Upon first seeing the Tetons Teddy Roosevelt remarked, ''These are the first mountains I've seen that look like mountains should.'' Nestled between Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest, Lost Creek Ranch is part of Lower 48's greatest expanse of wilderness - a wonderland home to wild animals and endless opportunities for recreation. The 50-acre private property, which has welcomed guests for almost a century, is on the market for the first time in more than 54 years. New owners can continue to operate Lost Creek as a guest ranch or evolve it into a family retreat while enjoying the privilege of stewarding one of the West's most notable ranches into the future. Jackson Hole's Most Scenic Views
Lost Creek's location at the foot of the Gros Ventre Mountains, the eastern side of Jackson Hole, gives it uninterrupted views of the expanse of the Teton Range to the west. From the deck of the main lodge, the Tetons span the horizon. Their serrated, snow-capped summits soar more than a vertical mile from the sagebrush flats of the valley floor.

Wilderness Wonderland in Perpetuity
Nestled between Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Lost Creek Ranch is an island surrounded by protected wilderness. The Halpin family contributed 50 of the Ranch's original 120 acres to the Park and put another 20 acres under a scenic conservation covenant. The remaining acreage is comprised of the guest ranch and a small residential community. The surrounding Park and National Forest land is protected from development, and the Ranch owners and guests have access to all of the recreational and wildlife watching opportunities of both.

A Beacon of Beauty, Grace, and Charm
Lost Creek Ranch was homesteaded in 1922. Its history as a guest ranch started in 1927, when San Francisco financier Albert Schwabacher purchased the property and began building guest cabins and a lodge. For the next two decades, Schwabacher summered at the ranch and hosted his friends from around the world, many of whom had never before seen the Tetons. Lost Creek is now coming up on its 100th anniversary as a guest ranch. Lost Creek isn't merely something you own, but a place that weaves its way into the fabric of your being. The Ranch and its access to the Tetons had such a hold on Jerry and Helen Halpin, owners since 1969, that Jerry was inspired to found the nonprofit Grand Teton National Park Foundation to support the neighboring national park he loved so much.

Weave Yourself into the Legacy of the West
Lost Creek Ranch isn't a place you merely own. You are its stewardcaring for the land, the Ranch's legacy, and even the lives of guests. "The past, present, and future owners of Lost Creek make a difference in the world by changing people's lives; there are not many opportunities to do that in such a profound, authentic way," says Gene Kilgore, a leading authority on guest ranches. "While Lost Creek is under your care, you have the opportunity to create treasured, lasting memories for guests from around the world, and to reconnect them with the natural rhythm of the Earth, and to do the same for your family and friends."

Western Heritage
If its new owners decide to keep Lost Creek open as a guest ranch, there is an opportunity to operate it year-round. While only a handful of the buildings are currently winterized, its Conditional Use Permit allows it to serve guests year-round. The Ranch also has additional entitlementsthe main lodge can be expanded, and new guest cabins, and owner's and manager's houses can be built. Each of the .81 acre lots in the Lost Creek Community can have a home, guest home, and garage.

An Outdoor Playground
Lost Creek Ranch is turn-key. Everything needed to continue operating it as Jackson Hole's premiere guest ranch is included in the sale. The permits the Ranch currently holds to take guests on floating, fishing, and horseback riding experiences in Grand Teton National Park and to have day and overnight horseback riding trips, cookouts, and campouts on the Bridger-Teton National Forest can be available to a successful applicant. These permits to operate in the Park and the National Forest are invaluable to the experience offered by the Ranch.