Our History
Our family has a long history in Jackson Hole, and we are honored to share it with each of our guests at Teton Cabins.
Our great grandparents, Fred and Caroline Feuz, emigrated from Switzerland and homesteaded in Jackson Hole in 1910. That was before the coffee shops and ski chalets moved in.
Heck, back then there wasn’t even a much town, yet alone a ski hill. Jackson Hole in those days was still a mostly undiscovered valley made up of a few of surly ranchers, weathered trappers and outlaws on the run from the law.
It was a tough existence, full of severe winters and short summers spent preparing for the next severe winter.
But with little more than the clothes on their backs and a fire in their bellies, Fred and Caroline and their 11 children started one of the Jackson Hole's first successful Hereford cattle ranches.
Our grandpa, Walter, went to work for the family business after finishing the fifth grade. It was honest but hard work.
Tilling land so rocky that old-timers used to say it could only grow boulders. Keeping bears and wolves off the herd. Fixing miles of buckrail fence. And breaking colts for hunting guides.
His experience training wild horses may explain Walt’s later career as a rodeo saddle bronc rider. Others will say it was born out of a dare with a fellow ranch hand after a few too many barley pops. Whatever the case, Walt quickly became a renowned bronc buster throughout his 20’s and early 30’s, and he was posthumously inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame.
His time in the rodeo arena was cut short by World War II. Walt, along with his brothers, enlisted in the military. Because he had experience doctoring cattle, Walt was assigned as a Medic. The recruiter must not have seen his school transcripts, or lack thereof.
His time in the rodeo arena was cut short by World War II. Walt, along with his brothers, enlisted in the military. Because he had experience doctoring cattle, Walt was assigned as a Medic. The recruiter must not have seen his school transcripts, or lack thereof.
Walt purchased a plot of land from the Smikle family, the original homesteaders, prior to going into service in WW2.
Located at the base of the Grand Tetons and surrounded by National Park and National Forest, this would become the Diamond Cross Ranch — where we still operate today. While Walt was away his brother Emil took care of the place.
When he returned from the war, Walt went back to carrying for the land, and married his wife, Betty.
Like his parents before him, Walt was a successful cattle rancher. He earned the distinction of Wyoming Cattleman of the Year, even though he wasn’t one for banquets or speeches. In fact, he wasn’t much for conversation. He always said a person’s action speak loud enough.
Walt and Betty had four daughters. Or, as some put it, Betty had four daughters — Walt had four cowboys that happened to be girls.
Our uncle and aunt, Brad and Joanne Luton (Walt and Betty’s youngest daughter), founded Teton Cabins on the Diamond Cross Ranch more than 30 years ago.
True to their heritage, they built each cabin by hand from the ground up — even cutting the logs themselves. In fact, we helped in the construction, if you could call it help. We were about eight at the time.
Teton Cabins,
Nowadays
Nowadays
Like Brad and Joanne, we take great pride in scrutinizing every detail, offering extraordinary service and sharing our family’s legacy with each of our guests. As our grandparents would say, when you are here, you are part of our family. We look forward to welcoming you to Teton Cabins and sharing the Western heritage that is still alive in Jackson Hole.
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