15 More Years!!!

Signal Mountain Lodge is very very happy to anounce that Forever Resorts has been awarded the NPS concessionare's contract to continue operating this property for another 15 years! We are very thankful to be able to continue this wonderful partnership in this beautiful place. We look forward to serving all of our guests in even better ways as we move in to this next phase in Signal Mountain history. A big thanks goes to everyone who helped get us here! Hip Hip Hooray!

Last Call for the Best Pizza in the Valley!

Leek's Pizzeria is open for just a couple more weeks. It's time to come up and have some of the best pizza, sandwiches, and salads in the valley before they close up for the year on September 5th. All of Leek's pizza dough is made fresh by hand with organic ingredients, and the selection of toppings is unbeatable. There are several beers and wines available and delicious ice cream to top it all off with.

Leek's is located in a beautiful bay at the north end of Jackson Lake that brags some of the most stunning views of the Teton Range. It is especially fun to boat up from the Signal Mountain marina and dock the boat for a spell to have some great food and enjoy the location. The staff are charming and look forward to seeing you! Be sure to come up and chow down before you have to wait all the way until next summer!

View of Mt. Moran from Leek's

Sunset over Leek's Marina

Views of the north end of the Teton Range from Leek's

Pizza Professionals!

The Marinas And Leek's Pizzeria Are Open, And Summer Time Updates

The ice has completely disappeared from Jackson Lake and it is nice to once again see the deep blue against the shining white mountains. The sun is out and the wildlife are roaming around the park.

We have our docks in the water and have opened both Signal Marina and Leek's Marina along with Leek's Pizzeria. So come on up and cruise around the lake, or grab some delicious pizza, or both!

Our Marinas will have a few operational limitations over the first week as we get prepped for the rest of the summer. Signal Marina has canoes, kayaks, and a few run-about boats in the water. (The paddle powered boats will have limited usage areas due to cold water conditions). The rest of the fleet will be available as they come out of storage and are prepped by our marina staff.

Leek's Marina will not have gas, potable water or pump out services available on the docks until tentatively the weekend of June 4th. We are busy upgrading our fuel containment systems on the dock and hope to have work completed by then.

The guest docks at Signal Marina and the wrangle dock at Leek's Marina wil be out of the water until the lake level rises.

Seasonal Buoyers will have access to the wrangle boats to mark their buoys both at Signal Marina and Leek's Marina starting May 29th.

We are looking forward to warmer and warmer weather as the week goes on and a full lake for the length of the summer! See you at the lake!

The marina from the lodge

The dock

The marina staff are ready to help

2011 Opening Dates by Department

Howdy folks, we are one month away from the beginning of another great season! We are all looking forward to the warm weather and summer activities that are just around the corner. As summer approaches we want to keep you in the loop on when each of our departments open. Following are opening dates by department.

Lodging and the Front Desk will open for the season May 6 at Noon

The Convenience Store will be open for the season April 30th at 10:00am

Deadman's Bar will be open for the season May 6th at Noon

The Needles and Timbers Gift Stores will be open for the season May 7th at 8:00am

The Signal Mountain Restaurants will be opening on May 6th for the season. The Trapper Grill opens at 7:00am and the Peaks Dining Room opens at 5:30pm.

The Signal Mountain Marina will be open for the season May 21 at 8:00am

Scenic Float Trips on the Snake River will begin May 14

Guided Fishing Trips on Jackson Lake will begin May 21

Leek's Pizzeria will be open for the season on May 25th at 11:00am

Leek's Marina will be open for the season beginning May 21 at 8:00am

Signal Mountain Campground will be open for the season beginning May 6

Lizard Creek Campground will open for the season beginning June 10

We hope to see you up here enjoying beautiful Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks this summer!

Forever Resorts Welcomes Scenic Snow Safaris

Signal Mountain Lodge would like to extend a warm welcome to Scenic Snow Safaris, the newest addition to Forever Resorts in Jackson Hole. We are pleased to have the Scenic Snow Safaris staff become a part of the Forever Resorts family!

Scenic Snow Safaris has been in operation in the Jackson Hole community for around 20 years as Goosewing Ranch Yellowstone Explorer. Although the name and ownership have changed, the staff remains as the same group of friendly guides with years and years of experience.

This Thursday January 20, 2011 Scenic Snow Safaris will be hosting a celebration of the new ownership and name from 5:00 pm - 7:oo pm including a raffle and giveaway prizes from t-shirts to snowmobile and snowcoach tours! Hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine will also be available. The event will be held at Scenic Snow Safaris which is located in the Mad River Wedge at 1255 South Highway 89, come help us celebrate this exciting change!

See the announcements online at:
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/calendar/event_details.php?event_ID=578
http://www.jacksonholenet.com/events/


Scenic Snow Safaris is in operation from December through March offering guided trips by snowmobile or snowcoach into some of the Greater Yellowstone's most beautiful areas. Snowmobiling into Granite Hot Springs for a mix of winter adventure and relaxation, up the Gros Ventre valley for wildlife viewing, on Togwotee pass for great views and thrilling terrrain, and snowcoach tours into Old Faithful to experience the other worldliness of Yellowstone winter are a few of examples of what Scenic Snow Safaris offers.

An enthusiastic crew of experienced guides and great snow that just keeps coming have ensured Scenic Snow Safaris and Forever Resorts are off to a great start in 2011.

Once again, a big hearty welcome from Signal Mountain Lodge to Scenic Snow Safaris, a new part of the Forever Resorts family!

Another Great Season

Signal Mountain Lodge closed up for the winter on October 18th. To make it official, the mountains and valley got a fresh blanket of snow a few days later. Signal Mountain Lodge is thankful for another wonderful year in Grand Teton National Park. Thanks to all of our staff who decided to spend their spring, summer and fall with us. Thanks to all of our guests who decided to spend their vacations in our cabins, campgrounds, marinas, and restaurants. We look forward to doing it all again next year! We will be opening May 6, 2011.

Spring beginning

Transitioning to Summer

Summer Flowers

Late Summer Thundershower
Fall Skies
Snow falls on Jackson Hole

Softball in GTNP

Signal Mountain Lodge is pleased to once again crown itself Park Champion of this years GTNP softball season. The SML "Whistle Pigs" are tickled to maintain our smack talking priveleges.

The Signal Mountain Lodge "Whistle Pigs" looking good, as always.

Joking aside, we've had an incredibly fun few months of friendly competition with our neighboring concessionaires' and National Park Service's employees. A big thank you to all of the teams who came out and played this season and added yet another item to the long list of reasons why working and living in GTNP is so much fun.

Softball has a long history in Grand Teton National Park. There is strong evidence that it was played as far back as 1983, and no evidence but quite a bit of speculation that it was played during the Hayden expedition and preceeding fur trapping era. Signal Mountain Lodge maintains a portion of a wall in our Employee Dining Room that is dedicated to softball seasons past. Along with photos of our now 4 years running Park Champion team is a framed article from a Jackson Hole News issue dated Wednesday, August 3, 1983. The hysterical article is titled "The hot team in Moran whips some local boys" and is simply about Billy's Angels (the name of the NPS team in 1983) beating up on Bill's Standard/Teton Towing team at what was then called Fromm Memorial Stadium, the ball field in Moran, WY we now creatively refer to as Moran Field. The field is notoriously primitive and the article gives a colorful description that holds true to this day:

"Assuming Mother Nature is a baseball fan, it's safe to say she never would have let this chunk of land come out from under the water if she knew it would become Fromm Memorial Stadium. The infield is loaded with sedimentary rock. Every hop of the ball is a bad hop, even if it happens to go straight. The outfield sinks lower than the infield, and it appeared that balls rolling into left field actually pick up speed. Sagebrush, gopher holes, camouflaged boulders, and whatnot make the outfield an adventuresome place. An outfielder sprinting for a line drive is not risking a sprained ankle. He is risking a broken arm and two crushed ribs."

The historic article displayed in SML's Employee Dining Room.

Although the story behind the title of Fromm Memorial Stadium is not entirely clear a picture in the article shows a sign hanging on the backstop that offers a little insight, it reads: "On the tragic night of Aug 12, 1982 through a hail of screaming baseballs, exploding bats & flying cleats. Pete Fromm almost made it to first base. This is the stuff that heroes are made of."

The field may no longer bear this heroes name but his legacy is carried on a few times a week all summer long on it.

A bench-full of heroes.

Thanks again to all who played!

Free Entry in the Parks Weekend August 14th and 15th

This coming weekend, August 14th and 15th, the National Park Service will be waiving entrance fees into Parks nationwide as part of an iniative to spark interest in folks to take advantage of our nations treasures and to give them an opportunity at a more affordable vacation. In support of this event Signal Mountain Lodge will be giving away reusable grocery bags with a $15 purchase in any of our retail stores. Swing by our Convenience Store for all of your camping and picnic needs, or take a look through our two Gift Shops and they're collections of western art, Native American jewelry, and Grand Teton clothing, to name a few highlights. The weather has been beautiful, warm and sunny with brief afternoon thundershowers that lend interesting light to landscape and refresh the day as they pass. Bring your cameras and hiking boots for the weekend, we hope to see you in Grand Teton National Park!

Thank You to Grand Teton Rescue Teams

On Wednesday July 21st a powerful storm moved through Grand Teton National Park. The storm brought wind, rain, and a lot of lightning. It came early in the day, around 11:30 am, and caught many climbers on the Grand Teton off guard. 17 people were stranded on the Grand Teton for a number of hours while rescue teams worked courageously to help them off the mountain. Among those 17 climbers were two Signal Mountain Lodge employees Steve and Henry, climbing with two of Steve's family members. They were struck by lightning multiple times during the storm and were unable to climb down due to injuries. Fortunately, the very adept and brave rescue teams of rangers, guides, pilots and medics were able to evacuate them from the mountain safely and get them to the proper care, and for that the Signal community owes them an enormous thank you. We are grateful to have Steve and Henry back at Signal with us.

Lizard Creek Campground is Open

Lizard Creek Campground opened on June 11. Lizard Creek Campground is a 60 site campground located at the north end of Jackson Lake making it a perfect launch pad for exploring Grand Teton National Park and/or Yellowstone National Park, the South Entrance to Yellowstone being about 15 minutes away by car. The opportunities for hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, photography, wildlife watching and just straight staring at the mountains are limitless and unbeatable at this end of the lake. Come pitch your tent at Lizard Creek Campground for a spell.

A Lizard Creek Camper paddling his kayak on Jackson lake.

Free Entrance to National Parks June 5 & 6

Start packing your hiking boots, binoculars, sunscreen, etc. to take a trip to the park. This Saturday June 5th and Sunday June 6th the National Parks are waiving entrance fees to encourage folks to spend some time exploring our Nation’s Treasures and give them an opportunity to have a more affordable vacation.

Signal Mountain Lodge will be giving away reusable grocery bags over the weekend with a $15 or more purchase in our retail stores in support of this event. Swing by the SML Gift Shop to pick one up to pack your picnic in.

Signal Mountain Marina and Leek's Marina are Open

Signal Mountain Marina opened on May 26 and has had a fun first week. The docks are in the water, and the boats are ready to go.

It's a great time to rent a boat to explore the lake or do a little fishing. Saturday May 29 was the annual opening day fishing tournament on Jackson Lake which was a big success this year with one person taking in a 30+ pound lake trout. The fish are biting.

Our Leek's Marina and Pizzeria located 11 miles north of SML also opened on the 26th. It's always fun to take a boat up from Signal, wildlife watching around Donoho and Hermitage Points, to Leek's for some delicious pizza and fantastic views.

The Marina Staff are happy to be kicking off another great summer with Signal, and of course to be working on the water. They welcome all to come in and see them and chat about their favorite spots on the lake.

Spring 2010 is here!

We are happy to announce that Signal Mountain Lodge opened on the 7th of May. The Convenience Store, Gift Shops, Trapper Grill, Peaks Restaurant, Deadman's Bar, and Signal Mountain Campground are open along with our beautiful lodging.



We opened with a wonderful Mother's Day weekend with many families spending their special day with us and our views.

It is a neat time of year to be in Grand Teton National Park. The wildlife have been very visible over the last month, making their way in to the park from their winter ranges, or in some cases coming out of their winter slumber. Apart from the moose, elk, and deer we see just about daily, a mother black bear and two new cubs have been spotted several times over the last week in the Signal Mountain area.

The weather is warmer and warmer by the day, reaching in to the 60's this weekend. The last layer of ice on Jackson Lake is rapidly thinning and we expect to have our Signal Mountain Marina open and boats on the water on the 22nd, along with our Leek's Marina and Pizzeria open on the 26th. Lizard Creek Campground, also located on Jackson Lake, will open on June 11th.


We hope to see you in Grand Teton National Park!