Jackalope Motor Lodge
407 E Pine St
Pinedale, WY
Tyler and Kayleigh built the Jackalope from a run-down motel in a Wyoming mountain town. Stay legendary.
About Jackalope Motor Lodge
Tyler Hofer saw open-range horses crossing a dirt road outside Pinedale and decided he wanted his family to live here. He and his wife Kayleigh were visiting from California in 2021. They noticed a defunct motel on Pine Street, the old Wagon Wheel, vacant for years, and put in a bid. When it came through in June 2021, Tyler moved to Pinedale and started renovations the next day. Kayleigh and their three young sons followed. Neither had hospitality experience. The Jackalope Motor Lodge opened that July and has been refining itself ever since. Pinedale sits at 7,175 feet in the Green River basin at the base of the Wind River Range, which holds the highest concentration of high-elevation lakes in the American West. The Continental Divide Trail passes through, and CDT hikers have made the Jackalope a consistent stop.
What Jackalope Motor Lodge Is Known For
The Jackalope's billboard on Pine Street changes about twice a month with a rotating quip. It is marketing that requires a writer with a sense of humor, which is the same thing the motel itself is: a hospitality choice that required a specific set of people with a specific sensibility to make it exist. Tyler and Kayleigh are those people. The Continental Divide Trail hiking community found them and told each other. The Mountain Man Rendezvous visitors found them. The Wind River Range backpackers found them. Pinedale is not a place most travelers pass through on the way somewhere else; the people who go there went there on purpose. The Jackalope understands exactly who it's for.
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- Parking at every room door
- Custom Wyoming artwork by local artist @mountainattire
- Bikes for guest use
- Fire pit with Adirondack chairs
- Propane grill
- Hammocks and back lawn
- Hiker supply totes (bear spray, bug spray, books)
- Free laundry for CDT through-hikers
- Outdoor shower
- Lobby coffee
- Local recommendations book
- Dog-friendly with welcome kit
- Contactless keycode entry
What Guests Love
- Tyler and Kayleigh Hofer's origin story is the kind that earns trust before the guest arrives: two people with no hospitality background who drove down a dirt road in Wyoming, fell completely, and reorganized their lives around the bet that a run-down motel in a small mountain town could be something worth staying at. The major review platforms description the property itself has written says 'parking lot to door' and 'small town hospitality.' Both are accurate. The motel delivers on the story.
- The Continental Divide Trail community found the Jackalope and declared it their Pinedale stop. This matters to non-CDT guests in a specific way: a motel that earns the trust of through-hikers, people who sleep in the dirt for months and have extremely high standards for value, cleanliness, and authenticity, has passed a test that resort amenities cannot replicate. The CDT hikers are right.
- Custom local artwork, bikes for borrowing, a fire pit and hammocks, hiker supply totes, free laundry, and an outdoor shower: the amenity list is specific to the landscape, the community, and the people who come here. None of it is aspirational or performative. All of it is useful.
Worth Knowing
- Coffee is in the lobby rather than in-room. The lobby coffee is praised as genuinely good, but guests who want in-room coffee should pack their own or confirm current amenities when booking.
- Check-in and check-out are contactless via keycode. The owners are reachable by phone if anything comes up. There is no on-site front desk staff around the clock; the small-town hospitality the property offers is real but doesn't mean 24-hour staffed service.
- Pinedale's altitude is 7,175 feet. Guests arriving from low elevation may feel some altitude effects, particularly on the first day. Hydration and a slower start to outdoor activities on day one is the practical advice locals give.
- Pets are welcome. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
The Room
The motel rooms are ground-floor with parking directly at the door. two-bed room and king configurations accommodate couples and small groups. Custom Wyoming artwork by Pinedale artist @mountainattire is in every room. Beds are consistently praised as comfortable and well-made. Each room has a TV, mini-fridge, private bathroom, and outdoor seating directly outside the door. The design is modern without being generic and Wyoming-specific without being cartoonish, guests describe it as 'clean and cute' and 'decor that fits the town.' Separate bunkhouse rooms are available for Continental Divide Trail hikers and budget-conscious adventure travelers; these share living spaces and are the more affordable option.
The Grounds
The property is on East Pine Street in downtown Pinedale, with the parking lot running along the front of the building and a back lawn area accessible to guests. The fire pit with Adirondack chairs, propane grill, hammocks, clothesline, and outdoor shower are in the back. A hiker supply tote with bear spray, bug juice, and books is available to guests heading out. Bikes are at the office for guests to borrow. The Museum of the Mountain Man is a five-minute walk. Pinedale's grocery, shops, and restaurants are all within walking distance. The Wind River Range begins a short drive north.
The Experience
The Jackalope attracts a specific kind of traveler: people who looked at a map, noticed that Pinedale sits at the base of the Wind River Range with the Continental Divide Trail running through it and fifty-some alpine lakes accessible from trailheads nearby, and decided that was where they needed to be. Tyler and Kayleigh Hofer are those people, which is why the motel feels like it was designed for them. The fire pit is out back for the evening. The bikes are for getting around town. The lobby coffee is strong and the recommendation book is honest. The bunk rooms fill with CDT through-hikers in July and August, which gives the property a specific energy. Everyone here is doing something outside. The Jackalope just makes the return from it easy.
Details
Pinedale, WY 82941
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jackalope Motor Lodge have EV charging?
No, Jackalope Motor Lodge does not have on-site EV charging. The Road Trip Planner map shows public chargers near the property.
What is there to do near Jackalope Motor Lodge?
Wind River Range and Bridger Wilderness: 10 miles, about a 20 minute drive. Museum of the Mountain Man: Adjacent to the property. Fremont Lake: 4 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Jackalope Motor Lodge from Wind River Range and Bridger Wilderness?
Wind River Range and Bridger Wilderness is about 10 miles from Jackalope Motor Lodge, roughly a 20 minute drive.
How far is Jackalope Motor Lodge from Museum of the Mountain Man?
Museum of the Mountain Man is right next door to Jackalope Motor Lodge.
How far is Jackalope Motor Lodge from Fremont Lake?
Fremont Lake is about 4 miles from Jackalope Motor Lodge, roughly a 10 minute drive or a short bike ride.
Is Jackalope Motor Lodge pet friendly?
Yes. Jackalope Motor Lodge welcomes pets. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
Is the Jackalope Motor Lodge good for CDT hikers?
Yes. The Jackalope has become a well-known stop on the Continental Divide Trail, with dedicated hiker amenities including an outdoor shower, free laundry, hiker supply totes with bear spray and bug spray, hammocks, and bunk room options.
Are bikes available at the Jackalope Motor Lodge?
Yes. Bikes are available to borrow for getting around downtown Pinedale at no charge.
Does the Jackalope Motor Lodge have a pool?
No. The outdoor amenities include a fire pit, propane grill, hammocks, and a back lawn area.
How far is the Jackalope Motor Lodge from the Wind River Range?
Trailheads into the Bridger Wilderness and Wind River Range are approximately 10-15 miles east of Pinedale, about a 20-minute drive.
Is the Jackalope Motor Lodge walkable to downtown Pinedale?
Yes. The motel is on Pine Street in downtown Pinedale, within walking distance of the grocery store, restaurants, and the Museum of the Mountain Man.
Is parking available at Jackalope Motor Lodge?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at Jackalope Motor Lodge.
Does Jackalope Motor Lodge include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at Jackalope Motor Lodge.
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Things to Do Near the Wyoming high country
Museum of the Mountain Man
0.4 miles away
The Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale tells the story of the Rocky Mountain fur trade era (1820s-1840s) through original traps, weapons, trade goods, and Native American artifacts.
Fremont Lake
6.0 miles away
Fremont Lake 5 miles north of Pinedale is Wyoming's second largest natural lake, glacially carved and 600 feet deep.
Wind River Range
13 miles away
The Wind River Range holds over 40 named glaciers and more than 1,300 lakes above 9,000 feet. The wilderness is accessible from multiple trailheads on both the eastern (Lander side) and western (Pinedale side) slopes.
Grand Teton National Park
70 miles away
Jagged peaks rising straight from the valley floor, mirrored in the string of lakes at their base.