I keep seeing reference to both Jackson and Jackson Hole.

I cannot find Jackson Hole on my map.

Are these two different places / same?

Thanks for the responses I'm sure I'll get. Sorry if I sound like an ignoramous --- haven't been there yet!

Don't worry. I was confused too. Yes, pretty much the same thing. Jackson Hole usually refers to just the "town" part.

Jackson is the "hole" name of the town (sorry, couldn't resist that silly pun). Jackson is IN Jackson Hole, which is the name of a high mountain valley. In other words, that big, wide, beautiful valley that runs north of Jackson up to Yellowstone, bordered on the west by the Tetons, is Jackson Hole.

I'm not sure, but they may call the ski resort Jackson Hole. I'm referring to the resort which is a few miles north and northwest, I think, of the town of Jackson.

The town of Jackson used to be called Jackson Hole. About fifty years ago the government simplified a lot of place names and Jackson Hole became Jackson, but many locals still call it Jackson Hole. A bit of trivia is the next valley over used to be called Pierre's Hole. It is now the Teton Valley.

Renewed use of the "Jackson Hole" term picked up momentum when Teton Village Ski Hill changed their advertising and began referring to themselves as "Jackson Hole Ski Resort".

The way hole is used essentially means valley. I don't know if it is because of the translation from French by the early fur trappers or whether it was because the early fur trappers "holed up" in the valleys during the winter time. A big "rendevous" was held each winter in Jackson Hole during fur-trapping days.

Cool!

The town is called Jackson, simply. The area in which the town lays is called Jackson Hole, for reasons cited above.
Personally, when I've gone out there, I've always said, "I'm going to Jackson" because I AM going to STAY in Jackson. Jackson the Town. And, perhaps even more importantly, to me "Jackson Hole" sounds . . . I don't know . . . pretentious, somehow. Just my early morning ramblings.

Have fun out there. It's gorgeous.

Thanks for clearing that up & the trivia / history lessons !!!

You might find Jackson Hole on old maps but the only official name now is Jackson. The United State Geographical Board dropped Hole at the same time they shortened other city names by dropping the suffix. Denver City became Denver. Moose Town, Wyoming became simply Moose. Some local businesses and the local airport still use the old name.

In June we were told Jackson is the town, the 40 mile valley is called Jackson Hole, the original explorers named the valley.

Actually, on the chuckwagon breakfast tour I took, they told us a slightly different story. Apparently the town was named Jackson Hole because the hole was something that translated from the French, NOT because the surrounding mountains created a hole-like terrain feature. The hole was dropped in the 1800's from the name of the town, but is still used when referring to the general area, or to the nearby ski resort.

WRONG ANSWER.

Apparently chuckwagon boy fed you a load. The hole does indeed refer to the valley. Since the city of Jackson sits there, it was called Jackson's Hole, then Jackson Hole, and then just Jackson. It was named by the French.

I think its important to point out that travis above has fed you some really bad information. The airport goes by the name Jackson Hole and not jackson. don't book tix to jackson or you will end up in jackson mississippi.

http://www.jacksonhole.com/faq/history-faq.html

Don't think aasdf read travis' comments too carefully. He said the airport still uses the old name, which is Jackson Hole.

I think its important to point out that travis above has fed you some really bad information. The airport goes by the name Jackson Hole and not jackson. don't book tix to jackson or you will end up in jackson mississippi.

It looks like Travis was right and aasdf was a bit quick with the sarcasm. He did say first and correctly that the airport was called Jackson Hole airport. It is a translation from the French.

I can't believe I'm reading this? Why would anybody visit this website for accurate travel information?!? You people are all a bunch of idiots.

What a helpful bunch we are here.

People wanting serious US travel advice would probably get better information on the Europe forum.

If someone asks a serious question, can you give them a serious answer if you know it, or, just keep quiet?

I don't mind the troll postings here but you shouldn't mix it up with the real deal.

Have a little respect please.

ttt. this is a funny one!

Well, let us see who knows the name of the mountain range that borders Jackson Valley, or Hole if you insist, on the east. The Teton Range forms the western barrier, but what is on the east?