When our family arrived at the mountain Mecca, Sun
Valley, I expected cowbells to clang. After all, this is the most famous,
historic ski resort in the country.
Sun Valley is the “original,” home of
the world’s first chairlift, on Dollar Mountain in 1936. The
skiing at Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain is long and steep, dropping a demanding
3,400 vertical from 9,150’ served by 7 high speed quads and a new gondola that whisk you back
up with stunning Sawtooth Mountain scenery and the trademark “Sun Valley
sunshine.”
On an Idaho powder day - Sun Valley has extensive bowl skiing that would
prove awesome, and a switch from the consistently pitched groomed boulevards
like Picabo,
Gretchen’s Gold and Hemingway (trail names are the real deal
here). Sun Valley's green circle trails like Muffy's Medals would be rated
blue or black elsewhere.
Sun Valley’s Dollar Mountain, a short drive away, is geared more toward
learning families with more blue and green trails.
Sun Valley Resort
is super posh (and we have visited Deer Valley, Beaver Creek and
even Yellowstone Club). Sun Valley’s luxurious timber lodges at the Warm
Springs and River Run base areas and the Seattle Ridge summit on
Bald
Mountain cater to skiers with fine cuisine, leather couches by roaring
fireplaces, and magnificent marble bathrooms ($8 million was the price tag
on the latest Seattle Ridge Lodge).
As for the snow, Sun Valley boasts the most sophisticated computerized
snowmaking system in the world. With a push of a button, an inch of powder
freshens the surface conditions most nights leaving a dusting of dreamy snow on
the most trafficked trails.
Your kids could easily become spoiled here with perfectly groomed trails,
gorgeous ski lodges, and ski and boot valet at the base of the hill each
night.
Earl Holding, of Sinclair Oil, purchased the resort in 1974, and
has updated the upscale resort. Holding also owns Snowbasin in Utah
(acquired in 1984) which he considered calling Sun Valley Utah. Holding’s
philosophy, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing.”
A
new Round House gondola delivers skiers and diners in style to the original
1939 Round House – the first on mountain lodge that still serves Alpen fare with a fireplace and accordion music. Sun
Valley's Roundhouse is a must
lunch spot, lobster bisque, cheese fondue, raclette, and chocolate fondue
are a few of the traditional temptations. Other Sun Valley additions include
a palatial Nordic and Golf Center, and an incredible performing arts
Pavilion.
We recommend you stay at the 1936
Sun Valley Lodge,
full of history in the
hallways. The Lodge is a happening place for families with indoor and
outdoor ice rinks, a huge outdoor heated pool, plus a bowling alley and game room.
The concept of the ski week originated at Sun Valley Lodge and the Inn
(1937), as skiers and movie stars came by train, now families come by SUV or
the Sun Valley valet shuttle.
If you don’t chose to skate after a full day of skiing, just watch the
professional skaters on the scenic outdoor rink and think of scene from the
famous flick, Sun Valley Serenade. For the shopper in the family, Sun Valley
village has friendly dining at Gretchen’s and Bald Mountain Pizza plus a few
gift and candy shops, or take a sleigh ride to Trail Creek Cabin for a
family-style fireside dinner in the woods. Downtown Ketchum has more diverse dining,
western saloons and shops.
Idaho Ski Reviews:
Our Idaho Ski Iditarod | Brundage | Soldier | Tamarack | Bogus Basin | Cat Skiing in Idaho
The Rockies | Colorado | Utah | Montana | California | Oregon | Canada | New England | Sun & Sea Travel
All Stories by Heather Burke
All Photography by Greg Burke
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