The Invitation

In December of 2023, 55 individuals each received a small box the shape of which might have held a raft of fine chocolates. Instead, inside each was first a card made of heavy vellum on which was printed a beautifully expressed thank you underlined with a sweep of wheat stalks. Beneath this, wrapped in leather and bound with a golden velvet ribbon, was an embossed invitation to the first-ever celebration at Stags Landing.

As Walt Whitman opined, there’s a universe in every blade of grass, and in this particular instance, the meticulous detail and care that went into each invitation speak worlds about the hosts of this affair, Rush Jenkins and Klaus Baer of WRJ Design, who dreamed then willed Stags Landing into existence through, at times, trying circumstances.

The architect, the contractor, the landscape architect, the craftsmen and artisans, the vendors, and all of the other partners who helped to make this project a reality—these were the guest celebrators, and for very good reason.

Start with this: Stags Landing is the most ambitious and significant structural achievement in Jackson Hole in over 30 years. Think of it as a high-end, multifaceted design performance featuring a luxurious designer showhouse; an inspired office space for the WRJ team; an exquisite reception area with a courtyard available for private functions inside and out—a gallery space for consigned art from the Maya Frodeman Gallery, the Diehl Gallery, and the Jackson Hole Art Auction—and a lavish private residence. Stags Landing will invite and welcome clients, partners, community organizations, visiting dignitaries, and artists to experience the beautiful space. A “one of one” isn’t a strong enough superlative. And the architecture is sublime.

In all of life, when a thing works better, usually it is more beautiful to the eye.
—Ferrari, 2023
Directed by Michael Mann

Explains Jenkins, “I’ve been drawn to European architecture since my days at Sotheby’s in London. The Cotswolds, for instance, and all the classical principles of design as practiced by architect Edwin Lutyens in the early 1900s. Symmetry, proper proportion, and balance. When it’s right, what is created is this beautiful sense of harmony you feel deep within. With interior design, it should be the same way. A home should feel warm and inviting, comfortable without being ostentatious. It should have real quality and soul, and though those words might be hard to define, you know it when you experience them. Loro Piana, for instance, is one of our partners because their fabrics—their cashmere and wool are the very best, and they’re beautiful.”

Jenkins refers to a book by Donald H. Ruggles called Beauty, Neuroscience, and Architecture that supports his point, concluding that “beauty is good for our health.”

As for the notion of what Stags Landing could actually be, and how it came about, those were discussions that began years ago.

“Every time Rush and I would take a trip, we’d start to make lists based on new ideas and experiences. We knew that Stags Landing would have to draw from our inspirations,” says Baer, whose passion is landscaping. “Design, landscape, the arts, and that this place could elevate our lives and all the lives of those who visited. We would ask, how do we make this work better? How do we make the flow better? We kept making lists, asking ‘what else do we need?’ Even the little things. For instance, we put power plugs out by the parking lot so caterers wouldn’t have to run generators. Most important, we kept asking, ‘who do we want to collaborate with?’”

First, they needed an architect who could bring to life Jenkins’s notions about classical design, and so they approached Austin DePree, founding partner at Jackson- and Chicago-based Northworks. DePree had designed their personal residence years ago, and they knew he shared their values about architecture and collaboration.

As DePree recalls, Rush had a very clear idea so it came together quickly. “Our intention here was to blend those classical European design principles with the architecture of Jackson Hole and the Mountain West. The building is organized around isolated areas of symmetry, scale, and proportion, where we were able to break down the experience into smaller vignettes, a more human scale, such as the window and door openings juxtaposed with the stair architecture, which is larger in scale. It was also important to us that the building fit into the neighborhood there on Snow King Drive.”

It was DePree who encouraged WRJ to consider Chicago-based contractor Bulley & Andrews, who had worked with Northworks on several significant assignments. DePree was confident that B&A, led by Rick Juneau, president of B&A’s residential group, would bring a high level of commitment and collaborative dedication, even if it meant bringing his team to Jackson Hole.

Being new to the area and knowing that he was going to be working with lots of local craftsmen, what first concerned Juneau was how quickly his team would be welcomed. “Although we were confident in our process and hoped our merits would shine through,” he says. “Given the work we do, we value high quality and community, and we found that in the local craftsmen. Great attitudes and exceptional skill sets. The only challenge we faced was that sometimes they had limited labor. Since we’re a collaborative team, we’d identify how best to help, and sometimes this meant bringing in a team from Chicago to supplement efforts so they could hit their milestones, and they welcomed this. It was a great partnership, and the results speak for themselves.”

As for a history of working side by side with Jenkins and Baer, there was no one more versed in their design intent and collaborative style than landscape architect Bonny Hershberger, president and managing partner of HDLA, known for its award-winning work on the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Interpretive Center and renovations to the South Jenny Lake area in GTNP.

“First, as with any client, it was a listening exercise because they had so many great ideas for the courtyard and exterior spaces,” Hershberger recalls. “The right design allows you to transform uses. Finally, we decided that by stripping down our ideas to simplicity while maintaining strong bones, we could increase the possibilities, whether for large events or intimate gatherings.”

Unsurprisingly, refinements are ongoing. It is, after all, a living, breathing design concept in an ever-expanding universe of discovery. Come spring, Baer and Hershberger will pick up where they left off, studying shade patterns and laying out the exterior. And the squill and the irises and the white crabapples will bloom, and Stags Landing will officially open its doors to the world.