Written by Hayden Seder Standing proudly on Hailey’s Main Street is the iconic Liberty Theater, a landmark in the area since it was built in 1938. In its almost 100 years of history, it has had many owners, seen a variety of performances come through, and been an entertainment mainstay to the residents of the Wood River Valley. History The original Liberty Theater was built in the early 1900s across the street from the present-day theater, which was built on the site of an old outdoor skating rink in 1938. It sold to new owners in the ’70s, and again, in 1994, to new locals Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. It was Willis who convinced his friend Denise Simone of the then two-year-old theater company Company of Fools (CoF), then located in Richmond, Virginia, to relocate to Hailey, Idaho, and use the theater as her company’s new home. Despite having never been to the area, Simone and her CoF cofounders were convinced, and promptly relocated to their new town and the theater they would call home for the next few decades. The company debuted with a performance of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman, which performed to thirty people …
Why Sun Valley is the Original Mountain Town
Written by Hayden Seder The West is full of unique mountain towns, with storied histories, small-town charm, and retaining the kind of values that drew people to them in the first place. But few can compare to Sun Valley, which many argue is the “original” mountain town, and has been able to maintain so much of the original allure that made it such. A truly unique confluence of community, culture, and wilderness, Sun Valley is still the perfect mountain town that it was throughout its storied history, from its start as a mining town to becoming the country’s first ski resort. Photo courtesy of The Community Library Center for Regional History Mining History Though the Sun Valley area has been populated for thousands of years, from when Indigenous members of the Shoshone, Bannock, and Lemhi tribes migrated to the area, the Sun Valley we know today began to take shape with the discovery of gold in the West in the 1870s. European settlers and prospectors began to settle in the area, searching for gold (and ultimately forcing out the tribes that had settled in the area). By the early 1880s, the discovery of silver, lead, and other minerals had led …
Cool Off in Sun Valley, Idaho: Your Guide to Local Ice Cream
written and photographed by Hayden Seder For a small town, Sun Valley has a wide variety of ice cream options, from year-round shops to seasonal stands to locally made flavors available for purchase. With the summer heat in full swing, it’s time to learn about the best spot for grabbing a scoop, cone, or shake to satisfy your ice cream cravings. The Sweet Spot Located next to Ramen Cowboy (and under the same ownership) is The Sweet Spot, a Japanese-inspired ice cream shop serving taiyaki ice cream and a variety of imported candies, treats, novel beverages, and savory snacks. Taiyaki is a popular Japanese style of ice cream that uses a crispy, mochi fish-shaped cone to hold the icy delights rather than a traditional waffle cone. These delightful-looking cones are made on a griddle behind the counter, so you can see your fish-shaped cone coming to life as you wait. The shop offers classic flavors as well as more adventurous Japanese ones, like ube, and non-dairy options are available as well. From the cone–shaped lights to the cone itself to the shop’s outdoor courtyard, practically every moment of eating ice cream at this shop is memory (and Instagram) worthy. Leroy’s …
What We’re Made of: Merlin’s Magic Lantern
Ketchum’s only movie theater, Merlin’s Magic Lantern, has been a presence in this town for fifty years, seeing countless movies appear on its screens and just as many patrons, both local and out-of-towners, come through its doors. New owner Bob Peterson has taken over the historic theater, breathing new life into the business born of former owner Rick Kessler’s passion for movies. The History It’s hard to believe there was a time in Ketchum’s history when the Magic Lantern wasn’t in operation, but until owner Rick Kessler moved here in 1972 and opened the theater three years later, in 1975, that was indeed the case. The theater, named for the 17th-century image projector, originally opened in the Odd Fellows Hall, on Washington Avenue, until the size of the growing community demanded a bigger space, and Kessler moved into the theater’s current space across the street, on Second Street. Just 25 years old when he opened the Magic Lantern, Kessler envisioned providing something he saw as essential to a community: not just a space to see movies, but a place to meet friends, a place for kids to go on a summer afternoon, a place for tourists to go in the …
What We’re Made Of: 4 Roots
Located on Sun Valley Road is a small business that packs a big punch: 4 Roots, a breakfast andlunch café that serves up food for any and all dietary restrictions, from gluten-free to paleo andvegan and everything in between. What started for owners Beth Sluder and Chris Steen as ahealth journey through diet for their daughter with an autoimmune disease became an endeavorinto providing healthy, sustainable dining options for patrons—an embodiment of the café’sslogan “We have your health in mind.” How it Started Twin Falls locals, Beth and Chris began eating at 4 Roots in Twin after their now seventeen-year-old daughter began getting sick starting at the age of two. After learning that their daughter’snutrition may affect her symptoms, they became obsessed with cleaning up her diet, which ledthem to the café they would eventually buy years later. At the time, 4 Roots was a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant, with a small menu, lawn furniture for seating, and a kitchen set up for basichome cooking. But the family of three loved eating there, to the point that the owner eventuallyoffered to sell them 4 Roots in 2017.Thought it wasn’t what either Beth or Chris were involved with at the time the …
What We’re Made of: Party Animal Vodka
Perhaps you’ve spied the bottle on the shelf at the local liquor store or bar—a clear glass bottle with a label featuring a wolf peering out of pine trees (an updated version of what used to be a jaguar peering out of the jungle, which they changed to showcase their Idaho roots)—and were intrigued enough to order a drink made with this award-winning, craft vodka made in Idaho from locally sourced russet potatoes. This is Party Animal, a cause-based vodka produced right in the Wood River Valley that not only tastes exceptional but also gives back to the many animal organizations in the area. After six years in business, Party Animal is going strong and has no plans of stopping. How It Started While Party Animal Vodka would get its official start in the Wood River Valley, the brand’s origins trace back to a Friday night in college, when founder Kate Cullen was pondering her weekend plans which, like that of many other college students, included drinking. It was 2011, and Kate felt unsatisfied by the vodkas on the market. She wanted something that related to her and her lifestyle, from having friends over to the dorms to attending a …
What We’re Made of: Sonic Boom
While many businesses over the years have sold a smattering of records (and back in the day, shops like Twist n Trout and Big Bad Bills sold CDs), the Wood River Valley has never had a dedicated record store selling vinyl (at least not in my lifetime). But Mike Pitts, owner of Sonic Boom in Seattle and now Sun Valley, has opened the doors to Ketchum’s newest record store, peddling new and used vinyl, as well as tapes and CDs, to all manner of music lover in the area. The History It was a bit of a journey for Mike to make his way to the music industry. While he had been buying records from Sonic Boom since he was a teenager, Mike had been operating a real estate company with his brother-in-law for ten years when Sonic Boom was listed for sale, in 2016. Luckily, his supportive wife, who knew how miserable Mike was in the real estate game, called and told him he was quitting his job and figuring out how to purchase Sonic Boom and make it work. So he did, and soon he was the owner of an establishment that had been an integral part of …
What We’re Made of: Alternative Education
Despite the relatively small size of the Wood River Valley, educational institutions abound, with sizes and styles for every type of learner. In addition to the eight public schools in the area (Hailey Elementary, Hemingway STEAM School, Wood River Middle School, Wood River High School, Alturas Elementary, Bellevue Elementary, Carey Public School, Silver Creek High School), there are also five schools providing what might be called “alternative education”: Sun Valley Community School, the Sage School, Syringa Mountain School, Pioneer Montessori School, and Trinity School. Read on to learn about each of their unique curriculums, founding, and the benefits of such educational models. Sun Valley Community School The only independent school in the Wood River Valley educating pre-K through 12th grade, the Sun Valley Community School was founded in 1973 and serves roughly 435 students. While small class sizes, excellent teachers, and robust academics contribute to the esteemed reputation of the school, it’s some of Community School’s unique programming, like their Outdoor Program, the Academies, and Boarding Program that make it so unique. The Outdoor Program has been a key component of the school since its founding over 50 years ago and is an integral part of every student’s experience throughout …
What We’re Made Of: Sun Valley Pride
For several years now, Sun Valley Pride has joined the ranks of other meaningful Sun Valley events produced by and for locals, all in the name of providing community. In this case, that community is the LGBTQIA+ community, for which Sun Valley Pride provides a multi-day event full of performers, music, and fun. From what was once a modest singular event to now a full week of both paid and free activities, Sun Valley Pride draws attendees and performers from across the nation. How It Started What is now an entire week of Pride events started as just one: Pride in the Garden, at the nonprofit Sawtooth Botanical Garden (SBG). Executive Director Jen Smith had only been in her role for a few years when she suggested the Garden do a Pride event as a way to raise funds. As she says, they didn’t need to do another golf tournament or poker run like other organizations in the area had done as fundraisers. The board went wild, and the first Pride in the Garden event was held in 2021, which Jen describes as “a social justice event trying to bring awareness to the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies and to …
What We’re Made Of: Swiftsure Ranch Therapeutic Equestrian Center
South of Bellevue lies a beautiful, sprawling property, home to Swiftsure Ranch, a nonprofit organization founded in 1991 to help those with physical, mental, and emotional needs through equine-assisted activities. The ranch helps many individuals, including veterans, children, the elderly, and others, throughout the Wood River Valley through its many programs. Currently, the organization employees eight staff (six full time, two part time), is assisted by roughly 150 volunteers, and helps about 385 clients a year with its 21 horses. Using these unique therapeutic equine connections, Swiftsure helps empower individuals of all abilities to gain strength and freedom. The Ranch Swiftsure Ranch moved to its current location on 191 acres just south of Bellevue in 2011, allowing for more facilities and more expansive grounds. The ranch is joined on the west by BLM lands and mountain and water views; one mile of the Big Wood River passes through the property. The centerpiece of the equine programs is the 32,000-square-foot, indoor, heated arena, which allows the organization to operate year-round. A 20-stall barn accommodates up to 40 horses, and there’s also outdoor paddocks, pastures, and a smaller 12-stall barn. Inside the main arena is a tack room, complete with adaptive saddles, …