Sun Valley: America’s First Destination Ski Resort
Since its inception, Sun Valley has been a rustically sophisticated location offering the most modern of amenities, including the invention of the chairlift in 1938. Averell designated a Streamliner train, “The City of Los Angeles,” to run daily, bringing high-powered celebrities like Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, and Clark Gable to the valley. Ernest Hemingway was a long time resident of the Sun Valley area, and wrote most of For Whom the Bell Tolls within its confines. Schaffgotsch chose Sun Valley because of its light, dry powder (the best for skiing), challenging slopes, exposure to the sun, and the majestic Sawtooth mountains to the north that served as protection. The celebrities chose Sun Valley because they could get away from the press of crowds and the insanity of Hollywood.
Celebrities still escape to Sun Valley. Now they even have permanent homes. The most famous permanent resident is Demi Moore, who owns a ranch in Hailey. Moore and her ex-husband, Bruce Willis, bought a home in Sun Valley and lived there so often that their kids attended school in Hailey and Moore participated in the PTA. Even though Moore lives mainly in Los Angeles with new man Ashton Kutcher, Bruce Willis has a house of his own in the Sun Valley area. Willis loves the area, and lives in Los Angeles only because that is where his daughters live with Moore now. Willis tells contactmusic.com that “LA is my least favorite city, but my kids are in school there. I had just finished a house in Sun Valley (Idaho). I figured the kids were gonna finish school there and I was gonna live in Sun Valley. Now that house has been relegated to a vacation home.” His disappointment in having his Sun Valley home so demoted is evident, but his pleasure in getting away from Hollywood is apparent as he plans to head to Sun Valley with the girls as soon as school is out.
Other celebrities that enjoy Sun Valley include presidential nominee John Kerry, Candace Bergen, Clint Eastwood and Robin Williams, both of whom own property in this remote section of Idaho. Arnold Schwartzenegger and his wife, Kennedy family member Maria Shriver, own a home in Sun Valley. In fact, as Cigar Aficionado reports, Shriver put the kibosh on smoking Shwartenegger’s beloved cigars at the Sun Valley home: “You’re certainly not going to smoke cigars up here, are you – not in all this wonderful, fresh, clean air?”
And it is not just the fresh, clean air that makes Sun Valley so appealing. The whole area combines beautifully rugged scenery with posh accommodations. Luxury hotels like the Relais & Chateau offer top of the line suites and amenities, and there are plenty of upscale condominiums to rent or buy. Additionally, spas are found in most hotels, and the Solavie Spa Retreat offers healing waters heated by the active geo-thermal forces that created the valley in the first place. Fine dining is also available at restaurants like Michel’s Christiania, Chandler’s, Evergreen Bistro, and Felix’s, where you can find tasty food and possibly glimpse a celebrity or two.
Sun Valley also offers a variety of summer activities, making it a year-round destination. There is live music and galleries are located throughout the valley. Additionally, there is shopping, although not the same upscale boutiques found at Aspen or Jackson Hole. But Sun Valley does not need these things. After all, the celebrities come to get away from the same old, same old, but still experience luxury and comfort. Hiking and horseback riding provide novel excursions for the likes of Bill Gates and Michael Eisner. There are plenty of places like the Diamond D Ranch where one can charter horseback rides and adventures in the wilderness surrounding Sun Valley.
And, because Sun Valley boasts its own landing strip, it is not necessary for the rich and famous to ride in on a train, or drive in from Boise. They can land right in the valley in style in private jets. This is so regular that Gulf Streams are now a permanent part of the landscape.
