The owners of iconic Wyoming ski hill Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) announced yesterday their intent to sell the property to a group of local investors. The announcement comes after 31 years of ownership by Teton County residents Jay, Connie, and Betty Kemmerer.
When the deal closes near the end of 2023, the resort will pass into the hands of Eric Macy, Mike Corbat, and a group of co-investors. According to a statement released by JHMR, Macy and Corbat are “Teton County residents, close Kemmerer family friends and JHMR board members.” Jay Kemmerer will remain a member of the board.
Representatives for JHMR did not immediately respond when contacted about the reasons for the sale. Additionally, JHMR spokespeople would not disclose the financial details of the deal.
“The time has come to transition ownership of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. We take great pride in what JHMR has become and what it represents to the Jackson Hole community and the state of Wyoming,” Jay Kemmerer said in the release.
“It is of utmost importance to me that the next ownership maintains the integrity and character of the mountain that we have worked so hard to build over the past three decades,” Kemmerer said.
Jackson Hole Resort: New Ownership
“There is no better fit for this ownership transition than Eric and Mike and their families, who share the same vision for the future of JHMR and its importance to our great community. I’m excited and proud to pass along this iconic, family-run ski resort to these two strong Jackson Hole families,” he continued.
In a moment where a few large corporations own more and more ski resorts across the country, JHMR has remained perhaps one of the most high-profile independently owned operations. Maintaining that independence was important for the Kemmerer family and provided the motivation to seek a sale to local families.
“Mike and I are honored to have the opportunity to carry on the legacy of this world-class ski resort,” JHMR board member and new owner Eric Macy noted in the press release. “We want to thank everyone at JHMR in advance for their support as we begin this next stage. It is our privilege to continue cultivating an authentic resort experience that is treasured by locals and visitors alike. We look forward to many amazing winter and summer seasons to come.”
The release also states that the new owners have no plans to change current business practices, and said they were committed to the ownership “for decades.”
Improvements, and Strife Under the Kemmerers
The Kemmerer family invested $300,000 into capital improvements at JHMR over the last 3 decades, including improvements to all the lifts, trams, and gondolas. The Kemmerer tenure also included implementing the Teton Village master plan and a 2019 switch to 100% green energy.
Jay Kemmerer made news in 2021 after hosting a fundraiser for the House Freedom Caucus, prompting Patagonia to remove all its gear and holdings from the resort. Attendees at the fundraiser included Marjorie Taylor Green, a representative from Georgia who famously claimed that “space lasers” may have caused a 2018 wildfire, and Mark Meadows, the White House Chief of Staff during the January 6th insurrection.
[Patagonia has a] really strong commitment to using both our business and our brand to advocate for our strong priorities,” Corley Kenna, head of communications and policy at Patagonia said at the time. “[W]hen there’s a misalignment on that, then we take action.”
