Perched on the edge of East Gros Ventre Butte in Jackson Hole, a high mountain valley in northwest Wyoming, and nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, the Amangani resort overlooks rolling meadows and grazing land surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges. Directly across the valley from Amangani, is Teton Pass, which divides the Snake River Range from the snow-capped Tetons. The Teton Range, dominated by the 13,770-foot Grand Teton, is the youngest formation in the soaring Rocky Mountains. The charming cowboy town of Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park are all an easy, picturesque drive away from the resort.

As you are welcomed into Amangani’s grand entrance, twenty steps sweep dramatically down to the Lounge, which features a soaring redwood ceiling, a two-story window wall, two wood-burning fireplaces, and the most breathtaking views of the majestic mountains.

The incomparable service at the Amangani may be the only rival to the views from the Great Room. This magic mountain team of managers, butlers, concierges, sommeliers, fire starters, soothing spa attendants, woodsmen, and guides work seamlessly together to ensure that each guest feels they are a guest at their home.

Amangani’s elegant suites are an expression of the surrounding countryside that inspired them: woven cowhide chairs, faux wolf throws, a warm fireplace with adjacent daybed for lounging, decks overlooking the mountain valley, with clean and simple lines.

Neat Notes: Living area walls are decorated with back-lit cedar planks. [Psst! A great design tip to be replicated in a Hamptons home].  From little gifts left by your bedside at night, to fresh peaches tucked in your picnic basket, to a fireside movie night date they set up for my husband and I in the screening room [including hot fudge sundaes!], the attention you receive at the Amangani will make you never want to leave.

Chic Western design elements are embedded in the decor of the Amangani, including: giant columns of Oklahoma sandstone, towering ceilings and walls crafted in Pacific redwood, chairs of rattan and woven cowhide, and faux fur throws neatly strewn in cozy nooks by the many crackling fires that burn throughout the resort.

The Grill restaurant at the Amangani is a 65-seat dining room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a warm vibe, welcoming service, and artisanal menu.  Take in the commissioned artwork around the room, while you feast on local, sustainable ranch meats, fresh fish and seasonal farm to table produce. Heading off for a day of hiking? Chef will prepare a picnic lunch for you that could lure a grizzly out of the Yellowstone forest!

Here’s the scoop on our favorite dishes: for breakfast~ the Huevos Rancheros, for lunch~ the best Cobb Salad ever & a Kobe Beef Burger, and our dinner winner was the Elk rib eye served with wilted spinach and maple cheddar Yukon potatoes. Room for dessert? Hands down, the Huckleberry Cheesecake served in a Panko crisp, with a sea salt tuille on top, and blue curacao sauce is a slice of heaven.

Need to burn those calories? Escape to the Amangani Spa and Fitness Center, which features two exercise studios, four treatment rooms and giant separate steam rooms for men and women. If you aren’t hiking the nearby mountain trails, hit the Wellness Studio for a little Body Shaping, FitBall training, yoga, and personal training. The Fitness Center is equipped with two ellipticals, one recumbent bike and two treadmills [one of which was occupied by Ashley Olsen while I was there].  It’s actually fun to exercise with valley views of the Snake River Range, and an occasional moose strolling by your vista.

The Spa’s treatment menu includes a range of massages, facials and healing therapies. In the wet room, mud, salt and seaweed body treatments are available. We indulged in deep tissue massages that soothed sore hiking muscles. Spa Manager, Joanne, doubles as a den mother delivering calming words of wisdom, healing tricks for managing the high altitude, and mixing magical oils to be used for a massage tailored to your every mood….we love her!

In the evenings, head into nearby downtown Jackson for some fun with the friendly locals. On most nights, the legendary Cowboy Bar, is packed with rowdy cowboys & ranchers in requisite Wranglers and hats, this scene is the real deal. After a couple of Dark & Stormy’s, get ready to two step, because cowboys love to ask visiting city girls to dance.

The bucolic town of Jackson is fun to walk around and explore. Each block offers galleries, amazing restaurants like the Snake River Grill, bakeries, shops to buy boots, hats, furs, and antler archways that frame the town square [below].

Sunsets from the balcony of our suite appeared each night like freshly painted canvases, with a golden yellow yolk tucking behind the Tetons as a silver moon silver hung on the clouds. Keep quiet and you can hear the call of the bull elk, which is heard throughout the region during the September-October mating season.

The Best Thing To Do at the Amangani?  Soak in a moonlit bubbling jacuzzi under the stars in the crisp mountain air after dancing all night at the Cowboy Bar…..Check!

See you next season Amangani!! For more information please go to: Amangani Resort:

Address: 1535 North East Butte Road, Jackson, Wyoming 83001, USA

tel (1) 307 734 7333
US toll free (1) 877 734 7333
email amangani@amanresorts.com

*All photos by Kelli Delaney [excluding lounge and night pool shot courtesy of Aman resorts]