Sun Valley, Idaho, located at the northern end of the Wood River Valley, is a natural wonderland. Sun Valley and nearby Ketchum, Idaho, based at an altitude of 5,750 feet, sit alongside Baldy, a popular ski mountain more than 9,000 feet in altitude. A river valley gently slopes all the way down to 5,300 feet, where two other cities, Hailey and Bellevue, are located. The region is populated with four lakes, two reservoirs, and hundreds of streams and additional alpine lakes winding throughout the surrounding mountains and valleys. The Sawtooth and Challis national forests are located nearby, as well. The 750,000-acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area is a center of outdoor recreation and attracts Sun Valley residents and tourists throughout the year. Sun Valley Ski Resort, named the country's best ski resort by Ski magazine, includes more than 2,000 skiable acres.

Despite what sounds like an arctic landscape, Sun Valley actually has a desert-like climate. The valley experiences an average of 15 inches of precipitation each year and a mere 30 percent humidity. Living up to its name, Sun Valley enjoys up to 15 hours of sunshine each day during the summer months. The sun shines throughout the dry summers and well into the city's mild, dry winters; average temperatures are 78 degrees in the summertime and 23 degrees in the wintertime. Annual snowfall is 150 inches, creating perfect ski conditions.

Sun Valley was born when, in January 1936, Count Felix Schaffgosch arrived in nearby Ketchum, Idaho, to discover a quiet mining town of 100 residents. Ketchum's once prosperous mining business had slowed to a trickle, and its population packed up and moved on to new opportunities. The Count had been appointed by Union Pacific to find prime territory in the West on which to build a ski resort. Within days after his arrival in Ketchum, the Count was sure he'd found the perfect spot. Less than one year later, Sun Valley Ski Resort opened its doors to the public as "America's First Destination Ski Resort." The resort soon developed a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous. Writer Ernest Hemingway settled here; in fact, his novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was completed in Sun Valley Lodge. Other celebrity regulars included Ingrid Bergman, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable and -- in more recent times -- Arnold Schwartzenegger and Maria Shriver.

Housing inventory in Sun Valley is tight and relatively expensive. To accommodate increasing demand, home developers have begun building comparatively less expensive single-family residences in the surrounding towns of Hailey and Bellevue. The demand for seasonal residences is high. Rental rates within Sun Valley tend to be more expensive than in its surrounding towns. Tourism historically has been the main economic lifeline for Sun Valley, but the local economy gradually has become more diverse, including a growing population of high-tech industries. Architecture is diverse, and many newcomers gravitate toward Sun Valley's popular log homes.

According to local Realtor Mo O'Connell of Cornerstone Realty, "Sun Valley enjoys some of Idaho's best funding due to its high property values. As a result, schools are excellent here, many of the district's specialized programs have been used as models for other school districts throughout the country."

If Blaine County sounds like your dream, but you have your doubts about your ability to afford a home here, O'Connell adds that contrary to what you might think, both rental prices and housing prices are quite diverse. Rents and home prices tend to be at their highest in the north and then gradually decrease as one heads south. According to O'Connell, renting a two-bedroom condo in Sun Valley or Ketchum will probably cost you about $1,000 per month, while a similar condo in Hailey could cost you about $550 per month -- a dramatic difference. Purchasing that condo in Sun Valley or Ketchum would cost you approximately $159,000; in Hailey, about $78,000.

Sun Valley is a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of overcrowded ski communities. It remains a naturally pristine, historic and well-preserved community in one of the United States' most beautiful -- and yet most underrated -- regions. For more information on Sun Valley, head to The Official Sun Valley Guide on the Internet; it's an excellent overview of the area whether you plan to head here during the summer or winter months.

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Published: February 15, 1999

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