The hotel was built on property that had been bought by Charles Wort, father of John and Jess, who operated a livery stable on the site from 1915 to 1932.

The Worts began to assemble land in the center of Jackson in 1915 with the aim of eventually building a hotel.

In 1917 Charles and Luella bought the Jackson Hotel at North Cache and Deloney, operating it for slightly more than a year.

In 1925 they built a house across from the future hotel on West Broadway, ending their career as ranchers.

They had previously built a log cabin at Broadway and Cache for their sons to stay in when inclement weather prevented them from returning home from school in Jackson.

In the 1930s the Worts operated their hunting concession in the Gros Ventre Mountains at what is now the Gap Puche Cabin.

The proceeds from the sale financed the construction of the Wort Hotel, undertaken by John and Jess, Charles having died in 1933.