“Where Vision Comes Into Focus”​

Sun Valley, Idaho has been welcoming the film industry since Averell Harriman opened America's first ski resort in 1936. To celebrate the area’s Hollywood heritage and bring it into the 21st century, the inaugural Sun Valley Film Festival was launched in March 2012 and was an immediate success. Heading into its fifth year in 2016, the Sun Valley Film Festival continues to build on that success with over 60 films including world premieres, networking dinners, unique panels, passionate discussions and memorable parties. The Sun Valley Film Festival brings together over 3,500 festival goers for five unforgettable days where industry insiders and movie lovers alike, gather to celebrate the art of filmmaking in a majestic setting.

USA Today agrees, naming Sun Valley one of the Top 10 “Greatest Places for a Fabulous Film Festival.”  

Learn More at: www.sunvalleyfilmfestival.org

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation freestyle skier Henry Cherp is all business and all creative energy carving his way down Baldy’s Roundhouse Slope during Sunday’s sunny final day of the sixth annual Sun Valley Freestyle Spectacular. The two-day event featured 192 runs for Saturday’s single moguls, 91 runs for Sunday’s singles and 100 runs in duals.

The El Niño winter stoke is alive in well in Sun Valley! Nearly 7 FEET!! of snow has fallen so far this season with no sign of letting up. Skiers and boarders are reaping the benefits of deep powder days and all-time coverage. This season is shaping up to be one you'll want to add to your highlight reel!

El Niño or as Chris Farley referred to in simpler terms as, “The Niño“, brought about a mixed bag of early season predictions from meteorologists far and wide. Skiers and boarders throughout the west became overnight skeptics serving up their own myriad of prophesied forecasts as to whether it would be a lack luster winter or flashback to being like the “good old days”. At the end of the day, no one could put any weight behind their hunches for what the 2015/2016 season would bring.

Fast forward to the first actual day of winter and we have a bit of empirical data to suggest that this El Niño is coming through huge, bringing those good old days back to Sun Valley. As of December 22nd, Bald Mountain has seen nearly 7 feet of crowd-pleasing snowfall. We’re savoring all-time conditions that have opened up access to certain terrain that hasn’t been rideable in years past. Enough hyping up the winter we’re having here – we’ll let the photos below do the talking for us.

IT’S HARD TO GET AWAY from it all these days. With sprawling cities and ever-expanding cell networks, it’s more difficult than ever to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature. That’s where Idaho comes in. The Gem State is still largely wild, rugged, and mostly left alone, while tourists flood the bigger names nearby: the Tetons, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Valley.

And that’s a really fantastic thing for the rest of us. Because unbeknownst to the masses, this mountain state has a river gorge deeper than the Grand Canyon, a granite mountain wilderness area larger than Yosemite, and Teton-caliber trekking without all the tourists. It’s a place to get off the grid — to revel in the remoteness.

Here’s a little bit more on what that looks like. 

For nearly 80 years the Sun Valley Lodge has been recognized as an icon of architecture, hospitality and comfort in the Wood River Valley. Last September the Lodge was closed and a total renovation was undertaken. Last week I got a tour of the remodeled facility and new spa, which is set to open to the public on June 15, 2015. Suffice to say, I was very impressed.

All the guest rooms and restaurants have been remodeled down to the studs, as well as the hotel lobby and lounge. All The smaller guest rooms have been combined to create suites with fireplaces and expanded bathrooms with large showers, vanity areas and air conditioning. The new 20,000 square foot spa sits adjacent to the new saline pool and patio area. The spa will offer relaxation treatments, health and wellness activities, salon services and more. There are private treatment rooms, a yoga studio and a large fitness facility. For more information on the new Sun Valley Lodge, please visit their website at http://www.sunvalley.com

Are you planning a trip or vacation to Sun Valley, Idaho this summer? Please let me know the dates so I can put it on my calendar. I would welcome the chance to meet and answer your questions about the Sun Valley area and current real estate trends in Blaine County. I hope to hear from you soon.