Review: The Virginian Lodge, Wyoming

Why book? 

This revamped motor lodge halfway between town and the mountain meets all of your vacation needs with an adventure centre, bottle shop, RV park, and even a saloon all within its 13 acres.

Set the scene

It’s a brisk fall day, but the courtyard is packed with young families hanging in the heated pool and couples soaking in hot tubs. Locals in their 20s and 30s, still wearing Tevas or hiking boots from their afternoon adventures, file into Adirondack chairs to watch a Jackson Hole bluegrass band jam. As the sun sets, guests and locals rocking cowboy boots start to file into the Virginian’s storied saloon for Wednesday night karaoke.

The backstory

Back in the 1960s, Glenn Napierski noticed a lot of vacationers sleeping in their cars and was inspired to open this classic roadside motor lodge. The Virginian instantly became a fixture of the local community and beloved by vacationers. Its infamous saloon, which was originally a cocktail bar in the 70s then a disco bar, became the town dive with a reputation for bar fights and wild karaoke nights. Over the years, the Virg, as it’s locally known, fell into disrepair. Reimagined by Outbound Hotels, the Virginian was the first property to debut from the new collection of adventure-centric retreats. The brand recently renovated Sierra Nevada Resort in Mammoth Lakes, California, and has hotels in Yosemite and Stowe, Vermont, in the works.

The rooms

Rooms have a campy, National Lampoon’s Vacation vibe that comes off as cool. Nods to old-school motor lodge decor (think wall-to-wall plaid carpeting and wood-panelled walls hung with vintage Western oil paintings) have been paired with modern touches like mid-century furnishings, Pendleton blankets, and black-and-white nature photography. Knowing the outdoors is a main draw, all rooms have been thoughtfully outfitted with oversized racks for drying out gear. Families or groups of friends should book the Four Bunk Adventure Camp rooms, which have four sets of bunk beds for up to eight people and two full bathrooms. The RV park has 103 sites with full hookups and is an affordable option for travellers looking to hit nearby Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

Food and drink

Breakfast at the Virginian Restaurant is hearty enough to fuel you through an entire day of powder skiing or hiking, particularly the made-from-scratch hot cakes. Be warned: a walk-in-only policy means you’re likely to have to wait for a table, especially on weekends. Some locals lament that the Saloon has been spiffed up but plenty of taxidermy remains on the walls shot and beer specials are still on the menu. The Saloon doors open into the courtyard and there is a Yard Bar with a menu of specialty pool cocktails. For now, you have to go off-property for dinner, but later this year shuttered Jackson institution Billy’s Burgers will re-open at the lodge.

The spa

There isn’t a spa, but a longtime, locally-owned salon is located on property and offers hair and nail services as well as massages.

The neighboruhood

We’ll admit, on a powder day, it’s nice to be based at the doorstep of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. But the Virginian is only 20 minutes away and offers a free shuttle. Plus, it’s a fraction of the cost of both the mountain village resorts and the hotels located in downtown Jackson Hole, which is less than one mile away.

The service 

The Virginian prides itself on its local vibe and you’re made to feel like part of the Jackson community. Staff have first-hand intel on which runs to hit first on a pow day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and the best trails during wildflower season. Each room has a list of favourite restaurants and bars. And with an outdoor centre right on site, it’s easy to plan excursions like wildlife safaris or a guided cross-country ski outing in the national park.

For families 

We’d argue this is Jackson’s most family-friendly lodge. Two and Four Bunk Adventure Camp rooms can accommodate four and eight guests respectively.

Eco effort 

Custom bath amenities are large-volume in the rooms. Instead of plastic coffee pods, rooms are stocked with Steeped coffee packs, which are fully compostable and made using renewable materials. There are no disposable cups in the rooms – an enamel camp mug is provided for guests to use during their stay for in-room coffee or cocktails in the courtyard. Guests can purchase their mugs to take home. Locally sourced products and partners are threaded through F&B outlets and offerings. Alpine Air freshly brewed coffee is offered in the lobby, and local spirits such as Wyoming Whiskey, Jackson Hole Still Works, and Grand Teton Distillery are highlighted in specialty cocktails.  A recycling program is underway in the Saloon.

Accessibility 

There are 128 rooms located on the ground floor which require no elevator access (9 of which are ADA). The 9 specific ADA rooms come in a variety of configurations: queen rooms; king rooms with seating areas; queen suites with separate living areas and small kitchenettes, plus roll-in showers; and king suites with separate living areas and small kitchenettes, plus roll-in showers. The Celebration Suite is also ADA accessible.

Anything left to mention? 

In the fall, the courtyard hosts an annual Inbound Concert series featuring notable musicians. In summer there are seven communal fire pits that guests can use to toast complimentary S’mores or jam on the house guitar. On the grassy lawn, there are games like cornhole and giant Jenga. In the winter, the courtyard has pop-up igloos where guests can cozy up for après ski brews. The pool area is open year-round with two custom oversized hot tubs (note: rooms near the hot tubs can be noisy). The courtyard also hosts programming for guests and locals such as starlight movie nights, rodeo happy hour, plein air painting classes, and game nights.