A Postcard from Sun Valley, Idaho
We took the kids skiing on Bald Mountain then skied back to our condo and changed our clothes for the ice show. The kids love jumping from the snow into the outdoor pool. Our vacation home couldn't be more perfect for our family.

  

About Sun Valley, Idaho
Surround by magnificent forests and wilderness, the dry sunny summers and mild sunny winters make Sun Valley aptly named. Star-studded, and star-priced, Sun Valley is basically luxury skiing. Ranked as one of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, Sun Valley supports its quality skiing with quality of life. A vacation home here is much more than skiing, it is lifestyle. If you don't believe it, read up on  Ernest Hemmingway's life, who loved it so much he settled here.

The Sun Valley area is not only famous for its ski resorts but also for its fishing and beautiful scenery. The locals and visitors that return year after year will tell you this is one of the best fishing areas in North America. Summer or winter, a variety of activities will keep even the most active of people busy. It is not at all unusual to see celebrities today in Sun Valley. It is a growing area and has a lot to offer for most everyone. Year-round, it is a place for enjoying a second home.

Local History

While Native American people lived in the valley for about 10,000 years, Europeans arrived with the gold rush in 1870's. In the past 100 years, Sun Valley has gone from a booming mining town to one of the nation's premier resorts with vacation homes and rentals. In its early years Sun Valley had 13 saloons, four restaurants, two hotels, three blacksmith shops, and a few other supply stores in town and was well-known for its "female boarding houses." After mining in the region declined, the Sun Valley Resort was opened in 1936, bringing celebrities and fame to the area.

An Average Lifestyle in Sun Valley, Idaho

A mixture of people who enjoy the outdoors, and work at the resorts, and then, since its on the map as a vacation destination, the tourists and second home owners are very present in the winter. Holidays are a busy time as it is a great place to be if you have your second home here.

Housing

Options: single family homes, condos, ranches

Costs: Average rentals for 3 bedroom condo is $1500, for 3 bedroom house is $2300. Median sales price in 2003 is listed as $1million, with it only slightly less at $900,000 in nearby Ketchum.

Things to Do in Sun Valley

Snowboarding

Skiing

Back country hut skiing

Dog Sledding

Helicopter Skiing

Ice skating

Snowmobile in the back country

Fly Fishing

Mountain Biking

Bird watching

Golf

Horseback Riding

Hunting

River Rafting

Swimming 

Cultural Activities in Sun Valley

Jazz Jambouree

Sun Valley Film Festival

Summer Symphony

Twilight Summer Concerts

Art Galleries

Blaine County Historic Museum

Ore Wagon Museum

Sun Valley Performing Arts Center

Company of Fools Theater Group

Location
South Central Idaho, in the Wood River Valley of Blaine County.

Elevation: 5,750 (Bald Mountain is 9,150)

Size:

Distance to other major cities

Boise: 154 miles (2.5 hours drive)

Salt Lake City: 297 miles (5 hour drive)

Getting To Sun Valley, Idaho

By air: Horizon Air from Seattle, Los Angeles and Oakland and Sky West from Salt Lake City, or by other airlines into Boise Airport (35 minutes) or Salt Lake City (60 minutes.)

Weather
The valley has a mountain desert climate.

Annual Average Temperature: Summer: 78, Winter: 23

Annual Average Snowfall: 150 inches (15 inches of rain).

Economics and Demographics

Population: 1,447 (county: 20,378)

Growth Rate: 3% for the county

Median Age, 2000:  39.4 (county)

Median Household Income:

Principle Industries
Tourism, health care, government