An Alabama couple bought 21 acres in Jackson Hole in the 1990s; decades later, their family retreat is asking $40 million | World News
An Alabama couple who bought a 21-acre property in Jackson Hole in the 1990s has spent decades turning it into a family retreat with a Western-style lodge, guest cottage and creek and riverfront grounds. Investor Jon Rotenstreich and his wife, Susan, initially lived in the two-bedroom guest cottage while renovating and expanding the main house to about 5,900 square feet. The compound also includes a 1,730-square-foot barn, an art studio, a teepee and a section of the Snake River. Now, after years of summers, holidays and family visits, the Rotenstreichs are listing the property for $40 million.
How did the Rotenstreichs expand their Jackson Hole retreat
After purchasing the property, the Rotenstreichs initially lived in the two-bedroom guest cottage while renovating the main house. According to The Wall Street Journal, they expanded the main house to about 5,900 square feet. Details were added throughout the home, including a main staircase with a handrail made by a woodworker who measured Susan’s hand to customise the size of the grip.The property also includes a garage with an art studio, where Susan, a former jewellery designer trained as an energy healer, liked to paint. A 1,730-square-foot barn contains a workshop, while a teepee is also located on the grounds. The couple’s grandchildren have slept in the teepee, and the family has used the area for campfires, songs and roasting marshmallows and s’mores.
What natural features and Western-style interiors define the Jackson Hole retreat
The Jackson Hole compound includes both the creek and a section of the Snake River. A small island in the middle of the Snake River provides habitat for moose, elk and deer. Susan Rotenstreich said the family can snowshoe there during winter. The property also has a kitchen garden outside the main house, enclosed by a fence made from woven willow branches.The interiors were also developed in a Western style, with the Rotenstreichs using local craftsmen during the renovation. A local blacksmith handmade all of the fireplace tools, while a carpenter made furniture and decorative birch cabinets. The guest cottage includes a bookcase made from half of an old canoe, and the furniture in the home is included in the asking price.
PC: LATHAM JENKINS/ The Wall Street Journal
Why are the Rotenstreichs selling their $40 million Jackson Hole property
The Rotenstreichs are now selling the Jackson Hole property for $40 million. The compound includes a six-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom guest cottage. The couple declined to disclose how much they originally paid for the property, with the Journal noting that Wyoming is a nondisclosure state.The couple said they are selling because they feel it is time to downsize, although they still plan to visit Jackson Hole. The property is in the Ely Springs subdivision near Jackson. Listing agent Latham Jenkins of Live Water Properties told the Journal that real-estate values in the area have risen sharply since COVID and said the top end of the market continues to see demand.
