A long driveway, bordered by streams and shadowy forest, winds its way up to the house, a magnificent Western lodge, a magical combination of wood, solid stone and ethereal glass. Sumptuous and filled with splendid works of art, Phillips Ridge begins with a two-story, light-filled entryway. Thick log walls and tree trunk supports contrast with fine antiques and soft, rich fabrics. The living and dining areas are divided by a massive two-sided stone fireplace and illuminated by a 40-foot-high wall of windows. French doors open to a backdrop of dark green firs and pale aspen, separate seating areas face the fire and the panorama outside.
The grand kitchen at Phillips Ridge is fit for a professional chef. Its centrepiece is a large gas range set like a medieval hearth inside a hammered copper and stone alcove. A flat-screen television, hidden inside the stone countertop, rises and swivels at the touch of a button, and can be seen from the cooking area, the long, built-in breakfast banquet, and the dining room. A stone-topped island separates the kitchen from the dining room, where the long table, overhung by an antler chandelier, seats ten.
There is a rustic staircase that curves majestically up both sides of the front entryway. A second-story walkway crosses the big open space over the living room and leads to the sleeping quarters. Each of the five bedrooms at Phillips Ridge is a master suite, filled with light from the high, copper-framed windows, decorated with bold furnishings and rich, textured fabrics. Each has its own stone fireplace, with handcrafted cast iron and glass doors.
Thick log walls, tree-trunk beams and patterned bedspreads make the spacious bedrooms snug and cabin-like. Each one has a hand-built, king size bed with reading lights positioned at either side. Each also has a decadent private bath, with a big soaking tub and double sinks. Some of bathrooms have stone fireplaces and rainfall showers too.
French doors in the bedrooms open to private terraces or branch-framed porches. Rich, muted oriental carpets cover the heated stone floors of the bedrooms, and wall-mounted, flat screen televisions face the king size beds, while beyond every window is an extraordinary panorama of forest, mountains and sky.
A long stone terrace with an outdoor dining area that is set next to a large fire pit encircles the entire eastern side of the house. Farther along are sitting areas, trap shooting stands and a hot tub. Back inside, a cosmic, two-lane bowling alley, a gorgeous bar room with tufted leather couch, and a casual pub with a billiards table make a day of rain most welcome.
The house also has a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a movie theatre that seats twelve in deep leather armchairs, and a truly fabulous indoor hot tub, modelled on the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone Park. Ringed with mosaic stone mountains and a painted firmament of blue, it provides the ultimate conclusion – or commencement – to the day.
Phillips Ridge is fronted by a low stonewall and a big pond that reflects the sky like a mirror. A waterfall splashes merrily down a cascade of stones, and then winds its way under the driveway and around the house – and can be turned off and on, as desired. Stone bridges cross the small, pebbly pond created by the stream.
One could spend hours exploring the interesting corners, wonderful details and tremendous works of art inside the house, but Phillips Ridge is also the perfect launching pad for skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, biking, fishing, swimming or canoeing in the pond, and day trips into Jackson. And despite its high luxury and fine art, Phillips Ridge is completely child- and dog-friendly. It is a spectacular property, the overture to an unforgettable Wyoming vacation.
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