Once the Wild, Wild West (or, really, just a fancy ski destination), the state of Wyoming is now a popular relocation destination for tech and venture capital entrepreneurs lured there by wide open spaces and world-class skiing. Also, the lack of state income tax and a booming cryptocurrency scene doesn’t hurt. In fact, Teton County (which includes Jackson Hole) saw an 89% increase in real estate transactions from the end of 2019 to the end of 2020. Tempted to join the rush? Then read on: We’ve asked a handful of Wyomingites, both longtime residents and recent transplants, about their preferred haunts. Whether you opt for luxe Jackson Hole, buttoned up Cheyenne or rustic Cody, here is where to live, eat, play and socialize.
Jackson Hole
Perhaps the most well-known Wyoming destination, the Jackson Hole valley has proved popular for outsider entrepreneurs going all the way back to the Walton family’s farm purchase in 1958. The luxury ski resort, according to venture capitalist Rob Ackerman, “meets the check boxes for the tech-focused group. And that means a certain quality of life. That’s nothing against the Laramies and Cheyennes and the Codys, but they’re much smaller, they’ve had less investment.”
Where to live: Given that the Jackson Hole valley is surrounded by federally owned forest land, there is not a huge amount of developable land. However, there are five main areas where the tech expat crowd is moving. First is the town of Jackson itself, which is where Ackerman lives. The Wilson area has become popular among the billionaire crowd (like Swiss medical device manufacturer Hansjoerg Wyss). Venture capitalist and Google Analytics founder Wesley Chan moved there to “optimize for peace, quiet and privacy—I can’t see my neighbors from here.” There’s Saddle Butte, one of the higher points in the valley. North of Jackson, by the airport, you’ll find larger pieces of property like this 127-acre, $48 million home currently for sale. And, finally, ski-in, ski-out properties near the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort are in perpectually high demand.
