JACKSON, Wyo. — On Monday, Sept. 16, Town Council circled back in its discussion of possible options for the Mercer Cabin upon its removal from Karns Meadow Park in east Jackson.
On July 1, Town Council approved the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase, removal and relocation of the Mercer Cabin. The historic cabin was originally built on Cache Street in 1938 by Phil Baux. The storage of the Mercer Cabin at Karns Meadow is “not an allowable use within the restrictive covenants on the property,” according to Town.
Proposals for ownership of the cabin were due by July 31, but the cost of moving, maintaining and insuring it deterred potential applicants. The Town received one proposal, but the applicant withdrew a few days after they submitted it. Other interested parties had properties outside of Teton County or did not want the cabin open to the public, according to the staff report.
According to the Town, the evaluation criteria has not changed — the priority is for the cabin to be relocated in Jackson, in an area that is visible to the public. Proposals that don’t fit this criteria will still be considered.
Town of Jackson Ecosystem Stewardship Administrator Tanya Anderson explained to the Council that there are possible alternatives, including creating a RFP to demolish and remove the cabin.
“We have many people interested in preserving this cabin and not seeing it demolished,” Anderson said. “I think the cost is prohibitive for many people. It will really depend upon the willingness of people in this community to take it on as a philanthropic gesture.”
David Vandenberg, the vice president of the Teton County Historic Preservation Board, suggested moving the Mercer Cabin to May Park.
“This is a tough one, the size of the roof and the power lines make it difficult to move,” Vandenberg said. “Maybe we can move it to May Park. That is an option moving forward.”
Ryan Dorgan from Shacks on Racks said that there’s overwhelming support to keep the cabin in Karns Meadow Park because moving it would require dismantling it, but was not opposed to May Park as a new home.
“We spoke to a firm about the possibility of making a master plan to incorporate it into May Park,” Dorgan said. “I think it’s reasonable for the Council to consider that. We have gotten used to shipping our history down the canyon or over the mountain, and if we want the cabin to stay in town, I ask the Council to make this happen.”
Councilwoman Jessica Sell Chambers said that the cabin would be interesting to the kids who frequent May Park.
“The cabin does have an Old Mother Hubbard appeal to it,” Sell Chambers said.
Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson responded that the Council can review possible locations as applications are considered.
The updated application deadline for those interested in obtaining the historic structure is Friday, Nov. 1. The new estimated timeline for relocating the cabin is June 1, 2025. If acceptable proposals are not submitted by the deadline, Town Council will have to come up with an alternative plan.
