Author: 9Cloud Development

Guests of Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa can get the best of town and country in Wyoming this September with a Fall Arts Day Out package. Guests can catch highlights of the culturally-rich Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival with a trip into nearby downtown Jackson, Wyoming, while enjoying the outdoor activities and connection to nature deep in Shoshone National Forest backcountry with a stay at Brooks Lake Lodge. Just a short drive from Jackson Hole, the nearly 100-year-old historical guest ranch is an exclusive, all-inclusive luxury resort complete with a full-service spa perched on the alpine Brooks Lake alongside the Pinnacle Buttes.

The Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale, the only event of its kind, where more than 130 juried artists, craftsmen and fashion and interior designers showcase and sell handcrafted museum-quality functional creations that capture the spirit of the West. The WDC is a shopper’s delight and gives guests a chance to check out best-of-the-West design while mixing and mingling with talented artists and designers.

After exploring the WDC, guests can enjoy the highly popular fall arts festival event known as “Palates & Palettes,” where over 30 art galleries stay open late to showcase magnificent art with complimentary food and wine as art-lovers stroll Jackson’s wooden sidewalks around scenic town square. Brooks Lake Lodge guests also will have the opportunity to enjoy a meal in Jackson’s thriving restaurant scene before returning to Brooks Lake Lodge for a peaceful night’s rest.

Providing each guest with a transformational experience is the mission of Brooks Lake Lodge – ensuring that guests are getting the most out of the sprawling mountain playground, perfect for activities such as horseback riding, hiking, fishing and canoeing while enjoying a variety of gourmet meals served in the historical dining hall and a unique afternoon fireside tea time. Guests can also enjoy a variety of spa services such as a hot stone massage or fruit active glow facial at the on-site Rocky Mountain Spa.

Newsday recently shared a piece recognizing historical luxury Wyoming guest ranch Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa as one of five family travel destinations in the U.S. to “feed your cabin fever,” and the timing could not be better as families begin to make their holiday plans. The cozy cabin vibe can provide the perfect Christmas and New Year’s destination, with the exclusive, all-inclusive Rocky Mountain resort opening December 23, 2018, for its winter season.

As familytravel.com originally put it, Brooks Lake Lodge “may feel just a little like paradise,” which is just one of the many reasons why this elegantly rustic resort is an ideal winter destination. With its setting in the wilds of Wyoming—tucked away in the Shoshone National Forest but within easy driving distance to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park—Brooks Lake Lodge is perfect for snow enthusiasts looking for the rare combination of nature-rich outdoor amenities and cozy accommodations.

Not surprisingly, the Christmas season brings out Brooks Lake Lodge’s festive best. From the twinkly lighted pines outside to the fully decorated Christmas tree by a crackling fire inside the lodge’s beautiful and aptly named Grand Entrance, to the innovative and creative comfort foods that comprise the Christmas menu created by longtime Chef Whitney Hall—not to mention the pampering-level 2:1 staff-to-guest ratio—this year promises to be the best yet.

Chef Whitney Hall has prepared an excellent Christmas dinner menu featuring Braised Oxtail, served in a port and wild mushroom jus with Yorkshire pudding; Roasted Garlicky Lemon Linguini with cherrystone clams, blue mussels and deep-fried sea scallops and Pumpkin and Asiago Enchiladas with a pepita pesto and a browned butter drizzle. Sides include sautéed spinach with roasted heirloom carrots and herb-whipped sweet potatoes. For dessert guests can enjoy a Molasses Semifreddo in a gingersnap cup. And the chef, whose gourmet offerings have been praised by media including the Los Angeles Times and Food & Beverage magazine, has dreamed up a different but equally tasty special menu for New Year’s Eve dinner.

`The opportunities for appealing snow adventures for the Brooks Lake Lodge winter season, which runs through mid-March, are unparalleled. Most popular: Snowmobiling on the more than 2 million acres of powder-covered backcountry terrain, with panoramic views of the magnificent Pinnacle Buttes, Brooks Mountain and Richard’s Peak (additional fee applies). However, in addition to snowmobiling, the remote and expansive property offers cross-country skiing on groomed trails and in the nearby backcountry, along with snowshoeing, sledding, expert-guided wildlife excursions to see the migratory animals wintering near the lodge, and ice fishing on Brooks Lake.

At the end of a fun-filled (and snow-packed) day, guests can relax in the aforementioned cozy cabins, built in 1922, which are heated and sport wood-burning stoves and inviting sitting and dining areas, some with fireplaces and whirlpool or clawfoot tubs. Meanwhile, the captivating and comfortable lodge rooms have been individually decorated with handcrafted furnishings of lodgepole pine topped with goose-down comforters and including terrycloth spa robes for lounging. For an even more restful stay, the inviting and relaxing full-service spa provides complimentary use of the tranquility room, dry sauna, fitness room, and an 11-by-17-foot hot tub overlooking Brooks Lake and the Pinnacle Buttes. Spa services are available for booking at an additional price.

In addition, all guest meals are included and fit in well with a winter getaway: Chef Whitney creates hearty Western breakfasts each morning, filling lunches at noon, a Governor’s Tea with hors d’oeuvres for an afternoon pick-me-up, and gourmet dinners every night. To keep things lively, the Cowboy Bar within the lodge serves up fun and casual nighttime entertainment, along with an extensive selection of spirits.

The November issue of American Snowmobiler magazine is out, highlighting “3 Dynamo Destinations” for snowmobilers – including a firsthand review of Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa, the exclusive, all-inclusive guest lodge deep in the woods of Wyoming. Told from the perspective of a “Sled Head’s wife,” who developed a surprising love affair with snow during a romantic weekend visit with her husband to the nearly 100-year-old resort, the article by Heidi Thompson is titled “Adventure Travel: Brooks Lake Lodge” and includes photography from their adventure by her husband, American Snowmobiler editor Ryan Thompson.

Heidi admits to initial lack of excitement about the trip – until the couple actually made it to Brooks Lake Lodge. “When Ryan asked if I wanted to accompany him on a destination review I put on a happy face,” she writes, “but secretly hoped he would change his mind and ask his brother or another sledding buddy. Then we arrived and my own love affair with snow commenced.”

Heidi’s American Snowmobiler article details highlights of the experience, calling out the snowy terrain surrounding the lodge as a fabulous playground that is not just for pros. A variety of trails and opportunities are available at Brooks Lake Lodge for all levels of snowmobilers from beginner to advanced. The lodge’s 400-600 inches of snow per year guarantee prime riding conditions, and with 2 million acres of scenic territory to explore, there is no shortage of stunning Wyoming backcountry views.

American Snowmobiler also gave a rave review to the gourmet meals at Brooks Lake Lodge, which are included in an overnight stay and thoughtfully prepared by acclaimed Chef Whitney Hall. “Each course of every meal was a mouthwatering delight,” Heidi writes. “Tender venison, unique salads, and delectable desserts were plated beautifully and served on china and crisp tablecloths. To say they hit this one out of the park is an understatement.”

While options for accommodations include cozy cabins or lodge rooms, the Thompsons stayed in one of the lodge’s two cabin suites, which includes a sitting room with a wood stove and, as Heidi described it, “the most comfortable king size bed I have ever slept on.” Hosting a maximum of 36 guests as a time and with the resort’s typical 2:1 staff to guest ratio, the service at Brooks Lake Lodge is described by American Snowmobiler as “nothing short of five stars.”

While snowmobiling is the most popular sport at the lodge, there are other winter activities to enjoy as well, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing, with all gear available for guests of the lodge. The lodge also has an on-site Rocky Mountain Spa where guests can book deep tissue massages to ease muscles after a day on the snow, or soak in the 11-by-17-foot hot tub overlooking the Pinnacle Buttes.

In a sublime setting nestled deep within the Rocky Mountain wilds of Wyoming, luxury guest ranch Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa, strives for a beguiling balance of present-day pampering and modern amenities paired with the simpler comforts and pleasures of the past.

Nowhere is that intention more apparent than in the unforgettable homemade meals and gourmet snacks created at Brooks Lake Lodge by Executive Chef Whitney Hall and her talented staff. The culinary team, on a daily basis, serves guests at this iconic Old West destination a staggering variety of creative dishes drawing from an abundance of locally and regionally sourced ingredients and Chef Hall’s formal culinary background, accentuated by her Southern-style upbringing.

In fact, popular travel blogger Rick Howard has raved about the meals at Brooks Lake Lodge, telling Chef Hall during an interview for his heavily trafficked blog Travel with Rick, “You cook up some of the best food I’ve ever had anywhere.”

“Our menu focuses on wild game at its core because I like to highlight what’s readily available and true to the area,” says Chef Hall, a Texas native who received her culinary training at the Art Institute of Dallas. “But I also like to incorporate my Southern roots in our offerings, and so you’ll find things on our lunch menu, which is available to the public during winter, like a buffalo-based Sloppy Joe next to croquettes made from cheesy Gruyère grits.”

And, of course, there’s the always popular deep-fried chocolate chip cookie dough for dessert. “I toyed with taking the fried cookie dough off the menu at one point, but I got so much backlash from the regular guests that I had to keep it,” Chef Hall says. “It’s based on the state fair fried foods of my childhood in Texas, and it’s crispy and gooey — the perfect finale to enjoy in our warm, comfy dining room, with the snow swirling around outside.”

Overnight guests can enjoy evening feasts with a focus on local trout, elk and venison, as well as pork and beef from Idaho’s Snake River Farms and seafood overnighted from Hawaii — all of which is enhanced by inventive side dishes, such as a wedge salad dotted with fresh pomegranate seeds and wasabi-spiced mashed potatoes. New dinner entrees this winter include honey-glazed duck breast with a persimmon and date chutney served with roasted Brussels sprouts and parmesan smashed Peruvian potatoes; roasted buffalo prime rib with a Wyoming Whiskey au jus horseradish whip, cream sautéed haricots verts and loaded mashed potatoes; and a peach wood-smoked brisket with braised seasonal greens and duck confit roasted red potatoes.

Chef Hall has been with Brooks Lake Lodge for 11 years, providing a deep understanding of what guests crave from the resort’s kitchen. Hearty Western breakfasts each morning are a must, as well as filling lunches and an afternoon Governor’s Tea with innovative hors d’oeuvres and freshly made crumpets and shortbread cookies — the baked goods created by a pastry chef in-house and offered as a daily pick-me-up next to a crackling fire.

Immersed in pioneer-era ambience and its peaceful surroundings, the remote Brooks Lake Lodge — accessible in winter only by snow coach, snowmobile or cross-country skis — sits hidden away in Shoshone National Forest, but within easy driving distance to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. Nature-rich outdoor activities and sumptuous accommodations combine for an indulgent escape in this easily reachable winter wonderland with an off-the-grid feel.

Winter at Brooks Lake Lodge is indeed particularly inviting, with its endless opportunities for appealing snow adventures from mid-December to mid-March, including snowmobiling on the more than 2 million acres of powder-covered backcountry terrain, with panoramic mountain views. In addition, the secluded and expansive property offers cross-country skiing on groomed trails and in the nearby backcountry, along with snowshoeing, sledding and expert-guided wildlife excursions to see the migratory animals wintering near the lodge, all provided as part of the all-inclusive plan (additional fees apply for snowmobiling).

At the end of a fun-filled, snow-packed day, guests can get right to relaxing. Built in 1922, Brooks Lake Lodge features cozy, quiet, tucked-away cabins sporting wood-burning stoves and inviting sitting and dining areas, some with fireplaces and whirlpool or clawfoot tubs. The captivating rooms have been individually decorated with handcrafted furnishings of lodgepole pine topped with goose-down comforters. To keep things lively, the on-site Cowboy Bar serves up fun and casual nighttime entertainment, along with an extensive selection of spirits, including locally distilled Grand Teton Vodka and Wyoming Whiskey. Meanwhile, for an even more restful stay, the full-service spa features an 11-by-17-foot hot tub overlooking Brooks Lake and the Pinnacle Buttes.

Dubois, Wyoming – The greatest holiday gifts don’t come in a box wrapped in red-and-green paper and tied with a bow. And the greatest holiday memories arise not from something material but by experiencing something meaningful – sharing special moments in special places with loved ones. Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa aims to ensure that every guest that walks into their nearly 100-year-old lodge leaves with those lifelong memories, having created a deeper connection to loved ones and nature, especially during the holidays.

Like stepping into a real-life snow globe, there is no need to dream of a white Christmas at Brooks Lake Lodge; a snow-filled holiday is guaranteed as the lodge sits high in the mountains at 9,200 feet, receiving an average of 500 inches of snow each winter. Indoors, a giant Christmas tree stands tall in the lobby next to the cozy welcome of a gigantic stone fireplace – one of three in the main lodge. Guests sip eggnog by the fire in the onsite Cowboy Bar, while kids play Candyland, shuffle ball or foos ball and snowflakes gently fall outside, blanketing the dramatic surrounding mountainscapes. There are no car horns, no sirens, no ringing phones or blaring TV’s – just the crackling of the fire and the soft sounds of holiday music.

Picture a Christmas day snowmobile ride with an expert guide leading the way through snowy forests and up the mountains to peaks with some of the most spectacular views of untouched Wyoming wilderness. Or maybe a little exercise on snowshoes or cross-country skis exploring the scenic wilderness surrounding the remote mountain lodge that sits 5 miles from the nearest road. Kids can enjoy a day of extreme snow tubing, considered a must by Park City Magazine. After a day in the snow, perhaps a long soak in the 11-by-17-foot hot tub overlooking the Pinnacle Buttes and Brooks Lake is in order – or maybe a hot stone massage before a well-earned Christmas feast.

This year Brooks Lake Lodge’s Executive Chef Whitney Hall is offering an incredible holiday dinner menu for guests on December 25 starting with roasted acorn squash soup with a thyme and rosemary crème fraiche and toasted papitas as an appetizer, followed by an entrée choice of herb encrusted pork roast with a grilled apricot and cranberry chutney, steamed blue mussels with a curried sweet potato sauce or caramelized onion tart with a warm roasted corn relish and with sides including roasted garlic melting potatoes and creamed spinach. And for dessert, Chef Whitney will offer a scrumptious eggnog semifreddo with a gooey house-made shortbread.

Every meal at Brooks Lake Lodge is included for overnight guests and each menu has an incredibly thoughtful and delicious assortment of dishes to choose from. Fuel the day with hearty Western breakfasts, notoriously filling lunches that locals will ride miles in for via snowmobile, skis or fat bike (the only way to reach the lodge and the only meal at the lodge open to the public). Then relax over decadent dinners all served fireside in the large historic dining hall. And with a maximum of 36 guests at a time, there is no waiting, no crowding, every guest is a VIP and the 1:1 staff to guest ratio promises all requests are immediately addressed.

There’s still time to reserve a lodge room or private cabin for the holidays this year, and Brooks Lake Lodge guarantees a memorable experience for guests who will feel right at home while enjoying the benefits of an all-inclusive luxurious, snowy mountain getaway.

Dubois, Wyoming – March 10, 2020 – After 17 years at Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa, General Manager Adam Long is stepping away in March at the end of the 2020 winter season. Long started at the lodge as a front desk agent and hiking guide in 2003 after graduation from Northwood University in Michigan with a hotel, restaurant and resort management degree. Promoted to general manager in 2007, he has enjoyed a remarkable run at the all-inclusive, exclusive guest resort tucked deep in the woods of Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest, creating memorable stays for new and returning guests over the years while managing a staff of over 250 employees.

Long’s deep-rooted personal connection to the lodge began with his first sighting of the nearly century-old building in 2003. “I still remember my first drive up the five-mile road to the lodge and I was so in awe of what I was getting into,” he says. “Then meeting my amazing wife, Julia, at the lodge and getting married on the front lawn will always be an incredible memory. Watching our family begin and grow with the birth of our two beautiful daughters has been the best.” Other special memories for Long include viewing the 2017 total solar eclipse with guests and staff from the lodge’s place on the path of totality, as well as managing the rebuilding of parts of the main lodge’s grand dining hall following a devasting fire last summer from which Long, with his quick thinking and actions, helped save the historic structure.

Looking back over the years, Long recognizes the crucial role of the lodge’s dedicated and hard-working staff, noting that “without them the lodge wouldn’t function. My success is owed to the staff and many others who have trusted me and put forth the effort day in and day out,” he adds. His successor notes that, “Adam has cultivated a crew of wildly devoted and loyal employees and professional colleagues. Which speaks volumes to the effort he has put forth as the leader of this operation.”

Long is an avid hunter, snowmobiler, angler and all-around Western wrangler. He has always been hands-on with the lodge’s many popular activities and enjoys sharing the immersive outdoor lifestyle with guests. His next move will be to manage another ranch closer to town to allow him to spend more time with his growing family, taking with him nearly two decades of special Brooks Lake Lodge experiences and memories.

As Long says goodbye to Brooks Lake Lodge, a new general manager has stepped in. The two have been working together through the winter season to facilitate a smooth transition for both guests and staff. With 17 years in the tourism industry, working in some of the most beautiful places around the globe, new General Manager Matthew Tousignant’s passion is for creating unforgettable experiences in the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes Earth has to offer. Brooks Lake Lodge, known for its stunning Wyoming backcountry lakeside setting among the mountain peaks and Pinnacle Buttes, promises to be a great fit. Coming to the lodge from his most recent position as location manager of Roosevelt Lodge, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone National Park, Tousignant is honored to take the reins at yet another historic lodge.

“My successes have come from two key factors: I have had some of the greatest leaders in my career who have been more than generous with their time and knowledge. Secondly, my strongest asset as a leader is my ability to surround myself with passionate people who take charge, have an earnest desire to grow and want to be the best at what they do,” Tousignant says. “It is truly an honor to take on the role of General Manager of this majestic and stately property nestled among some of the most rugged ridgelines North America has to offer. My aspiration is to bring Brooks Lake Lodge into the next century from a literal point of view while preserving and highlighting the heritage from which it comes.”

The beloved bygone era of the Old West endures at Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa, a 96-year-old exclusive and all-inclusive luxury resort nestled in Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains near Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. The historical guest ranch takes guests back to a simpler time while still providing the modern conveniences of a pampering, present-day getaway.

An endless sea of stars in a night sky undiluted by city lights, and daylight hours spent meandering through meadows and woods on foot and on horseback, eyes peeled for the birds and beasts that call expansive forests home. A quiet, dewy early morning canoe paddle across a cliff-framed lake. Trout plucked from a cool, clear mountain stream, with the day’s catch grilled up moments after being pulled from the water. Freshly baked bread topped with melting squares of butter, served in a dining hall lined with hardwood flooring and filled with log furniture spread with white linens, a river rock fireplace at one end and soft lighting emanating from wagon wheel chandeliers overhead.

“Our aim has always been to provide up-to-date amenities in an atmosphere that stays true to the lodge’s real Western history and provides guests with a truly rare experience only possible in our remote Wyoming setting,” says General Manager Adam Long. “We draw daily on the lodge’s nearly hundred-year history of gracious service, comforts and outdoor activities to give our guests a meaningful blending of old and new.”

By 1922, when Brooks Lake Lodge was built, gas-powered cars had just begun to replace the horse and buggy, which meant that Americans could more quickly and easily explore a country in the throes of fast and meaningful changes. It was the perfect time for a destination ranch to establish itself as a premier getaway for newly minted city folk, and that’s exactly what was happening in this breathtakingly beautiful rural enclave, the ultimate result of a chance encounter just a few decades earlier between Wyoming’s seventh governor and this verdant valley that leads straight into Yellowstone National Park, just 45 miles away.

“Among the fir and pine there glistened a lake… what a sight! Tracks of elk and deer abound,” former Governor Bryant B. Brooks wrote of his first views of the lush area that would eventually house the lodge, which sits by the 260-acre Brooks Lake named for him. “Where I sat on my horse stretched a broad, peaceful valley. I stood closer that day to nature’s heart than ever before.”

The historic guest ranch started as a stopover for travelers headed to Yellowstone, but it soon became a haven for those looking to escape into “nature’s heart,” a setting and mindset that exists to this day in this comfortable and living history lodging – listed on the National Register of Historic Places – tucked away atop the Continental Divide.

Nowadays, travelers make a beeline for the unique type of historical experience that Brooks Lake Lodge provides, a top trend that travel sites such as TripAdvisor say will continue into 2019. In fact, in a recent survey, the travel crowdsourcing site reported that “bookings for ‘historic and heritage experiences’ saw the most growth in 2017.” The same survey also revealed that aquatic activities dominated the top ten fastest-growing travel-related categories for U.S. travelers, including canoeing and fishing.

Both activities are among the many outdoors opportunities offered by Brooks Lake Lodge on picturesque Brooks Lake, with its alpine setting and Pinnacle Buttes backdrop, along with horseback riding or hiking deep into the surrounding Shoshone National Forest backcountry, and the chance to practice or receive instruction on the lost art of archery.

After a day of exploring and relaxing, guests can enjoy an appealing variety of gourmet meals served in the historical dining hall, as well as a relaxing afternoon fireside tea time and cocktails in the Cowboy Bar, a Western-style saloon complete with hewn-log furnishings, period antiques and games like darts, and shuffleboard. A full range of spa services – such as a hot stone massage or fruit active glow facial – are available at the on-site Rocky Mountain Spa, with its tranquility room, two spa service rooms, and an oversized outdoor hot tub overlooking the Pinnacle Buttes.

The handful of spacious yet cozy lodge rooms and private cabins ensures that Brooks Lake Lodge can host only a limited number of guests at any one time. The elegantly rustic lodge rooms are individually decorated with handcrafted lodge pole pine furnishings and goose-down comforters, while private, heated log cabins sport wood-burning stoves and inviting sitting and dining areas. An overnight stay includes lodging, all meals, tea time, outdoor activities, guided or unguided, and access to the on-site Rocky Mountain Spa facilities such as the gym and hot tub. Spa services are billed a la carte.

Why is Wyoming the perfect place to be during the late summer season? Long days, cooler temps, less crowds, starry nights and – in some cases – great local discounts. And Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa is again showing the love to Wyoming residents with their “Locals Love” value pricing deal during their late summer season.

There will be no summer crowds to compete with as Brooks Lake Lodge accommodates a maximum of 36 guests at a time in lodge rooms and private cabins, creating an intimate environment that includes a posh 2:1 staff to guest ratio. As the Travel Channel put it, “You arrive with your partner and suddenly, your life becomes one where everything is taken care of for you.”

With spectacular meals from acclaimed Chef Whitney Hall, guests can enjoy fresh and unique menu items that have been hailed recently by Food & Beverage magazine and the Los Angeles Times. With dinner entrees that include a tenderloin of beef roulade and Cajun diver scallops, and lunches featuring ahi tuna wontons over a nutrient-packed seaweed salad and the always popular elk sloppy Joe, foodies can get their fill of innovative dishes.

The lodge is also offering Wyoming residents the opportunity for deep relaxation with a 60-minute massage at the on-site Rocky Mountain Spa. And the spa’s 11-by-17-foot hot tub is open to guests looking to take a soothing soak while basking in magnificent Pinnacle Mountain views.

Late summer guests can take in the glorious natural surroundings with a variety of outdoor activities available that allows them to choose favorites without paying for unused services. Popular activities available at the lodge and led by experienced guides include a two-hour horseback ride; a two-hour fishing trip; and a morning or afternoon hike. A peaceful canoe paddle and archery practice are also available on site.

Tucked deep in the Shoshone National Forest, guests of Brooks Lake Lodge can relax on a real getaway with a clear connection to nature. As one guest put it after a hike at Brooks Lake Lodge, “Until I was at Brooks Lake Lodge, I never imagined what it would be like to look in every direction and see NO buildings. This is a life-changing experience.”

Popular website MSN Travel recently released its picks of “The best all-inclusive resorts in the United States,” featuring 30 resorts around the country with Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa at the front of the list. As the article states “When does a vacation really feel like a vacation? When all-inclusive rates that wrap in food and fun activities mean you’ll only have to reach for your wallet once during your stay.” Brooks Lake Lodge agrees – and encourages guests to leave their wallets and cell phones behind as they enjoy the breathtaking outdoor scenery from the lodge’s location deep in Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest near Yellowstone National Park during activities and hearty gourmet meals next to a roaring fire.

The MSN Travel piece shared all-inclusive resorts from Vermont to Texas, Alaska to Wyoming, providing a surprisingly strong variety of options for travelers seeking a truly great all-inclusive experience. The article praises “romantic guest ranch” Brooks Lake Lodge as “one of the finest all-inclusive resorts in the U.S.”

The term “all-inclusive” applied to a hotel or resort can raise visions of crowds of people eating from a mediocre menu or buffet. At Brooks Lake Lodge, the maximum occupancy is 36 guests at a time, so there are no masses to compete with, and the 1:1 staff to guest ratio ensures a top-service guest experience. Meanwhile, the cuisine has a stellar reputation of its own.

All meals at Brooks Lake Lodge are included in an overnight stay, with the thoughtful, freshly made, locally sourced dishes created by the resort’s acclaimed Executive Chef Whitney Hall. Hearty Western breakfasts are followed by a lunch menu with such tasty offerings as the Sublette Sandwich, with breaded chicken served on a house-made biscuit with honey sriracha aioli, a Buffalo Basin Sloppy Joe on toasted garlic bread or the Pintail Salad featuring spinach with confit duck, goat cheese, pretzel crostini and house-made balsamic bruschetta. The decadent dinner menu includes Korean-style short ribs with a soy ginger glaze, crispy rice and roasted bok choy or peach wood-smoked brisket with braised seasonal greens and duck fat-roasted red potatoes. In short, guests are never hungry or underwhelmed by the lodge’s culinary scene.

Another scene that doesn’t underwhelm is the breathtaking scenery surrounding Brooks Lake Lodge, the backdrop to the many inclusive activities for guests to enjoy. Winter guests can enjoy snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice fishing or snowmobiling through nearly two million acres of varied terrain (snowmobile rental fees do apply). And in the summer guests can hike the stunning trails, fish in the lakes and rivers surrounding the lodge, canoe, compete at archery or enjoy a scenic horseback ride.

Relaxing and rejuvenating spa treatments are available for guests at the onsite Rocky Mountain Spa, which offers separately priced facials and massages and boasts an included-with-stay sauna, fitness center and enormous 11-by-17-foot hot tub overlooking Brooks Lake and the Pinnacle Buttes.

Immersed in pioneer-era ambience and its peaceful surroundings, the remote Brooks Lake Lodge — accessible in winter only by snow coach, snowmobile or cross-country skis — sits hidden away in Shoshone National Forest, but within easy driving distance to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. Nature-rich outdoor activities and sumptuous accommodations combine for an indulgent escape in this easily reachable winter wonderland with an off-the-grid feel.

The end of summer can be tough to accept, but Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa is making the season’s finish something to celebrate with a new luxury late summer fishing special that’s sure to be a catch. The lodge’s “Reel in Late Summer” package gives fishing experts and beginners alike a unique opportunity to fish the scenic lakes and rivers around the lodge, angling for rainbow, brook and brown trout, Yellowstone cutthroat and more in a three-night package that includes accommodations, all meals, one fishing license per guest, the use of fly and spin rods and an experienced guide.

“Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers,” said Hebert Hoover. And creating an experience that honors history and a simpler way of life is something Brooks Lake Lodge has been doing for almost a century. Built in 1922 as a stopover for travelers headed to Yellowstone National Park and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lodge tempers authentic Old West style with modern luxuries, ensuring an experience that’s both rugged and refined. With activities such as fishing, horseback riding and archery, the lodge unites its guests with nature and the traditions of the American West in a way that’s experiential and fun while providing the amenities and service of a top resort.

The “Reel in Late Summer” special allows guests the chance to explore the picturesque mountain region around the lodge with an experienced guide. Beginners can practice their casting on the convenient pond out front before taking their skills to Brooks Lake or nearby rivers and streams. And experienced anglers can check advice on where to go and leave the guide behind to explore on their own.

All meals are included in every overnight stay, and Executive Chef Whitney Hall’s creations have earned the lodge’s culinary experience titles like “the best meal in the middle of nowhere.” Hearty Western breakfasts are served each morning, and lunch options include Red Rock Nachos with house-made tortilla chips, sautéed red onion, artichoke hearts, asiago cheese sauce and roasted duck; a Sagebrush Salad with pesto noodles, heirloom tomatoes, ricotta cheese, spinach, dehydrated corn and a poached egg; or a Sublette Sandwich on a house-made biscuit with breaded chicken breast, honey sriracha aioli and slaw. And dinners include such gourmet offerings as Roasted Buffalo Prime Rib with a Wyoming Whiskey au jus, horseradish whip cream, sautéed haricots verts and loaded mashed potatoes or Peach Wood-smoked Brisket with braised seasonal greens and duck fat-roasted red potatoes.

Guests can rest assured their needs are met in the service and scenic departments as the lodge was named a “Best All-Inclusive Resort in the Country” by MSNand one of the “World’s Best Lake Resorts” by National Geographic Traveler in the past year. Hosting a maximum of just 36 guests at a time, Brooks Lake Lodge ensures every guest is a VIP.