Brimming with amenities, this four-season community on the quiet side of the Tetons offers breathtaking views and modern mountain residences.
Big skies and even larger fairways. That’s a pretty fair assessment of the high-elevation golf course at Tributary, a private residential community tucked into the west side of the Tetons in Driggs, Idaho. Designed by David McLay Kidd, Tributary is a testament to the Scottish-born course architect’s “natural,seamless, and sustainable” philosophy.
Known originally as Huntsman Springs, the course complements the natural beauty of its setting in Teton Valley, where the Teton Mountains dominate the horizon.Originally the site of a cattle farm, the land’s wetland bogs forced Kidd to create a routing plan to suit the natural elements while taking full advantage of the towering, long-range mountain views. (At the 16th hole, golfers tee facing the Grand Teton.) And rather than displacing the abundant wildlife the area is famous for, Kidd wove 50 acres of wetlands through the course to provide a habitat for them and a unique scenic display for residents.
The course fits in well with the community, which retains its authentic small-mountain-town feel. That’s no small feat in a densely developed region popular with tourists. Nothere, where sustainability is prized: Nearly one-third of Tributaries 1,500 acres are fen-designated wetlands, runby the Teton Regional Land Trust to protect the wildlife,including trumpeter swans and long-billed curlews.
Residents use Tributary as their basecamp for a life full of outdoor adventures. World-class fly fishing, skiing,hiking, and two national parks are just a short drive away. Without leaving the all-seasons community they have access to five private fishing ponds, Nordic skiing, golf, a full-service spa, a two-mile wetland boardwalk, and farm-to-fork dining in the 27,000-square-foot clubhouse.
With new homes starting at $3.25 million, Tributary Mountain majesty does not come cheap. (Still, their home prices are lower than more well-known destinations in the Tetons: A Jackson Hole compound was listed for $65million earlier this year!) Considering its environs—evergreen forests, jagged granite spires, and expansive Western skies—Tributary’s contemporary homes might challenge your expectations of what a mountain residence should be. Forget rustic and instead think refined luxury in a sophisticated, modern package. Whatever you call it,the architecture feels both inspiring and a perfect fit for those looking to answer the call of the wilderness.
