Wort Hotel

The Wort Hotel is a historic luxury hotel in downtown Jackson, Wyoming. Opened in 1941 by brothers John and Jess Wort, it was the first luxury hotel in Jackson and helped embody the community's transition from a ranching and outfitting economy toward tourism. The building remains associated with the Wort family's long involvement in Jackson Hole hospitality, transportation, outdoor recreation, and concession operations. The hotel occupies land assembled by the Wort family in the early twentieth century. Charles J. Wort, the brothers' father, arrived in Jackson Hole in 1893 and later became a homesteader, outfitter, rancher, and local entrepreneur. Beginning in 1915, the family acquired property in central Jackson with the long-term objective of developing a hotel. Before that plan was realized, Charles operated a livery stable and corral on the site, as well as a garage elsewhere in town. The family also briefly operated the Jackson Hotel and later ran tourism concessions in and around what became Grand Teton National Park. From 1932 to 1940, the Worts operated the Wort Lodge and Camp on Jackson Lake, the property now associated with Signal Mountain Lodge. The sale of that operation provided capital for construction of the downtown hotel. John and Jess Wort commissioned Lorenzo "Ren" Grimmett, a self-taught architect from Idaho Falls, Idaho, to design the building. Completed shortly before the United States entered World War II, the two-story structure used a Tudor-influenced design with brick facing, half-timbering, stucco, and prominent street-facing gables. It was conceived as an upscale lodging establishment at a time when Jackson was becoming an important gateway for visitors to the surrounding national parks and mountain landscapes. The Wort developed a reputation for accommodating travelers, visitors, and servicemen on leave during the wartime period. Its social history also includes gambling, which was officially prohibited but tolerated locally for a period. Gambling activity moved into the basement Teton Room, known locally as the Snake Pit, before ending in the mid-1950s amid a state-level campaign against gambling led by Wyoming Governor Milward Simpson. One of the hotel's most recognizable features, the Silver Dollar Bar, was added in 1950. Its bar surface incorporates 2,032 uncirculated silver dollars, creating a distinctive piece of local hospitality and Western-themed design. The bar became a central social venue and remains the property's best-known signature offering. A major fire in 1980 severely damaged the hotel and destroyed much of the second floor. The property reopened in 1981 after reconstruction, with changes resulting from the restoration. In 1984, ownership passed out of the Wort family, ending the family's direct ownership after more than four decades. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 and joined Historic Hotels of America in 2002, recognizing its architectural, cultural, and hospitality significance. Today, the Wort Hotel operates as an independent historic hotel rather than as a publicly listed chain. Its identity is based on heritage accommodation, downtown access, Western architectural character, dining, live entertainment, and the Silver Dollar Bar. The hotel serves visitors to Jackson Hole and the nearby Grand Teton and Yellowstone regions, while also functioning as a local landmark and gathering place. Its historical importance is tied not only to the building itself but also to the Wort family's role in developing tourism infrastructure in northwestern Wyoming.

The Wort Hotel grew out of a multigenerational family enterprise in Jackson Hole. Charles J. Wort arrived in the region in 1893 and eventually established himself as a homesteader, outfitter, rancher, and business operator. After marrying Luella Perkins in 1899, he returned to Wyoming and worked with his sons John and Jess in outfitting and related activities. The family began assembling land in central Jackson in 1915 with the intention of eventually building a hotel. The hotel site first supported the Wort Livery Stable and Corral, which Charles operated from 1915 until 1932. The family also operated the Wort Garage and briefly ran the Jackson Hotel in 1917. Their business interests expanded into tourism concessions. During the 1920s, the Worts held an early concession at Jenny Lake in what is now Grand Teton National Park, where they operated boating services. In the 1930s, they ran a hunting concession in the Gros Ventre Mountains. In 1932, the family purchased the Ole Warner Camp on Jackson Lake and renamed it the Wort Lodge and Camp. They operated the property until 1940, when it was sold and became associated with Signal Mountain Lodge. The proceeds helped finance the downtown hotel that John and Jess had planned. Charles Wort died in 1933 and did not see the hotel completed. Lorenzo "Ren" Grimmett of Idaho Falls, Idaho, designed the Wort Hotel. Grimmett was a self-taught architect whose design combined brickwork with Tudor-like half-timbering, stucco, and multiple gables. The two-story building opened in 1941 and was regarded as Jackson's first luxury hotel. Its completion came immediately before the United States entered World War II, but the hotel attracted guests and servicemen on furlough despite wartime restrictions. The property's social history included gambling during a period when the practice was illegal but locally tolerated. Activity eventually moved into the basement Teton Room, known as the Snake Pit. Gambling ended in the mid-1950s after Wyoming Governor Milward Simpson pursued a campaign against it. In 1950, the Silver Dollar Bar was installed. Its surface contains 2,032 uncirculated silver dollars, making it one of the hotel's most distinctive physical features and an enduring symbol of its Western-themed identity. A major fire in 1980 badly damaged the property, including most of the second floor. Reconstruction enabled the hotel to reopen in 1981, although the restored building incorporated some changes. The hotel was sold out of the Wort family in 1984. It later received formal heritage recognition through listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 and admission to Historic Hotels of America in 2002. The Wort Hotel remains an operating independent hotel and an important historic and tourism landmark in Jackson.

• 2002

  Historic Hotels of America induction

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The Wort Hotel joined Historic Hotels of America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's historic lodging program.

• 1999

  National Register of Historic Places listing

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1984

  Ownership exits the Wort family

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel was sold outside the founding family.

• 1981

  Hotel reopens after restoration

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The property resumed operations after rebuilding and renovation following the fire.

• 1980

  Fire severely damages the hotel

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  A major fire destroyed much of the second floor and required extensive reconstruction.

• 1950

  Silver Dollar Bar is installed

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel added its signature bar, incorporating 2,032 uncirculated silver dollars into the bar surface.

• 1950

  Gambling era ends during the mid-century period

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  Gambling activity associated with the hotel's basement Teton Room eventually ceased in the mid-1950s during a state campaign against gambling.

• 1941

  Wort Hotel opens

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  John and Jess Wort opened the first luxury hotel in Jackson, Wyoming.

• 1940

  Sale of Wort Lodge and Camp finances hotel construction

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The sale of the family's Jackson Lake operation provided funding for construction of the downtown Wort Hotel.

• 1932

  Wort family begins operating Jackson Lake lodge property

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The family acquired the Ole Warner Camp on Jackson Lake and operated it as the Wort Lodge and Camp until its sale in 1940.

• 1915

  Wort family assembles the future hotel site

  [1]Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The Wort family began acquiring property in central Jackson with the eventual objective of developing a hotel.

Independent historic luxury hotel with a strong Western identity and heritage-led destination positioning.

• Hotel accommodation · 1941

  Guest rooms and suites

  The hotel's core offering is historic lodging in downtown Jackson. Accommodation is presented as an upscale, heritage-oriented alternative to standardized chain lodging, combining access to Jackson Hole with the building's Tudor-influenced architecture, Western atmosphere, and long local history.

• Bar and dining · 1950

  Silver Dollar Bar

  Added in 1950, the Silver Dollar Bar is the hotel's signature hospitality venue. Its bar surface contains 2,032 uncirculated silver dollars, an unusual design feature that connects the property to Western-themed local identity and makes the venue a defining part of the Wort experience.

• Food, beverage, and events

  Hotel dining and entertainment

  Beyond accommodation, the Wort operates as a dining and social venue for hotel guests and the Jackson community. Its hospitality offer includes food and beverage service and entertainment associated with the Silver Dollar Bar and the hotel's historic destination positioning.

• 1984

  Sale outside the Wort familyM&A

  Background

  The hotel had remained under direct Wort family ownership since its opening.

  Action taken

  Ownership of the property was transferred outside the Wort family.

  Aftermath

  The transaction ended the founding family's direct ownership while the hotel continued as an independent historic property.

  Source

• 1981

  Reopening after fire damageOther

  Background

  A major 1980 fire severely damaged the hotel and destroyed much of the second floor.

  Action taken

  The property was reconstructed and reopened with some changes to the building.

  Aftermath

  The hotel continued operating while retaining its historic identity after a significant interruption.

  Source

• 1950

  Addition of the Silver Dollar BarProduct launch

  Background

  The hotel sought to reinforce its distinctive Western character and provide a prominent social and beverage venue.

  Action taken

  The Silver Dollar Bar was added with 2,032 uncirculated silver dollars embedded in its surface.

  Aftermath

  The bar became the property's signature feature and remains central to its identity.

  Source

• 1941

  Launch of Jackson's first luxury hotelStrategy

  Background

  The Wort family had expanded from ranching, outfitting, livery operations, and national-park concessions into tourism. The sale of its Jackson Lake lodge operation supplied capital for a higher-end hotel in downtown Jackson.

  Action taken

  John and Jess Wort commissioned Lorenzo Grimmett to design and opened the Wort Hotel as a luxury lodging property.

  Aftermath

  The hotel became a prominent Jackson landmark and helped represent the community's shift toward a tourism-based economy.

  Source

1. 1Wort Hotelen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Wort Hotel websiteworthotel.com