Rigby is located in the Upper Snake River Valley and is closely connected to the history of television: The city bears the nickname “Birthplace of Television” and is the hometown of Philo T. Farnsworth. There are different ways to plan a stay: museums and commemorations are complemented by golf, a seasonal market, and events whose dates or schedules depend on the year or the weather. If you’re looking for a hotel in Rigby, it helps to first decide what brings you there: Is your trip mainly about technology and regional history, time on the golf course, or a seasonal event?
Technology and Regional History
The Jefferson County Historical Museum features 14,000 square feet of exhibits on the pre-electric and early electric eras, the history of Jefferson County, and early photography. These topics connect the changes brought about by electricity with regional history and historical images. Those looking to explore Rigby’s connection to television further will find a different, inventor-focused perspective at the Farnsworth TV & Pioneer Museum, which showcases local inventors, including Philo T. Farnsworth. The town’s offerings thus include both broader county-wide topics and a focused look at the history of invention.
The Jefferson County Veterans Memorial offers another perspective. A 2020 report lists 3,449 names of men and women from Jefferson County who served in the armed forces from the Civil War through the present day at that time. This span makes the memorial a different historical point of reference from the exhibits on electrification, photography, and inventors: Its focus is on people from the county and their military service.
Golf and a Seasonal Market
Jefferson Hills Golf Course offers an active counterpoint to museum visits. It provides junior golf lessons and private instruction for individuals and groups. The course is set among mature trees and a meandering riverbed, and the area is also home to diverse wildlife. The combination of lessons and scenery offers a distinct reason to visit for guests who want to include golf in their stay. It also provides a different focus for the day than a visit dedicated to the museums.
Rigby Farmers Market in South Park is a seasonal destination for locally produced goods, honey, dairy products, and eggs, along with food trucks and artisan booths. The selection may vary by season. The market adds another dimension to trip planning: Here, the focus is on food and crafts rather than exhibits or golf. If you want to make the market a key part of your visit, check the dates before traveling and keep in mind that its offerings are seasonal.
Plan Around Event Seasons and Years
The Rigby Stampede Days program includes rodeo competitions such as bull riding and barrel racing; offerings may change from year to year. Two event days were announced for June 21 and 22, 2024. A parade on Main Street was also scheduled for June 22, 2024. These dates are not current: For a future trip, check the announced dates and program for the relevant event year.
Recurring features of The Ice Palace include ice tunnels, sledding hills, fire performances, and local food vendors. The 2025/26 winter season was canceled due to weather conditions; a return in the 2026/27 season depends on sufficiently cold temperatures. If this seasonal offering is important to your trip, check before making plans whether conditions are suitable for the season in question.
Discover more destinations: Ririe.
See the main travel overview: Jefferson.
