The Wort Hotel, Wyoming – USA
Where
The Wort Hotel – pronounced as in girt or shirt – is in the town of Jackson, Wyoming, in the heart of cowboy country. Yellowstone National Park is not far and Grand Teton National Park is just out of town. For skiers and snowboarders, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is an easy 20-minute drive, with the Wort providing a door-to-door shuttle every day.
Back story
The inspiration for The Wort Hotel originated with Charles J. Wort, a homesteader who arrived in Jackson Hole in 1893. In 1917, Charles bought four lots in downtown Jackson and for seven years, the land was used as a horse corral adjacent to a livery stable while Charles made enough from another property nearby to build his dream – a luxury hotel in downtown Jackson. Original construction costs were approximately $90,000, and the hotel officially opened in the late summer of 1941.
Since then The Wort has been part of the fabric of Jackson and is on the National Register of Historic Hotels. If you like ghosts, apparently there is one downstairs. Bob was a maintence man at the hotel and likes to help out, letting the current staff know if there is anything that needs to be attended to. We didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Bob, which I am equally glad, and sad about.
Rooms and interiors
The Wort has claimed many awards and features beautiful interiors that are luxurious with a western theme. The property has 59 guest rooms, including four themed suites and the Silver Dollar Suite – the finest lodging in Jackson Hole.
The Suites at the Wort are a beautiful mix of western tradition and luxury furnishings, with lots of wood and art showcasing this stunning part of the world. All the suites have beautifully carved wooden doors by renowned woodworker Scott Strikwerda, with the carvings quite lifelike. We are in a Cowboy Suite, and are taken aback by how beautiful the carving of a cowboy on horseback is. Inside we find a bear on our bed – a big teddy bear, hogging the king-size bed with goose-down comforter.
The Wort has over 200 pieces of original or limited edition oils, bronzes, furnishings, sculptures and historical photos all on display in the public spaces. This includes many originals by Ray McCarty.
Dining
The Wort is famous for its Silver Dollar Bar, which has 2,032 uncirculated silver dollars minted in 1921 on the bar – try counting them after a few cocktails. The atmosphere here ensures locals and visitors alike have a ball. Have a few drinks then move on into the Silver Dollar Grill, with a fabulous menu and an impressive wine list. We polish off a few good wines over an impressive meal, enjoying the ambience and a few tales of the old west.
Another nice touch is that every afternoon in winter there are freshly baked cookies and hot chocolate delivered to the lounge. They are the best tasting cookies in the west!
Features
The Wort has two hot tubs, a gym, a business centre and the magnificent Silver Dollar Bar and Grill. There’s live music every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night ensuring your western experience is even more memorable.
The town of Jackson, Wyoming, is about as western as you can get, with Stetsons and cowboy boots on every second person. Clump down the wooden sidewalks outside and browse in the western shops, pick yourself up a Stetson or some boots and grab a selfie under the antler archway in the town square. In winter, go skiing or boarding at Jackson Hole, go on a sleigh ride in the National Elk Refuge and do a wildlife tour with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris. Do a dog sled or snowmobile tour into Granite Hot Springs or go tubing at the Snow King Resort, that rears up spectacularly over the town. Spectacular!
A nice touch for skiers is that there is a live feed from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort into the property, so you can lie in bed and see what the conditions are like on the mountain.
What I loved
The authentic western feel emanates from every corner but there is scrimping on quality or luxury. Sit by the fireplace in the upstairs lounge and look at the magnificent trio of paintsin by Joe Velazquez taking pride of place over the stairway, have a look at the historic photos in the entry hallway to the Silver Dollar Bar, and really look at all the features in your room.
Details
The Wort Hotel; worthotel.com
Helen Hayes
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