Sun Valley Brings Home the Three-peat
We are beyond excited to announce that Sun Valley has been voted the #1 Ski Resort in North America by SKI Magazine readers for the third year in a row! We are humbled and honored to receive this award, and we owe it all to our employees, community and guests who make Sun Valley such a special place.
History has seen many kinds of victory celebrations. The shaken champagne bottles and the Gatorade baths. The knee slides across the pitch and creative end zone dances. But there’s only one celebratory style that makes sense to us—to toast this honor, and the season ahead, with our community. Ready to celebrate? Here’s what we have in mind.
A Hearty Thanks & A Prayer for Snow
We cordially invite you to join us for a victory lap. Bust out your best vintage duds and get ready to boogie—the Pray for Snow Party is returning to River Run Lodge and Plaza on November 12! Better bring your champion’s spirit, as only the best vibes are sure to appease the snow gods.
And, in an effort to bring the good vibes to our greater community, we are teaming up with The Hunger Coalition to collect healthy foods to stock their pantry. The Hunger Coalition means to end food insecurity, and we mean to boost their important work! So bring in the good stuff. Think: hearty soups, canned chicken and tuna, dry pastas and canned pasta sauces, and dried beans and lentils. As a thank you for your support, we will be raffling off Sun Valley prizes throughout the evening.
So bring on all the victory dances. Because we’re just getting started.
Your Community, Continually Improved
“We’re thrilled to have captured the hearts of so many skiers, riders and visitors to the resort, and to be honored with this incredible award three years running,” says Pete Sonntag, our General Manager and VP.
We know that this love is continually earned. That’s why, in addition to our Pray for Snow Party, we plan to keep the celebration going as we enhance the Sun Valley experience into the coming years. We want to be a place you can trust with your heart, so we’re committed to making improvements that will win your love again and again.
To Baldy, With Love
Because we know how much you all love to ski and ride, we want to be sure you can make the most of your days on Baldy. Picture this: an even smoother rider flow throughout Warm Springs and an even bigger Warm Springs Lodge Patio—making both the runs and the “apres scene” more accessible. Sounds ideal, right? Well, we’ve got a game plan, and it includes two new lifts. First, we’re updating the Challenger. The improved lift will feature a mid-station unload, which will also act as a replacement of the old Greyhawk lift. Second, we’re bringing renewed life to Flying Squirrel by replacing the lift that was damaged by fire in 2014. Even better, this will also lead to the extension of Flying Squirrel Ski Trail and snowmaking. With construction set to begin in April 2023, guests will see improved access and enhanced rider circulation out of the Warm Springs base area by the 2023-24 winter season.
Healthy Forest, Happy Skiers
We’re well aware that the Sun Valley experience pivots on the careful stewardship of these beautiful lands. In an effort to protect the health of our forest, we entered into a partnership with several land and environmental agencies. Together, we will open up 79 acres of new gladed terrain this season alone. This not only benefits skiers, it also improves overall forest health and decreases fire risk on our beloved Baldy. We’re proud to say that the Bald Mountain Stewardship Project is a first of its kind, and we’re committed to evolving Sun Valley with environmental protection in mind.
No Resting On Laurels Allowed
While we are stoked to once again be named the reigning champs, this honor only renews our enthusiasm to push forward. We take great pride in our ability to honor the rich history of America’s first ski destination, without becoming complacent in our investments for the future or unimaginative in our willingness to make changes that matter. With opening day just around the corner—November 24th— we hope you will find time to enjoy the resort this coming season!