Coelette Restaurant, Jackson, Wyo.
RETROFIT TEAM
ARCHITECT: Dubbe Moulder Architects
OWNER: Old Growth LLC
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Wilkinson Montesano Builders
CIVIL/STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Nelson Engineering
MEP ENGINEER: Energy 1 LLC
INTERIOR DESIGNER: GYDE Architects
ROOFING CONTRACTOR: Salt River Roofing, (307) 885-3084
MATERIALS
The following is a sampling of materials used in the project:
WINDOWS: Jeld-Wen
LOG-JAM SYNTHETIC CHINKING: Sashco
ROOFING: Tapersawn Western Red Cedar Shingles
THE RETROFIT
The Coe Cabin is one of the last remaining structures from Jackson’s earliest years. Built in 1915, the structure was the home of Ed and Emily Coe. It was converted into a restaurant in 1976; locals knew the building as the Sweetwater Restaurant, which operated for more than 40 years.
When Sweetwater closed in 2017, the cabin, along with two other historic structures, were listed for sale. They were purchased by John and Shelley Holland, local preservationists willing to
restore the log structures rather than razing them. Their goal was to rehabilitate the cabin to become a vibrant, functioning place of business while ensuring its continued presence in the dwindling historic fabric of downtown Jackson. However, this goal didn’t come without challenges.
According to an article in Jackson Hole News & Guide: “To buy the building another century, crews had to carefully and meticulously disassemble the walls and put everything back together. Rotting logs in the foundation needed to be replaced. Building codes and regulations require a delicate ‘Goldilocks’ balance to fix what’s needed without triggering upgrades to meet current codes, which [John] Holland said could destroy the building’s original character.”
Kurt Dubbe, principal at Dubbe Moulder Architects and a historic preservation specialist, was brought on to retain the historic character of the original cabin and design an addition to be used as a bar, complete with a rooftop dining deck overlooking Snow King Mountain. “We didn’t want to freeze Sweetwater in time,” Dubbe told Jackson Hole News & Guide. “Its success and its future will depend heavily on human occupancy and human enjoyment.”
The 18-month renovation entailed disassembling the entire building, carefully labeling each log so that the structure could be reassembled once the foundation and floor were replaced.
Today, the cabin has reopened as Coelette Restaurant. Even with the new addition and components, the building recalls Jackson’s history. For example, the log walls likely were constructed from old-growth pines that grew on the Snow King Mountain hillside when the first settlers arrived.
Dubbe Moulder Architects was delighted to be part of the team that brought the cabin new life so it will continue to be a restaurant where diners from all over the world can appreciate its history and ambiance.