Leek's Lodge
Leek's Lodge was a historic lodge and former dude-ranch property near Jackson Lake in present-day Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Leek's Lodge was a rustic lodge associated with a former resort and dude ranch near Jackson Lake in Wyoming's Jackson Hole region. The property was established by Steven N. Leek, who promoted frontier-oriented outdoor experiences for boys and was also involved in efforts that contributed to the creation of the National Elk Refuge. The lodge itself was built in 1927 as part of the broader ranch and resort operation. The site reflected an early form of western tourism in which visitors were offered an outdoor, ranch-based experience centered on activities such as horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and exposure to frontier skills and landscapes. Its location near Jackson Lake later placed it within the evolving recreational and administrative landscape of the national-park system. After Jackson Hole National Monument was established in 1943, the operation continued as a park concession under changing management arrangements. By 1977, the camp was being operated as part of Signal Mountain Lodge. Most of the remaining buildings were subsequently removed, reducing the historic complex to a much smaller physical remnant. A fire in 1998 destroyed the main lodge, leaving its chimney standing. The location is now associated with Leek's Marina, operated by the National Park Service, rather than with an active lodge or dude-ranch business. Leek's Lodge was recognized for its historical significance through listing on the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1975. The listing was removed on April 15, 2014, following the loss of the principal historic structure and the substantial alteration or removal of the associated buildings. The name remains relevant as a reference to the site's ranching, tourism, and conservation history in Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park.
History
Leek's Lodge formed part of a resort and dude-ranch complex in the Jackson Lake area of what is now Grand Teton National Park. The operation was founded by Steven N. Leek, a figure associated with the development of frontier-themed recreation in Jackson Hole and with efforts connected to the establishment of the National Elk Refuge. The camp was designed to give boys an immersive experience in a western setting, using the landscape and ranch environment as the foundation for outdoor activities and informal instruction. The principal rustic lodge was constructed in 1927. Its design and setting represented the type of early twentieth-century western tourism that presented ranch life, wilderness travel, and outdoor recreation as a distinctive visitor experience. The property operated as a resort and dude ranch rather than simply as a private residence, and its identity was tied to the broader cultural appeal of Jackson Hole as a destination for visitors seeking contact with the region's landscapes and ranching traditions. A major institutional change came in 1943, when Jackson Hole National Monument was established. Leek's Lodge and the associated camp continued operating as a concession within the protected landscape. This period placed the property within the National Park Service's developing system for visitor services, where privately operated facilities provided lodging, recreation, and related services under concession arrangements. The camp's later operating history was marked by consolidation and physical decline. In 1977 it was being operated as part of Signal Mountain Lodge. Most of the remaining buildings were eventually removed. The loss of the complex meant that the original ranch and resort arrangement survived increasingly as a historical memory and archaeological or landscape resource rather than as an intact commercial destination. The main lodge was destroyed by fire in 1998. Only the chimney remained as a prominent structural trace of the building. The site is now associated with Leek's Marina, which is operated by the National Park Service. This present use differs substantially from the former dude-ranch operation but preserves the location's connection with visitor access and recreation around Jackson Lake. Recognition of the property's historical importance preceded the fire and later changes. Leek's Lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1975. The National Register listing was removed on April 15, 2014, after the principal building had been destroyed and the historic complex had lost much of its original physical integrity. The site's significance nevertheless remains connected to the history of tourism, conservation, concession operations, and western place-making in Jackson Hole.
- 2014
National Register listing is removed
[1]The property is removed from the National Register of Historic Places on April 15.
- 1998
Main lodge is destroyed by fire
[1]A fire destroys the main lodge, leaving the chimney standing.
- 1977
Camp becomes part of Signal Mountain Lodge operations
[1]The camp is operated as part of Signal Mountain Lodge, while most remaining buildings are later removed.
- 1975
National Register listing
[1]Leek's Lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 5.
- 1943
Operation continues under a national-monument concession
[1]Following the establishment of Jackson Hole National Monument, the camp operates as a park concession.
- 1927
Rustic lodge is built
[1]The principal Leek's Lodge building is constructed as part of the former resort and dude-ranch complex near Jackson Lake.
Products and positioning
A historic western lodge and dude-ranch destination that combined rustic accommodation and frontier-oriented outdoor recreation near Jackson Lake. It is now primarily a cultural and historic site rather than an operating hospitality brand.
Historic lodge · 1927
Leek's Lodge
The central rustic lodge of the former Leek's Lodge resort and dude-ranch complex. Built in 1927 near Jackson Lake, it served as the recognizable hospitality and gathering structure for an operation aimed at providing boys and other visitors with a frontier-oriented outdoor experience. The main building was destroyed by fire in 1998; the site is no longer an operating lodge.
Dude-ranch tourism
Leek's Lodge dude-ranch camp
The wider camp and resort operation offered a western outdoor setting built around ranch life, recreation, and frontier activities. It later operated as a concession after the creation of Jackson Hole National Monument and was incorporated into Signal Mountain Lodge operations by 1977. The camp no longer operates as a Leek's Lodge business, and most of its buildings were removed.
Brand decisions
1977
Integration with Signal Mountain Lodge operationsM&ABackground
The former camp was undergoing operational consolidation within the local hospitality and concession environment.
Action taken
Leek's Lodge camp operations were conducted as part of Signal Mountain Lodge.
Aftermath
Most remaining buildings were later removed, and the original resort complex ceased to function as an intact lodge and dude ranch.
1943
Continue operation as a protected-area concessionStrategyBackground
The creation of Jackson Hole National Monument changed the administrative setting around the ranch and lodge.
Action taken
The camp continued operating as a park concession rather than ending immediately when the protected area was established.
Aftermath
The property became part of the history of concession-based visitor services in the Jackson Hole protected landscape.
Recent events
- 2014
Leek's Lodge is removed from the National Register[1]
Other
The property was removed from the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 2014.
- 1998
Leek's Lodge main building is destroyed by fire[1]
Other
A fire destroyed the main lodge, leaving the chimney as the principal surviving remnant identified in historical accounts.
- 1975
Leek's Lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places[1]
Other
The historic lodge site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1975.
Sources3 sources
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