The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center in Grand Teton National Park offers a unique, peaceful experience for visitors.
Grand Teton National Park
10-15 Minutes
Spring, Summer, Fall
$35 Park Entrance Fee
Overview
The preserve was donated by Laurance S. Rockefeller to the National Park Service in 2001, reflecting his vision of conservation and serenity. The visitor center blends into the natural landscape and emphasizes sustainability in its design, making use of energy-efficient and eco-friendly technologies. The Preserve Center is LEED platinum certified (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design), the highest level of LEED energy points and green building certification.
Lewis Joy and Struthers Burt established the valley’s first dude ranch on the eastern shore of Phelps Lake in 1908. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the land in 1932 with the intention of it being donated to Grand Teton National Park but later decided to keep it as a Rockefeller family retreat. In 1990, Laurance S. Rockefeller, John’s son, donated approximately 2,000 acres through the Sloan-Kettering Foundation, and in 2001 announced his intent to transfer the remaining 1,106-acre refuge of the JY Ranch to Grand Teton National Park. Between July 2004 and May 2007, thirty buildings, roads, utilities, and other structures were removed from the ranch to restore the land, opening the way for the construction of the new Preserve Center and trails to access the restored landscape. In November 2007, the land was officially transferred to Grand Teton National Park.
The Preserve Visitor Center
A deer on the side of the road
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Visitor Center Plan
On our second day in Grand Teton, we wanted to enter from the Moose-Wilson Road and Granite Canyon Entrance to see a different part of the park since we entered from Jackson Hole the day before. When entering through here, we first came up to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Visitor Center on the right-hand side just after going through the unpaved portion of the road. There is a small parking lot with a small woodland trail through sagebrush meadows leading to historic structures with innovative design techniques.
Getting There
Location
Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwestern portion of Wyoming just south of Yellowstone National Park. The closest airport is Jackson Hole (JAC), which is also the name of the closest town to the park. We flew into Jackson Hole but stayed just over the mountain in Driggs, Idaho on our first trip to the park and in Victor, Idaho on our second trip to the park.
Best Time to Go
The best time to go to Grand Teton National Park is late spring-early summer in May and June or in the early fall months of September and October. You don’t have the heat or crowds that summer break brings, but you aren’t snowed in, either. Just know that the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center is only open from early June through late September.
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Visitor Center
Who Can Go?
As long as you have a vehicle that’s allowed on the unpaved portion of Moose-Wilson Road (not over 28 feet in length) and can walk the small unpaved path to the visitor center, you can get to the building.
To emphasize its inclusivity, the Lake Creek trail offers a steel feature that allows those traveling via wheelchair to hover safely at the cusp of a small, chattering waterfall.
What You'll See
At the center, you’ll find interactive exhibits highlighting the history of the preserve, its wildlife, and Rockefeller’s philosophy of conservation. You can learn more about Mr. Rockefeller’s vision for the Preserve and his legacy of conservation stewardship. Exhibits engage visual, tactile, and auditory senses through a poem by Terry Tempest Williams, audio recordings of Mr. Rockefeller, videos, photography, and a soundscape room. Visitors may relax in the resource room, attend a ranger program, or strike out on a hike to Phelps Lake. The center does not have a sales area or offer permits.
The Preserve Visitor Center
A deer on the side of the road
What to Bring & Wear
Make sure to bring your passport book to get a cancellation stamp from the center as well as water bottles to fill if needed. Wear your hiking boots and have your day pack ready if you plan to set out on the Phelps Lake Loop Trail. The entire hike is a 6.6-mile roundtrip loop that takes you around Phelps Lake.
Where to Go
The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center is located down Moose-Wilson Road which is an unpaved road only open to passenger vehicles (no trailers or RVs are allowed on the road).
How Long Does it Take?
As with most visitor centers, plan about 10-15 minutes at the center. There’s not a sales center or permit desk, so you don’t have to worry about the time in the gift shop here.
Cost
The only price you’ll pay to visit the visitor center is the park’s entrance fee of $35 per vehicle which is valid for 7 days from the date of purchase.
Tips for Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Visitor Center
- Several hikes can be started from the area surrounding the center: Phelps Lake Loop Trailhead, Teton Crest Trailhead, Granite Canyon Trailhead, Open Canyon Trailhead, and Death Canyon Trailhead.
- Parking is very limited and often fills up quickly.
- Be on the lookout for wildlife such as black bears, grizzly bears, moose, deer, and other large animals.
- The park rangers here offer ranger programs. Since this is a smaller, less-traveled visitor center, it's a good place to get questions answered since rangers have more time.
- This visitor center is only open from early June through late September from 9 AM - 5 PM daily.