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ABOUT
SUN VALLEY
It was the 1870s, and gold had been discovered in the West. In search of fortune, prospectors and settlers began to populate the Wood River Valley and Ketchum became a hub for mining. Within a decade, the mining boom faded and sheep ranching became the prominent way of life. Ketchum settled in as a sleepy little town for several decades.
Then, after the Great Depression, W. Averell Harriman, Chief Executive of the Union Pacific Railroad, began searching for a way to build rail passenger traffic to the West. Harriman had experienced destination ski resorts in Europe and determined that this was the time to establish one in America.
During the winter of 1935-36, Harriman commissioned Count Felix Schaffgotsch to travel across the Western U.S. to find the perfect location for the ski resort. The count visited many of the locations that are now popular mountain resorts. However, it wasn’t until he toured Ketchum that he wrote back to Harriman, “Among the many attractive spots I have visited, this combines the more delightful features of any place I have seen in the United States, Switzerland, or Austria for a winter ski resort.”
In less than a year, the luxurious Sun Valley Resort was completed and ski runs were built on the nearby mountains. The world’s first chairlifts were installed in the fall of 1936 to take guests up the mountain in comfort and style. Many celebrities flocked to “America’s First Destination Ski Resort.” Ernest Hemingway frequently visited and eventually made Sun Valley home. From its opening to the present day, Sun Valley has been a destination for the rich and famous. Black and white photos of such visitors can be seen lining the halls of the Sun Valley lodge.
Presently, Sun Valley (a term used to speak of the general region made up of Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey & Bellevue) has an approximate population of 15,000 people. While its population is relatively small, Sun Valley attracts thousands of tourists yearly, and for good reason. Not only is Sun Valley ranked as a top ski resort, but it also offers almost endless adventure and activity both on and off the mountains, all year round.
The valley offers skiing, hiking, biking, world-class fishing, rafting, paragliding, golf, boating, and camping–to name a few. Off the mountain, the valley offers an arts and culture scene comparable to that of a large city. Upscale dining, quaint cafes, shopping, art galleries, world-class symphony, ballet, theatre, and festivals are all available here. And for those looking for that authentic, small-town vibe–you can find that too.
There is a reason people come here and a reason they choose to stay. Come see for yourself.
Sun Valley
Watch Now
Photos credit of:
(https://www.bchistoricalmuseum.org/permanent-displays/#transportation)
(http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/10/inspired-by-1932-oiympics-and-to.html)
(https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/cities/items/cities950.html)
(https://accidentallywesanderson.com/cities/sun-valley/)
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