Home of the worlds’ first chair lift, Sun Valley is adjacent to the old mining town of Ketchum Idaho within the Wood River Valley.
South of Ketchum you’ll find the towns of Hailey (Friedman Memorial Airport) and Bellevue, the gate way to the “Sun Valley” region. To the north is the first “Dark Sky Reserve” in the United States, the headwaters of the Salmon River and Stanley, Idaho and the vast Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
As the saying goes, “people come for the snow but they stay for the summers”. Sun Valley has become more than just a destination ski resort. With it abundance of sunny days the area has been a home to the rich and famous since the opening of the iconic Sun Valley Lodge in 1937 by Averill Harriman of the Union Pacific Railroad. Yet, the vibe is low key and relaxed.
Sun Valley truly has something for everyone. Culture and the arts are an important aspect of the area. The Sun Valley Music Festival hosts the largest free admission summer symphony in America in a stunning pavilion built in 2008. The Sun Valley Gallery Association with 20 some galleries hosting walks summer and winter, the annual Film Festival, July 4th Rodeos and Fireworks, the Writers Conference and many more programs and events are part of the fabric of the community.