Happy Earth Day 2013

Happy Earth Day!

I thought we would take some time today to talk about some of the cool environmental programs we have in our restaurants. We are a Green Restaurant Association 3-Star Rated restaurant group, and we do lots of great things to minimize our environmental impacts. Here are a few highlights!

We buy Local
Signal Mountain Lodge is committed to purchasing from local and regional sources whenever possible. Here is a quick snapshot of some of our local items. We get all our burgers in the restaurants from HD Dunn & Son Beef in nearby Tetonia, Idaho. We purchase whole cows, three farm shares of veggies and the occasional pig from Robinson Family Farm and Ranch in Bedford, Wyoming. We purchase locals beers from Snake River Brewing and other great local breweries. When we can't get something from the immediate area, we get it from the surrounding region- such as Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Montana.

We are Committed to Sustainable Seafood
Our oceans are one of our planet's most important resources, and as a restaurant group, we can help preserve our oceans for the future by purchasing from sustainable sources. Signal Mountain Lodge is a proud partner with Seafood Watch, and is committed to only serving food off the 'Green List' in all of our establishments. We also pass out Seafood Watch Cards for guests to keep so that they can easily make responsible seafood choices after they leave Signal.

We Buy Organic and Natural Products
Many of the products we purchase are USDA certified organic, have no added hormones, are naturally fed a vegetarian/grass-fed diet and/or are otherwise grown & raised in a sustainable manner. Both the local beef companies we work with raise grass-fed cows free of antibiotics or hormones. Many vegetables we purchase are USDA Organic. All the milk we serve is free of rBGH. Our coffee is quite the mouthful- it is Organic, Bird Friendly, Shade Grown, Fair Trade certified and locally roasted by Great Northern Coffee Company in Jackson, WY!

Fun Fact: The homemade pizza dough at Leek's Pizzeria is made from Organic Flours and Cage Free Eggs! (And it's the best darn pizza in Jackson Hole)

We Recycle, UpCycle and Reduce Packaging Whenever Possible
Here at Signal we are always trying to cut out our waste. We recycle everything possible through Teton County Reycling and are a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Business Leader in Teton County. Here is an example of how we eliminate waste before it even exists- we do not serve bottled beer, saving thousands of bottles every summer!

Thanks for reading about some of our programs. To learn more, check out our menus online at  www.signalmtnlodge.com, or go to our Environmental Commitment page. Best yet, stop by the main restaurant building and check out our Wall of Sustainability! While you are there enjoy some delicious, sustainable fare.

Nacho Night!!!!

True fans know, SML's annual Nacho Night is one of the highlights of the Winter season for JH locals, especially Park dwellers. It's a great time for this small and close-knit community to get together, eat regrettable portions of cheesy chips, and support a great cause.The 2013 event was no exception. An army of volunteers from Signal Mountain Lodge and the Moose Corner Daycare were busy as beavers, stacking chips, topping chips, busing tables, selling raffle tickets, and slinging margaritas. All in all, we managed to raise over $2,800.00 for Moose Corner Daycare, which provides affordable childcare services to Park parents.

Doc keeps the dishes moving and turns over those tables!

This is where the melting happens.

Now, now, Ladies--Those toppings are for the nachos!

Bartender Lisa keeps everyone smiling while Food and Beverage Manager Erik oversees the whole operation.

Did you win anything in the raffle???

Danny knows it's all about nacho cohesion... or should we say co-cheese-sion..?

So much guac.

C-Store Solidarity

The Signal Mountain Lodge Blog is back!

It's been a great winter here at SML, but reports have surfaced of 2013's first GTNP bear sightings, and we all know what that means-- It's time for the blog to come out of hibernation!
Arguably the biggest news of the winter actually happened way back in November. There was a fire in our beloved Signal Mountain Convenience Store. The structure remained sound, but let's just say the remodel we were planning as part of our new NPS contract got pushed ahead significantly. Contractors have been hard at work trying to get the New and Improved C-Store ready by opening day. To show his support, our Director of Resort Operations has made an unusual commitment. Here is his story:

I , Kieran Gallagher, Director of Resort Operations, submit to you that I have cultivated and will not shave off my beard until the reconstruction of the Signal Mountain Convenience Store is complete and we ring up our first customer of 2013.


I have not shaven face to prove my dedication to you all. After the devastating fire in the convenience store this fall and the subsequent total reconstruction of the interior we all here at Signal Mountain Lodge have been working diligently towards this goal. I am committed to keeping my beard impeccably groomed during this time period so as not to disgrace Signal Mountain Lodge and all the staff and vendors associated with us. It is my hope to be able to shave before our opening day or shortly thereafter. However there are certain people that are trying to convince me to keep the beard anyway because they believe it “looks good on me”. I am no slave to fashion and appearance for this act is done only to prove my desire to provide the best possible services to our staff and guests of Signal Mountain Lodge.

Viva la Convenience Store!