I spent 3 days in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and saw how the ultra-rich live and vacation

Affluent Americans from Texas to California are buying up property in Jackson Hole, a luxurious Wyoming escape.

Mansions dot mountain ranges and a stroll downtown feels like the Wild West — if you ignore the hoodies, baseball caps, and automobiles.

Jackson Hole real-estate agent Sam Haack told Business Insider that his clients are usually boomers or DINKs (dual-income, no kids).

"The baby boomers have largely gained their wealth through their appreciation of assets over the years like their equity portfolios, other homes, and businesses," he said. "Some of these clients may still work W2 jobs in finance, consulting, or real estate but are usually business owners and entrepreneurs."

Sotheby's Jackson Hole-based real-estate agent Laurie Huff told BI that her clientele is similar.

"Our clients in the past few years have ranged in age from 30 to 60 years and come from high-net-worth backgrounds," she said in a statement. "A finance/business background seems to account for a large percentage."

About 40% of Haack's sales are for full-time residents, and the other 60% are second homes and investment properties.

About half of Huff's clients move in full-time. "Others stay for six-plus months and then spend part of the year in a warmer climate," she said.

Jackson Hole is a 60-mile-long valley in Teton County, Wyoming, that includes the towns of Jackson, Moose, Teton Village, and Wilson.

Kelly is a small, census-designated place in the greater Jackson Hole area that's worth mentioning because it's home to the most expensive house in Wyoming right now, a luxury ranch listed for $65,000,000.

According to Viehman Group's 2024 third-quarter Jackson Hole Real Estate report, the average price of a listing was $6.42 million.

"As a buyer, it is so competitive because of simple supply and demand," Haack told BI. "We have always had much more demand than supply because, well, it's one of the most beautiful places in the US, and the lifestyle is unmatched."

The supply is very limited — only 3% of the county is private land that can be built on. "The rest is public land owned by the federal, state, or local governments," he added.

Since land is so scarce, Haack said buyers "tend to hang onto these properties for the appreciation and tax advantages, leading to even less inventory and supply."

As we put our seats in the upright position to prepare for landing on my flight to Jackson Hole, I looked out the window to see Grand Teton National Park from above.

Mountain ranges went on for miles between valleys and bodies of water. It was one of the most epic views I've seen from a plane.

Located inside Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Airport is one of the smallest and most luxurious airports in the country. It's so tiny that passengers enter and exit the plane from outside.

When I stepped onto the tarmac, I was immediately taken by the freshness of the air. I smelled hints of pine trees as the wind blew through my hair. Before heading into the airport to exit, I spun around for a 360-degree view of the mountains.

Home to the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson is a small town with shops, restaurants, and architecture reminiscent of the American West.

When I visited, the downtown area was full of tourists, but stores seemed to cater to locals, too. There were home furniture and decor shops on every block.

And I think tourists shouldn't miss the celebrity-loved, luxury cowboy hat store, Kemo Sabe. Staff members mold the hats and customize them with bands, features, and branding right in the store.

Haack told BI that families tend to move to East Jackson, which is conveniently located near the town square. According to Sotheby's International Realty, the area has a mix of condos, townhouses, and single-family homes costing as much as $8.7 million.

"You'll find young families that ride their e-bikes to work and to get ice cream in the summer," he said of the area.

The richest residents in Jackson Hole tend to live in the more remote areas around Jackson in the greater Jackson Hole region: Kelly, Moose, Teton Village, and Wilson.

Haack told BI that Teton Village and Wilson typically have the largest and most expensive homes in Jackson Hole.

"These two areas are popular due to their more quiet nature as well as being outside of the now traffic-filled town of Jackson," he added.

During my trip, I saw a mix of luxury cabins and modern mansions in these neighborhoods.

"The two main categories of architecture we see in Jackson Hole are log cabin (old Jackson style) and Mountain Modern (new Jackson style)," Haack told BI. "Log cabins never go out of style but do require a lot more maintenance."

I saw modern homes with mixed materials, sleek exteriors, flat roofs, and patios with water features like fountains and mini waterfalls. I even went inside a mansion and found unique features — from an indoor sauna to a double-sided fireplace.

Due to zoning constrictions, Jackson Hole's mega-mansions can only be up to three stories tall, so many are sprawled out like ranches on vast properties.

After seeing Jackson Hole for myself, I can see why people want to move and vacation there. The ultra-luxury vibe with Western flair seems like an ideal place to escape.

And now that I've seen those mountains, I know I'll be back.