Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ested regions are home to elk, mule deer, red squirrels, black bears, and snowshoe hares.
And finally, in and around the plentiful lakes, rivers, and ponds of Grand Teton National
Park are populations of moose, river otters, beavers, muskrat, coyotes, bison, and mule deer.
Just south of the Yellowstone border, Flagg Ranch was at one time a U.S. Cavalry outpost.
Converted to a guest ranch in 1910, and now known as Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at
Flagg Ranch, it is ideally situated for visitors looking to explore both Yellowstone and
Grand Teton National Parks from one location. In addition to full resort lodging and ser-
vices, Flagg Ranch offers activities and services—a gas station, a grocery store, a deli and
coffee shop—for those just passing through.
One of the busiest spots in the park, with a marina, lodging, a campground, a visitors
center, and a museum on the shores of Jackson Lake, Colter Bay is a practical, if not exactly
quiescent, place to stay, and it is a worthwhile region to explore.
Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum
This unassuming
Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum
(307/739-3594, 8am-7pm daily early
June-Labor Day, 8am-5pm daily Labor Day-early Oct., free) is tacked on to the visitors cen-
ter almost as an afterthought. It was a relatively unknown gem, packed with important Nat-
ive American artifacts that belonged to tribes across the country. The collection, which in-
cludes dolls, shields, pipes, weapons, and photographs, among other objects, was purchased
from collector David T. Vernon and ultimately donated by the Rockefeller family with the
provision that it be displayed permanently in Grand Teton National Park. However, almost
the entire collection was sent to a conservation facility in 2012 and had not been returned to
the park by 2013. It is indeed a remarkable collection that could just as easily be on display
at the Smithsonian were it not for the wishes of an extremely generous family. It will be
worth watching to see where this important collection ends up. Meanwhile, Native Americ-
an artisans practice their crafts in the museum intermittently through the summer, and there
are a number of prominent lecturers and daily educational events scheduled on-site.
