July 19–27: Annual Teton County Fair
Carnival rides, rodeos, and fried everything.

🚵 July 19: 2nd Annual Colter Cup at Grand Targhee
The longest downhill race in the Tetons returns. Legs of steel required.

🎪 July 23: Teton County Fair Carnival Opens
Rides, music, corndogs galore! 5 p.m.–midnight.

🍻 July 24: Beers & Banter: Chapel of Transfiguration 100th Anniversary. From 6-7:30pm. Doors at 5:30pm.

🖼️ July 25–27: Teton Arts & Antiques Fair
Find your next conversation piece. Or just browse and eat funnel cake. Teton Village.

🎨 July 25–27: Art Fair Jackson Hole
Artists, live music, kids’ art, and food booths take over the Center lawn. $6/day.

🎶 July 27: King Concert Series: Flatland Cavalry
Country with a kick. Summit stage, gondola included. .

🎸 July 31: Snake River Brewing Music Series: Greg Hise Band
Close out July with live tunes and local brews. 5–8 p.m.

🎶 July 31: King Concert Series: Muscadine Bloodline - SOLD OUT

🦬 AUGUST EVENTS 🦬

🚵 August 2: Pierre’s Hole 50/100
Epic mountain biking at Grand Targhee Resort on nearly every trail they’ve got.

🏃 August 2: Rendezvous Mountain Hillclimb
6.1 miles, 4,100 vertical feet, and a tram-top finish line. Starts 8:30 a.m.

🏞️ August 4: Free Entry to Grand Teton National Park
Celebrate the Great American Outdoors Act with no wallet required.

🦅 August 5 & 6: Alive@5 with Teton Raptor Center
Falcons, owls, and eagles—oh my! Free live raptors at the Village Commons.

🎶 August 7: Alive@5 Tempo Thursdays: Flute & Harp Duet
GTMF chamber music floats through the air at Village Commons.

🎪 August 8–10: 34th Annual Targhee Bluegrass Festival
Infamous Stringdusters, Molly Tuttle, The Wood Brothers, and more. Camp out in Alta!

🎶 August 11: Front Porch Concerts at Murie Ranch
Sit a spell on Mardy’s porch. 6–6:45 p.m. Free.

🦅 August 12 & 13: Alive@5 with Teton Raptor Center
Wings, wisdom, and wild encounters. Free at Village Commons.

🍻 August 14: Snake River Brewing Music Series: Jamie Hansen
Cold brews and Jamie’s tunes, 5–8 p.m.

🖼️ August 15–17: Jackson Hole Art Fair
Family-friendly art fest with music, food, and demos.

🖼️ August 15–17: Teton Arts & Antiques Fair
Treasure hunting in Teton Village.

🎶 August 17: King Concert Series: Marcus King Band
Gritty Southern soul at Snow King’s summit.

🍻 August 18: Snake River Brewing Music Series: Brendan Nolan
Live Irish-tinged Americana from 5–8 p.m

🎶 August 19: King Concert Series: Wilco
Alt-rock royalty headlines Snow King. Gondola ride included.

🎭 August 22 & 23: GTMF presents Hansel & Gretel
Opera night at Walk Festival Hall. 6 p.m. $40 adults/$5 kids.

🍻 August 23: Bikes and Brews at JHMR
Ride hard, sip harder. 20 breweries, trails, music, and mountain fun.

🎶 August 24: King Concert Series: Damian & Stephen Marley
Reggae royalty atop Snow King.


📅 August 30: The Rendezvous Enduro at JHMR
Montana Enduro Series rolls into Jackson.

🎶 August 31: King Concert Series: Kaleo
Icelandic rock under Wyoming stars.

RECURRING EVENTS

🐂 Jackson Rodeo: The Jackson Rodeo takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at 8:00 PM.

🔫 Jackson Hole Shootout: Recurring weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 6 pm in Jackson’s Town Square (Corner of Deloney Ave. and Center St.)

🚠 The Deck at Piste
The high-altitude happy hour returns Sunday–Thursday, 5–8:30 p.m., with live music starting at 5:30.

🎵 Music on Main Every Thursday (Victor, ID)
Free outdoor concerts just over the hill in Victor. Family friendly, fun guaranteed.

🍎 Jackson Hole Farmer’s Market
Every Saturday on Town Square, 8 a.m.–Noon, through September 27. Bring cash, bags, and an appetite.

👀 Remember, if I did not include your event, just email me via [email protected] to let me know.

A quick reminder:

I am experimenting with some new ideas, please send any feedback, good or bad!

My primary goal is to be your friendly source for everything Jackson, WY.

Whether you’re a local, a frequent visitor, or planning your first trip, Teton Tattle is for you.