Jackson, Wyoming–The newly-opened 135-room Mountain Modern Motel of Jackson, Wyoming aims to reinvent the typical motel concept with an approach tailored to adventure travelers. Jackson-based Crystal Creek Capital partnered with the Yarrow Group and hired TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design of Burlington, Vermont to reimagine and renew the motor inn with a distinctly contemporary and functional design.
Formerly known as the Painted Buffalo Inn, the Mountain Modern revolutionizes the ubiquitous motel typology and offers an example for motels across the nation. Motels peaked as a building type in the 1950s, when long-distance road trips became popular and travelers sought simple roadside lodging. With the rise of mid-level chain hotels and the construction of the interstate highway system, thousands of these buildings have since fallen out of favor. Mountain Modern has revived the motel concept by focusing on the adventure traveler and highlighting the unique spirit of Jackson Hole.
Lobby and guest room décor merges historic wild west elements with functional design, positing Jackson as the epicenter for adventure sports and wilderness enthusiasts. The guest rooms are inspired by the finely crafted and highly practical tiny-homes movement, with custom-built shelving units for outdoor gear and rugged counter space for cleaning backpacks and coolers. Buffalo-plaid blankets, leather chairs, and natural wood furnishings create a timeless design scheme. Landscape photography and oversize trail maps serve as guestroom wallcoverings, evoking the rich natural features of the Grand Teton backcountry.
The Mountain Modern also provides more shared and communal spaces than a typical motel building. An integrated food & beverage lounge area in the lobby provides opportunity for guests to spend time outside of their rooms. Outdoor fire pits and seating areas offer additional gathering space.
“The Mountain Modern is a comfortable base camp for all your adventures,” said Kim Deetjen of TruexCullins, the lead interior designer on the project. “It fosters a real sense of place and celebrates the natural beauty that Jackson is known for.”
To further expand the modernized base camp concept, every element of décor in the lobby serves a functional purpose. Shelves are populated with outdoor gear available for guests to rent on a daily basis, from backpacks and coolers in the summer to ski poles and snowshoes in the winter. “The lobby is essentially an outdoor gear outfitter for guests,” said Deetjen. “It has everything an outdoors enthusiast might need.”
According to Jamie Yarrow, managing partner of the Yarrow Group, the new motel concept has been extremely popular with guests looking for a unique outdoor experience. “We encourage our guests to take advantage of the vast wilderness of Jackson Hole,” said Yarrow, “The Mountain Modern appeals to all ages, and sets a new standard for motels everywhere.”
