The fascinating history of Sun Valley begins in1935, when Count Felix Schaffgtosch, was hired by Union Pacific Railroad to search of the perfect spot for a grand American resort. When he heard talk of a mining town in Ketchum, Idaho, he decided to explore. Once he reached Ketchum Valley, he found it to be more beautiful than any winter resort area he had seen in Switzerland, Austria or the United States. Thus, Sun Valley Resort was born. It would soon become the chosen resort for celebrities and royalty.
Today, it has retained its popularity. With 36% beginner terrain, 42% intermediate and 22 advanced; Sun Valley is a cruiser’s paradise. Nineteen lifts serve 90 trails, and the mountain has a vertical rise of 3,400 feet.
Mountain Dining
There are four main lodges. River Run Plaza is at the base of Baldy Mountain. It has a variety of skier services. It’s also a great place for a full breakfast. Stop in for lunch and enjoy the salad bar or the wok bar.
Warm Springs, at the base of Bald Mountain, is famous for its spectacular potato bar. The Seattle Ridge Lodge is located atop the Seattle Ridge area of Baldy, at an elevation of 8800 feet. It has superb views of the Wood River valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. Lunch, fare includes mesquite grilled entrees, wood-fired pizza, pastas, soups and gourmet salads. Dollar Mountain Lodge is Sun Valley’s newest mountain lodge, which was created especially for families with children. Located at the base of Dollar Mountain, it is easily accessible by foot from Sun Valley Village. Breakfast and lunch are served.
Accommodations:
To get a true taste of Sun Valley elegance, book a room at the Sun Valley Lodge. The film, Sun Valley Serenade was filmed at this lodge. As such, every day, the lodge is filled with the music of Glen Miller and other musicians that contributed to the film’s soundtrack. A stay here is definitely a journey back in time. However, if the price of this time travel is a bit steep for your budget, you might consider the Tamarack Lodge. Rooms are equipped with microwaves and coffee makers. Some rooms have balconies. End the end of a hard day on the slopes; enjoy a soak in the Tamarack’s hot tub.
Off Season at Sun Valley
Ernest Hemmingway wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls when he was a guest at the Sun Valley Lodge. As such, every year in September, the Sun Valley Chamber presents a three-day Hemingway Festival. Mid-October brings the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which celebrates the tradition of sheep herders bringing their flocks from the summer pastures to the winter mountains. Come summer, visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking and mountain biking. Sun Valley is truly a year-round resort.
|
