Brooks Lake Lodge and Spa (located in Dubois, Wyoming, near Jackson Hole and just east of the Continental Divide) is roughly seventy-five miles from Grand Teton National Park and one hundred fifty miles south of Yellowstone.
This all-inclusive family resort is nestled between two mountains, overlooking a lake. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it spans twenty-five acres adjoining the Shoshone National Forest. The lodge offers seven guest rooms and eight cabins, each with its own wood stove. In the grand hall, a massive stone fireplace commands the space. Western art adorns the walls, and visitors often remark on the craftsmanship of the impressive log structures.
In 2018, National Geographic Traveler named Brooks Lake Lodge the Best Lake Resort. In 2020, Travel + Leisure dubbed it the Best Place to Lean into Winter. These are just two of the many accolades the lodge has earned over the years.
The destination blends Old West charm, like horseback rides, with modern comforts, including gourmet, chef-prepared meals crafted from locally sourced ingredients and specialty items not native to the area, like sea bass.
How It Started
In 1922, fifty years after Congress passed legislation creating Yellowstone National Park, Eugene Amoretti, of the Amoretti Hotel and Camp Company oversaw the completion of the Two-Gwo-Tee Inn. He persuaded an up-and-running bus line to stop overnight at the inn, continue to Jackson Hole, and end at the Lake Hotel in Yellowstone.
Nearly one hundred men worked three months building the original lodge. Massive logs held the structure together, and outside deer, elk, and grizzly roamed.
For two years, Amoretti prospered. An overnight stay at the inn cost six dollars and a week ran thirty-five. But in its third year, the bus line dropped Two-Gwo-Tee Inn from its itinerary, claiming the overnight stop caused too much of a delay.
In the years that followed, the inn was converted into a dude ranch, which worked for a while, but eventually the resort fell into disrepair. In the 1980s a restoration effort began, and by the late 1980s, as many as thirty local craftspeople could be found working onsite daily. A new east wing added a kitchen, restaurant, lounge, and bar, while renovations on the west wing included six guest rooms and a suite.
Today, the vision that began with log walls and a dream has been fully realized, and then some. With every modern comfort thoughtfully woven into its historic setting, Brooks Lake Lodge invites guests to disconnect from the everyday and reconnect with what matters most. And while winter brings its own kind of magic, summer here feels like a deep, healing breath of mountain air.
Summer Fun (June to September)
Stop for a moment and tune into all the background noise you usually ignore, like the screech of worn brakes at a nearby traffic light, the whirr of the office copier, the roar of a semi on your daily commute. And who knows what your kids are listening to through those ever-present headphones. Now imagine the sounds at Brooks Lake Lodge: birdsong, the nicker of contented horses, trout splashing in cold, clear water, the rustle of wind through the trees, and the sound of your family laughing together.
At night, nothing dulls the inky sky. With no city lights, the stars glitter and the moon gleams. By day, alpine meadows burst with so many wildflowers it feels like paradise.
Try your hand at archery, canoe across the three hundred-acre Brooks Lake, saddle up for a guided trail ride, or hike some of the most beautiful land in America. Catch a trout and let the chef prepare it for dinner or skip the catch and soak in the hot tub, enjoy the sauna, or indulge in a spa treatment. After all, it’s your vacation.
Tired of the daily “What’s for dinner?” You won’t hear it here. The lodge’s chef and staff prepare global cuisine with a focus on local ingredients. A junior menu features kid-friendly fare like Grilled Chicken Skewers with Homemade Mac and Cheese, while the adult menu includes dishes such as Roasted Bison Tenderloin with Black Pepper Béarnaise. And yes, there’s always dessert.
After dinner, relax by the fireplace or retreat to your room or cabin, where a plush bed and down comforter await.
Summer all-inclusive rates start at $685 per person, per night. This includes activities, chef-prepared meals, lodging and use of the spa (fifteen-person hot tub and dry sauna). Additional charges may include drinks at the bar, massage treatments, or transportation.
Winter Fun (December to March)
Brooks Lake Lodge is truly off the beaten path, and once the snow starts, it takes a bit of ingenuity to get guests onto the property. The road to the highway turns into a snowmobile trail in winter, and staff use a Ford 4×4 van on tracks to bring in everything from guests to supplies.
Winter at the lodge is postcard perfect. Blanketed in snow, hushed and serene. Guests cozy up by the fire with cocoa and a good book or head outside to explore.
For the adventurous, winter activities abound. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, downhill tubing, even building snowmen are all waiting for you to enjoy. On certain nights, the Northern Lights make an appearance, painting the sky in surreal shades of green, red, and blue.
One winter guest recalled soaking in the outdoor spa as snowflakes drifted down, and then retreating to the adjacent heated building for the dry sauna. Later, wrapped in a fluffy robe with a cup of hot tea, she relaxed in one of the plush chairs. Even the robes and spa shoes were thoughtfully provided.
Winter meals are hearty and satisfying, designed to keep you warm in the Wyoming chill. Staff occasionally harvest from the land, and the chef keeps things inventive with delicacies like Bone-In Cervena Rack with Scallops over Rustic Yam Mash.
Winter all-inclusive rates start at $510 per person, per night. This includes activities, chef-prepared meals, lodging and use of the spa (fifteen-person hot tub and dry sauna). Additional charges may include drinks at the bar, massage treatments, or transportation.
Still wondering?
In July, daytime highs average eighty-one degrees, with nighttime lows around forty. With a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio and a nightly maximum of just thirty-six guests, personalized service is guaranteed. Whether you’re longing for the untamed west, seeking solitude, rekindling connection as a couple, deepening friendships, or creating lasting family memories, Brooks Lake Lodge delivers.
For details, visit brookslake.com.
