Jackson Hole Wyoming Travel Guide: Road Trip Fun, Western Charm & the Jackson Hole Playhouse Experience

Jackson Hole Playhouse, at age 99, is a year younger than the town.  Here, in the rain, it's a nostalgic, pretty sight.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

"The Carpe Diem Kids"

Rolling into Jackson feels like stepping straight into a classic Western postcard, where elk antler arches frame the town square and the rugged beauty of Jackson Hole surrounds you in every direction. It’s the kind of place that begs you to slow down on a road trip and soak it all in—browse local shops, grab a bite, and take in the mountain air before the real fun begins. An evening at the Jackson Hole Playhouse is an absolute must, blending comedy, music, and audience participation into a one-of-a-kind Western dinner theater experience that will have you laughing long after the curtain falls. Equal parts scenic and spirited, Jackson Hole offers that rare combination of natural beauty and lively entertainment that makes it a standout stop on any road trip through the American West.

An energetic cast performs several places in  the vintage theater -- here the lobby. 

THEY MAY call the wind Mariah.

But they call Jackson Hole Playhouse pure, unadulterated, old-fashioned, down-home western style fun.

A lovely meal comes accompanied by spirited pre-show specialty numbers, then diners move from a warm and intimate restaurant area toward a historic theater for a top-notch performance.

Paint Your Wagon" is drawing enthusiastic audiences at Jackson's play house. 

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If you're looking for an original diversion between side trips through beautiful Grand Teton Park, head for Jackson and the Playhouse. It's just a short hop from Teton Village, if that's where you're staying, as we were.

Keller adds his salute to the old West, at a lookout near the town.

ONCE IN the town of Jackson, which turned 100 this year, you're find the theater only a block off main street. Look for the elk antler arches which surround the town square. Happily, for a small-town venue, the acting quality is highly professional.  The ensemble is from throughout the U.S., all with impressive performance records and experience in venues ranging from civic theater to cabaret and even off Broadway.

Singers mingle with theater lovers during the energetic cameos, and requests are even taken! The pre-show meal is delightful. Bring your own wine, though, for a small corkage fee.

Bruce Keller, above, gets a friendly smooch from Christine, one of the dancers, at Jackson Hole Playhouse where she's a star.

Jackson's town square is bordered on all four corners by elk antler arches.

Owner Vicki Garnick has devoted her energy and talent to the endeavor for 30 years.  She wears multiple hats, as owner, proprietor, producer and director.  She's also undertaken a massive renovation and fund drive for the theater's 100th birthday in 2015.  (Tax deductible donations are welcome to PO Box 4772, Jackson, Wyo., 83001).

THE NON-PROFIT entertainment on the boards made for a spirited  outing. Shows continue into autumn with "Phantom of the Playhouse" for Halloween, "Elf" for the holidays and "Weekend Comedy" for Valentine's Day and into March. Call 307 733-6994 or go to www.jhplayhouse.com

Our Jackson Hole Wyoming travel guide notes that the town is celebrating its first 100 years with fanfare -- barbecues, cowboy poetry, dancing and sealing of a time capsule.

In the tiny town of Wilson, near Jackson, you can drive up for a bottle of wine.

AND DON'T overlook Teton Village, with its world famous Grand Teton Music Festival gearing up again for the summer of 2015.  The beautiful park near our base, The Inn at Jackson Hole, is a delightful place to stroll and the inn offers spacious rooms with gorgeous mountain and village views. The Village Cafe's satisfying breakfast is included in your room price. The village is much newer than Jackson, designed for the ski and tourist trades. but the music festival and top-rated skiing have brought international exposure. Do stroll through the lovely park, taking notice of the bear-proof trash cans and the colorful ski stickers on metal dumpsters. The ski tram runs during summer and autumn, too, offering spectacular valley views.

And in nearby towns, you can even find a drive-through wine bar!

An artfully landscaped park in central Teton Village connects hotels and eateries to the ski tram, which runs in summer too!

Wapiti Valley holds many delights and stellar landscape.

COMING SOON: Whoa Nellie, What about a night or two in the Wapiti Valley, near Cody? This beautiful corner of the West is right outside of Cody, Wyo., enroute to Yellowstone Park. You'll see sublime roadside beauty, real cowboys herding cattle to winter pasture and fall foliage to make you weep with joy!

Remember to explore, learn and live and check us out at www.whereiscookie.com