I flew into the only airport inside a US national park. It felt more like a luxury hotel lobby than a terminal.

On the plane, captivated by views of Grand Teton National Park below, I was stoked to land at JAC.

JAC has existed since the 1930s and has undergone several renovations by CLB Architects over the past decade.

According to the firm’s website, the National Parks Service limits the airport’s height to 18 feet, so the building is short and has an open floor plan.

To exit the plane, we stepped out into the fresh air and entered the terminal through a sculpture of antlers in true Wyoming style. With mountains to my left and a functional piece of art on my right, I already knew this would be an above-average airport.

I saw a large stainless steel mural as I walked into the terminal. According to the airport’s website, it’s a map of the view out your plane window when flying into Jackson Hole.

Being greeted with this unique wall art and sculptures of animals and cowboys surrounding baggage claim was the ideal way to start my first trip to Wyoming.

Walking through JAC sort of felt like walking through an art museum. On my way out, I spotted more exhibits, including framed paintings and artifacts in glass casings.

When I arrived in Jackson Hole, I rushed out of the airport to start my adventure. But on the way home, I had a chance to see more of the building.

The exterior almost looked like a natural structure, with glass walls, wooden awnings, and pillars made from Douglas fir trees, according to the airport’s website.

The wooden ceilings and Douglas fir pillars extended into the interior. Paired with dim mood lighting, it reminded me of a cabin in the woods.

CLB Architects renovated the space to give it a “living room” feel, according to the firm’s website.

The terminal was small, with less than a dozen gates, so I was surprised by the variety of food options, including a full-service restaurant and a spacious grab-and-go snack area.

There were two gift shops at JAC — one standard souvenir gift shop and another Grand Teton National Park store selling various goods, from clothing to water bottles.

I thought about how Grand Teton visitors could spend more time exploring the park and save the shopping for the airport.

I’ve been to a lot of airports, and I rarely see trash that’s this organized. The categories even separated magazines from newspapers.

Those waiting for flights at JAC don’t need a screen. The views out the wide windows lining the terminal are entertainment enough.

But I was grateful to be able to charge my devices. Each power strip beneath nearly every seat had a regular wall outlet, two USB ports, and two USB-C ports. I charged my phone, laptop, and camera at the same time without scrambling for an open outlet, as I normally do at airports.

Since Grand Teton National Park is known for its bear population, I wasn’t too surprised to see a bear spray rental counter at JAC. But still, it’s certainly a kiosk I’d never seen in an airport.

What surprised me more was the shelf of free books provided by the Teton County Library in the terminal. Most titles appeared to be novels, and a selection for children was on the bottom shelf.

In my experience, airport bathrooms are clean at best. But at JAC, the bathroom felt luxurious, with mood lighting and a stone backsplash behind the sinks.

Unlike most flights I take, I wasn’t relieved to be leaving the airport. Waiting at JAC felt more like waiting in a luxurious hotel lobby than in a terminal — and I can’t wait to fly back.