Town opens applications for Mercer Cabin purchase, relocation
JACKSON, Wyo. — On Monday, July 1, Town Council unanimously approved a Request for Proposals (RFP) to allow for the purchase and relocation of the the historic Mercer Cabin, which is currently located on the Karns Meadow property. The minimum bid is set for $1.
Town staff will review proposals and select a qualified applicant to become the cabin's new owner. Town will work with the applicant to set a timeline for moving the cabin to its new home.
Town Councilman Arne Jorgensen highlighted the need to find a space to keep the cabin maintained for perpetuity.
"We aren't selling this to make money, we are looking for a good home," Jorgenson said during the meeting.
Tanya Anderson, Town of Jackson Ecosystem Stewardship Administrator, explained a brief history of the Mercer Cabin. According to Anderson, the cabin's materials and design retain historical integrity from its original construction on Cache Street in 1938 by Phil Baux. The cabin was moved by the Mercer family to the Sagebrush Motel and then to 265 E. Broadway, where they ran the Alpine Pawn Shop. In 2014, the Teton County Historic Preservation Board determined the cabin had historical significance because of its connection to Phil Baux, its unique design characteristics, including a steep roof and wavy shingles, and because it was featured in Life Magazine in 1948.
In 2014, the cabin was moved to Karns Meadow, where it has sat for the past 10 years. It has not been maintained or opened to the public. The cabin is 17 feet deep, 20 feet tall and 23 feet long.
According to the Town, storage of the cabin at Karns Meadow is in violation of the restrictive covenants for the property. An RFP to purchase and relocate the Mercer Cabin will bring the Town into compliance with Karns Meadow, allow for the development of Karns Meadow Park and enable the cabin to find a permanent home where it is better utilized and appreciated.
The staff report states that applications will be evaluated with certain questions in mind, including: "Will the cabin will be located within Teton County or the greater Teton region?" and "Will the cabin be located where the public can see it, or will it be hidden from view?" Priority will be given to proposers who will keep the cabin local and visible to the public, with highest priority going to applicants who will relocate the cabin within the Town of Jackson.
