About Us
The History of Copperline Lodge

The 6 city blocks where the CopperLine Lodge was originally built was deeded to its original owner in 1946. The 30’x30’ Lodge proper was put together, log by log, in 1954 with a first floor kitchen and guest room that took up half of the ground floor, a meeting room that occupied the other half, and four evenly divided upstairs guest rooms that shared two bathrooms. Proof of the time frame is written on the second course of logs on the east wall in Gathering Room where it says in legible pencil, “Dorothy Wyers peeled this log August 1954.” (See photo)

Originally called “The Sportman’s Lodge,” the Wyers family operated it as a small hotel until they sold it to George Storer, founder of the Old Baldy Golf Club in 1963. Before that sale in 1960, the Wyers built the east wing with four more guest rooms and the west wing with three. After the sale to Old Baldy, ground crew workers and cooks who worked at the Club stayed in the Lodge until 2015—53 years—when the present owner, Dan Pont, a long time Marriage & Family Therapist with an interest in restoring old residences, purchased the property and began returning the Lodge to its original purpose.

Thanks to the Wyers and their vision when they built the facility, the Lodge was a perfect restoration project. Starting with a concrete block foundation, the stacked timber exterior walls are still in excellent condition. With a new copper roof (true to the theme), cedar siding and knotty pine tongue and groove floors throughout, plus moving a few walls and beams, the CopperLine Lodge is serving guests. They enjoy privacy, comfort, all the conveniences like hot showers, quiet rooms, TV and internet, and of course the nostalgic, rustic beauty of natural log and timber surroundings—like your grandma’s homey cabin.


Ferris-Haggerty Mine

Edison’s light bulb began commercial production in 1880, and the need for copper exploded over the next 20 years. Telegraph and telephone transmission lines also converted from steel to copper wire and contributed to the need for copper. So Ed Haggerty and George Ferris teamed up with investors and began exploiting a rich deposit of copper ore in the Sierra Madre Range in southern Carbon County, about 20 miles south of the today's CopperLine Lodge starting in 1897.

The roads were crude and often impassible with mud and snow in colder months, and rains in the summer often made the mine site inaccessible. So they built a tramway--16 miles of towers with baskets to carry the copper ore suspended on cable between the towers to move it from the mine in the mountains to the smelter in Encampment. Ore transit also included 4 miles of pipeline from the mine site to first tower where the baskets were loaded, and one stretch of the tram-line that crested the Continental Divide. My name for that engineering marvel: The CopperLine.


Meet the Owners

Dan and Nancy Pont, proprietors, are long time residents of Carbon County (and a few other interspersed places). Dan was a mental health therapist for many years in the County, wrote Sage Advice for the Daily Times, and also started several businesses in Rawlins and Saratoga. Nancy is a long time paralegal with a nursing background and specializes in medical malpractice cases. Dan did most of the remodeling of the Lodge and built the new rooms. Nancy makes breakfast every morning and has decorated the Lodge with a couple dozen home-sewn quilts.


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Reviews

Oh my gosh. I'm so happy here. This lodge is reminiscent of childhood family vacations. You are welcomed with open arms by Dan Jen and Jan. Beautiful across the board.
Samantha Fischer
March 2022
Home cooked breakfast, nice rooms, clean place and great people and atmosphere!
Lance Feickert
March 2022
Dan who owns the place is an absolute gem. The amount of work he did with his own hands to restore the lodge is incredible. The place is so clean, and has a very warm feeling. The breakfast is amazing, and it is so cozy in kitchen and dining area. What a treat! Dan spent time with our son who is 2 showing him all kinds of amazing artifacts he has collected throughout his life. Perfect place to stay if you are on a road trip to Jackson Hole, and even better if you are looking to explore the magic Saratoga has to offer!!! Thank you Dan for a wonderful stay that we won’t forget.
Kaeleigh Michelle
February 2022
We had an absolute wonderful stay here. The lodge was very comfortable & the owners were so enjoyable to visit with. We staying in the Owners Suite which was extremely comfortable. The bed was one of the most comfortable beds we’ve ever slept in. The bathroom was a little tricky to maneuver but once you got the hang of it it was a breeze. There were homemade muffins in the evening & delicious breakfast sandwiches, fruit, juice & coffee for breakfast. The fruit & sandwiches were wrapped so we grabbed a couple to go. We plan on visiting the area in the summer & will definitely stay here again.
Mark & Patty Champion
January 2022
Our stay at The Copperline was one of those great surprises you encounter not often enough. Super cozy, well-appointed rooms in a restored 1957 motor lodge. Comfortable bed, large towels, very quiet area of town and a fully equipped kitchenette made for a super nice stay. Plus two homemade burritos delivered to our room for breakfast!
Andy Burke
September 2021
The owners provide towels and robes for the guests to take to the community hot springs.They had a delicious breakfast that was delivered to our door before 6am.The rooms were cozy and pet friendly.I’ve recommended it to everyone, it’s a wonderful get-away especially for Wyoming people looking for a weekend excursion!
Dandee Pattee
August 2021