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Grand Targhee Resort

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Grand Targhee Resort
LocationAlta, Wyoming
Nearest major cityDriggs, Idaho
Vertical2,592 feet (790 m)
Top elevation10,000 feet (3,000 m)
Base elevation7,408 feet (2,258 m)
Skiable area3,000 acres (1,200 ha)
Longest run14,256 feet (4.345 km)
Snowfall500 inches (1,300 cm)
Snowmaking5%
Websiteofficial website

Grand Targhee Resort is located in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest in Alta, Wyoming. It is 42 miles northwest of Jackson, Wyoming, accessible by road by way of Driggs, Idaho. The resort has lodging, a spa, retail stores, and can host conferences. It is located on the west side of the Grand Tetons.

Location of Alta, Wyoming, right on the Idaho border.

Winter

Skiing in deep powder among the trees at Grand Targhee, March 27, 2008.

The ski resort has three quad-chairs ( two are high-speed detachable), one double chair, and one conveyor. The greatest vertical drop is 2419 feet (737 m). It is rated as 85% Difficult and 15% Advanced in skiing. There are also Nordic skiing trails, snowshoeing, snowcat adventures, and activities that include sleighride dinners and dogsled tours. Grand Targhee is famous for abundant "champagne powder" snow. It averages over 500 inches[1] of snowfall per season which ranks it among the top four ski resorts in North America. This is impressive where it is 670 miles inland and the snow that falls is nearly always dry powder snow. The reason for the abundant snowfall is twofold. First, the area is on the west slope or wet side of the 13,700 foot Grand Tetons and, second, because there is a moisture channel through the Rocky Mountains formed by the Snake River Plain that channels moisture to the west slope of the Tetons all the way from the Pacific Ocean. See "Effects on Climate" in article "Snake River Plain" for more information.

Summer

Summertime offers scenic chairlift rides, kids camps, music festivals, a bluegrass festival, and the 9 hole Targhee Village golf course. Grand Targhee is also within close proximity to Yellowstone National Park.

History

The original inhabitants of this area were the Shoshone, Bannock, and Blackfoot tribes. The Grand Tetons were called the Tee-Win-At by the Shoshone Indians, meaning "high pinnacles".

Targhee was a local chief about whom there is little known other than he maintained peace between white men and his tribesmen. Chief Targhee was apparently slain; after his death the young warriors prevailed in leading the tribe into war. Grand Targhee Resort's name includes both a reference to Grand Teton Mountain and Chief Targhee. A national forest, a mountain pass, a creek and the resort commemorate Chief Targhee's integrity and the memory of the Native American contribution to this country.

The locals of Teton Valley were instrumental in establishing Grand Targhee Resort. In 1966, Grand Targhee, Inc. was formed by east Idahoans. The resort opened on December 26, 1969, with the Bannock and Shoshone lifts, Targhee Lodge, and day lodge. The resort was officially dedicated by Wyoming's Governor Samuelson on February 2, 1970. In 1971, the Sioux Lodge opened.

Bill Robinson, a plastics manufacturer from Cincinnati, Ohio, purchased Grand Targhee in 1975. Though primarily an absentee owner, Robinson and his family loved the area, bought a home in Driggs, and visited frequently throughout the years.

In 1987, Grand Targhee Resort was purchased and operated by Mory and Carol Bergmeyer. The Bergmeyers improved the resort facilities, added new guest activities and expanded the reputation of Targhee while continuing its dedication to family, quality and the sensitive balance between people and the great outdoors.

Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc., a corporation run by CEO George Gillett, Jr., purchased Grand Targhee in March 1997. In June 2000, George and Rose Gillett, along with their four sons, purchased Grand Targhee from Booth Creek Ski Holdings.

In 1997, the Gilletts installed the first high-speed detachable quad chair by replacing Bannock with Dreamcatcher, and the Shoshone double chair was replaced with a fixed-grip quad. Through a land exchange in 2004, the Gilletts acquired ownership of Grand Targhee's base area. Planning has begun for the future development of Grand Targhee Resort including expansion of Peaked Mountain facilities and a proposed expanded base area with more lodging units.

References

  1. ^ Grand Targhee Resort - Quick Facts, GrandTarghee.com, April 10, 2008
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