Aspen Ski Co to Build Limelight Hotel in Sun Valley Hotel Plan Marks First Development Outside of Aspen   Sun Valley, ID (For Immediate Release) Aspen Skiing Co. will build a Limelight Hotel at the base of the Sun Valley ski area in Ketchum, Idaho, marking the company's first expansion beyond Colorado. Aspen Skiing bought the Limelight in downtown Aspen in 2010 and has grown the 126-room hotel into one of the resort valley's most popular lodges, with dog-friendly, relatively affordable guest rooms and a festive lobby. The company — which operates four ski areas in the Roaring Fork Valley and Aspen's tony Little Nell hotel — last year announced plans for a 102-room Limelight at the base of its Snowmass ski area, a project the town of Snowmass Village hopes will spark stalled base village development plans. The Sun Valley Limelight is approved for 119 hotel rooms and 11 residential units. Aspen Skiing will request "minor modifications" to the hotel project, which has been approved by the city of Ketchum. Aspen Skiing purchased the property, near Sun Valley's River Run base of Bald Mountain, from developer Bald Mountain LLC for an undisclosed price. "We believe that the Limelight would …

Hailey Named Top 10 Small Town for 2014 Livability Touts Hailey’s Healthy Lifestyle and Small Town Values   For Immediate Release (Sun Valley, ID) Hailey, Idaho, one of four towns which comprise the immediate Sun Valley region, was recently recognized by Livability as one of its Top 10 Small Towns. Hailey was recognized for not only great schools, low pollution, and high community involvement but also low crime, a high level of employment, and the greatest income distribution of any of the other towns which made the list. Livability says, “The people who live in Hailey enjoy a laid-back lifestyle filled with outdoor excursions to the nearby ski resorts, hiking/biking trails, and fishing holes.  The City of Hailey maintains several parks and trails including Hop Porter Park which hosts the Northern Rockies Music Festival.  The City is currently in the midst of improving its rodeo grounds by adding an ice skating rink, expanding the adjacent skate park and adding more parking spaces.” Livability goes on to recognize Hailey for its great dining scene as well as lively arts and culture community.  Located 15 miles from the city of Sun Valley and the ski areas of Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, …

2013-14 has been a big year for the Sun Valley region, not the least of which due to several awards bestowed on the destination for its world class outdoor recreation, pristine natural environment, robust arts and culture community and overall appeal as an idyllic mountain town. Some of the highlights for the past seasons include: ·       2013 Best 12 Small Art Towns in United States – ArtPlace Magazine ·       2013 #4 Best Ski Resort in United States – Ski Magazine ·       2013 Top 10 Travel Destinations in the US – Lonely Planet ·       2013 Top 10 Ice Rinks in the US – Huffington Post ·       2013 Top 8 Ski Towns in North America – Powder Magazine ·       2013 Top 10 Ski Destinations in North America (#2) – USA Today ·       2013 Top 5 Funky Festivals in the US (Trailing of the Sheep) – USA Today ·       2013 Top 5 Bike Festivals in the US (Ride Sun Valley) – Outside Magazine ·       2014 Best Ski Destinations in US – Walls Street Journal ·       2014 Top 20 Small Towns to Visit – Smithsonian Magazine ·       2014 Top 10 Places to Ski in the US – Travel Guidepost ·       2014 Top 5 Romantic …

Sun Valley, ID (For Immediate Release) Beginning December 12, 2013 United Airlines will offer new daily non-stop seasonal winter and summer service between San Francisco (SFO) and Sun Valley (SUN).  The United Express flights will be operated by SkyWest Airlines using a CRJ 700 regional jet aircraft with seating for sixty-six passengers. The new service between Sun Valley and United's San Francisco hub, which has strong domestic and international connections, will run daily from Dec. 12 through March 30 for the 2013-14 winter season and from July 2 through September 23 for the 2014 summer season.   "We are pleased to add Sun Valley to the list of worldwide resort destinations United serves," said Vic Kerckhoff, United's director of leisure sales.  "These new flights provide travelers from the San Francisco area and beyond with convenient access to the wide variety of winter and summer recreational and cultural activities Sun Valley has to offer." The flight schedule for upcoming winter ski season will be: ·      Departs SFO at 10:40am, arrives SUN at 1:22pm ·       Departs SUN at 1:57pm, arrives SFO at 2:54pm  "With these new non-stop flights travelers can fly between San Francisco and Sun Valley in just under 2 hours. Our community …

Ouside Magazine ripped through the best bike festivals in the United States and found that Ride Sun Valley is right there with the best, many of whom have been at it for years.  In only its 3rd year, Ride Sun Valley has come a long way and being the company of stalwarts like Downieville and Crankworx certainly feels pretty good! Check out the rest of the story at OutsideMag.com

Sun Valley was recently named to the top 20 ski resorts in North America by Outside Magazine.  To learn more read THIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sun Valley Gets First Idaho “Epic Ride Center” Designation From International Mountain Bike Association   SANTA FE—Oct. 15, 2012 — The Sun Valley area has received a rare recognition from the International Mountain Bike Association, confirming what Sun Valley riders have known for years: that the Wood River Valley has some of the best, most diverse mountain biking opportunities in the country. The Wood River Bike Coalition accepted the “Epic Ride Center” designation from IMBA, an award given to very few areas annually, after a competitive review process by the organization. The Epic Ride Center program, according to IMBA, is the organization’s way of “spotlighting places that exemplify what mountain biking looks like when it’s done right,” according to IMBA. “The Wood River Valley takes its trails seriously and puts a lot of sweat equity into making them the best that they can be. This award is a reflection of a lot of hard work,” said Wood River Bike Coalition trail manager Greg Martin, who accepted the award along with Eric Rector, the trails director at Blaine County Recreation District. “I’m grateful to live in a place where people are willing to work to protect and enhance …

Earlier this summer the large brains at Bike Mag had become swollen with all of the interwebs and Instatweets blocking their sine waves from producing line raves.  So they unplugged and came for a session.  Riding what they called "the best damned singletrack I have ever seen" this merry bunch of editors, photographers, and industry wonks made themselves right at home here in the glory of a Sun Valley July and teed off.  They drank all of the beer, roosered all of the corners, and rabble-roused while they caroused leaving nary a stone unturned.  Here is the tale, at least the parts which could be shared with anyone who wasn't there.  

Men's Health has been on a hiking rampage scouring the United States for the best hikes in the country.  Not suprisingly the land of a million hikes was named in the top 10 with the Iron Creek Trail out of Stanley Idaho making the cut: http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/best-hikes