[caption id="attachment_1550" align="aligncenter" width="344"] Beth Badgerow - Flat Creek Inn employee and General Manager from 1994 to 2005.[/caption]

Tell us a little about yourself...

My husband and I moved to Jackson in 1994 with our two young children who have now grown up and are enjoying the Jackson Hole life. My husband and I have been married 30 years.  

What brought you to Jackson Hole?

We did not want to raise our kids in the big city, Los Angeles. We knew there had to be something better out there. So my parents watched the kids while we took off, leaving the security of a county job and not knowing where we were headed. We stopped in Idaho looking for beautiful mountains and it was not what we were looking for. One day camping at Porcupine Creek in Idaho we decided to go fishing. We took off on a dirt road with no map in a two wheel drive truck. We got turned around up there and ended up lost. By the time we crawled out of the mountain road, it was dark and we were out of gas. We had no idea where we were but found a hotel and slept for the night. We were in Thayne Wyoming, and when we woke to the view we were like this is more like it! We drove north to Jackson and saw the Tetons and never left except to get the kids and bring them here.

 

What is your history with the Flat Creek Inn?

We immediately started looking for work and ended up at the Flat Creek Motel (at the time that was the name) in April of 1994. I cleaned rooms and my husband Ron did laundry. We worked for Rich and Sherry Robokoff who worked for the owner Arlyn (Oscar) Johnson. I had worked there for a year and left because we needed medical benefits, and at the time they were not offered. Not soon after, Ron left as well. After [a while] we went back [to work] there...just could not get it out of our blood. When I returned, I learned all of the office and store and became assistant manager to the manager at the time, Lloyd Rich. When Lloyd left, I became General Manager. We had the best crew, we had such fun and we had a couple great years before Oscar died from cancer. After that, the hotel fell into the wrong hands and I was let go shortly after the new owner took over in November of 2005. I was just heartbroken over the situation knowing that Oscar and Jerry Bagley [the land owner] put so much of their blood sweat and tears into that place and must have been in heaven looking down at that mess. Took me some time to get over it as I had put my heart and soul into that place. I was blessed to know Jerry over the years, and even had the opportunity to live in the house he built up on the hill. The best part was when I heard the Bagley family had gotten the place back. And what a shambles they got, but wow, to see how far you have come in just a few short years is amazing. And we will always recommend The Flat Creek Inn - my family stays there whenever they come to town.  

Do you have any funny/interesting stories that happened to you while working at Flat Creek?

Well one time the house keepers came to me and said there was a man sleeping naked on a cot in the maid's closet. It turned out to be a guest who had a bit too much liquor and locked himself out of his room! Another time Jerry had come over to stain the house on the hill, and he did not realize that our kids were home. They called us saying the house smelled like gasoline. We go up there and he was using GASOLINE to clean the logs before he sprayed them. I will never forget the look on his face when we said the kids were in there. He was horrified and could not have been more apologetic. Jerry used to always tell my husband to watch his feet cause one day he would not be able to stand on them (my husband has a nasty smoking habit). Jerry was such a kind and generous man and I have always had the utmost respect for him.

 

What do you think are the 5 best qualities Flat Creek Inn has to offer?

Great location, great people, great views, affordable, and just a great place to stay!!

 

What are some of your favorite things to do in Jackson?

Camping, fishing, hiking, and just being out and about in the summer. In the winter it is snow shoeing. One of our favorite things this time of year is going up to Leeks Marina on Jackson Lake for pizza on the deck - hands down best pizza around!!  

Thank you, Beth, for letting us spotlight you! And thank you so much for all the love, sweat, and tears you put into the Flat Creek Inn – while you worked there and when you helped the Bagley family figure out the ropes of running the motel! We couldn't have done it without you, and we will be forever grateful for your generosity!

[caption id="attachment_1529" align="aligncenter" width="480"] The Flat Creek Inn[/caption]