Sun Valley Blog

Okay, believe it or not, we’re just about down to 100 days until Baldy opens for the 75th winter season… And Apples Bar and Grill at the base of  the Warm Springs ski lifts is presenting the 7th annual Pig Roast and Reggae celebration of the 100 day pre-anniversary. It all happens at the Apple’s restaurant there with a frisbee golf course set up through the Greyhawk parking lot and around the lift bases, finishing up on the street where the Ethan Tucker Band will be supplying the music for the evening. Dinner served Apples-style, and plenty of beer will be flowing. Should be a great time for all. Pack the dogs and kennel the kids, and come on out to join the fun!

Noon- Frisbee Golf
Music starts at 4pm and dinner served at 5pm.
Sun Valley Season Pass raffle- $5 per tickets or 5 for $20

See you there

The guy said, “If you build it, they will come.” Well, The Holdings built it, and last night they came. There were an estimated 6,000 people Sunday night at the Sun Valley Pavilion and on the lawn on a beautiful, clear and warm August evening.

Garth Brooks showed up and with some help from his beautiful wife  Trisha Yearwood, put on a wonderful exhibition of his roots in the music business and his growth to the leading country performer in the world. Who knew that he was such an entertaining story teller?  Mixed in with the great music we have all grown up with, and the touching stories of his dear father, he wowed the crowd for over an hour before bringing out the entire Sun Valley Symphony Orchestra for support. (As back-up? Imagine that!)

It sounded like everybody  had a good time, from the $10,000 per seat folks dancing in the aisles to “I’ve got Friends in Low Places” to all the real country lovers who lined up on the lawn before dawn, and waited all day for a spot in the sun.  By the way, the 360 square foot TV screen made perfect viewing for everybody on the lawn, even those who were left ouside the fence without tickets.

And Garth said it made him think of the “Field of Dreams”

Wish you were there

Who knew that the hilarious Steve Martin, famous for movies like “The Jerk, and “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “Father of the Bride” was also a Banjo virtuoso. I’m told he can really tear it up on a stage, with great classic folk stuff and plenty of rockin’ country to get you up on your feet. Martin has toured all over the country with his Bluegrass band, and promises to give us a show to remember on the stage at the river Run Plaza next Tuesday evening, August 3.

Come on out, bring the kids, and enjoy another perfect sunset on the grounds along the Wood River. Sun Valley will have snacks and a bar set up over by Pete Lanes again in case  the kids get hungry or you would like a cold drink.  

The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile will open at 7pm. Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, will perform at about 8:30. That’s a little late, so be sure to have sweatshirts for the kids and a jacket to stay warm out there. Tickets will be $45 for adults, with a discount for SV Center for the Arts members. It should be a great show, and we’ll all be there, too. Tickets available only through the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

See you there

The Sun Valley “Buy In July” Season Pass sale continues through August 2. Come get your 2010-2011 Sun Valley Season Ski Passes at the best prices now! The full pass is just $1499, and the Sun Plus with all sorts of cool benefits is only $1599.  Season passes are on sale at the River Run Lodge, the Sun Valley Recreation Center or online. Prices go up August 3.

We heard today that the oldest cars you probably have ever seen will be stopping by at the River Run Plaza on Saturday morning for a visit. This is a stop on the Great Western Tour of the Antique Steam Car Club and they’ll have their cool old steam powered cars on display right next to the bridge there at River Run. Come on by and see them!

We’ll be there

A Celebration of Mountain Life

a benefit for the family of Tim Michael and in recognition and gratitude to all Wood River Valley First Responders at River Run will take place on Wednesday, July 21.

Dave Mason, Kole Moulton and the Lonely Road and the Disciples of Rock to perform at River Run Wednesday, July 21 from 5-9pm.
Tickets are $20, Kids age 12 and under are $5.

From noon to 4pm there will be emergency rescue equipment demonstrations.

Concert tickets are available at Atkinsons Markets in Ketchum and Hailey. $20 for adults, and $5 for kids 12 & under.

Can you believe it?  Here, in  our little town, the ever popular Dave Mason with the disciples of Rock…That River Run concert venue is proving itself to be a great one for performers and enthusiasts both!  What a great spot though, cooler when the sun gets lower, and beautiful with the mountain at your back and the river just in front as you sit on the grass enjoying the show.  And the acoustics are amazing there, it seems the mountainside captures the music and bounces it right back at you. It will be a memorable evening for everybody.

This one is a benefit, organized by the tireless Julie Gallagher and members of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol for the family of Tim Michael who left us this winter while skiing on Baldy. And it is part of a whole afternoon of activities there at the River Run Plaza.   There will be displays and demonstrations by the Wood River Valley First Responders and the Ski Patrol.   The gondola will be running, and there will be lunch served at the Roundhouse during the day. You’ll see games and fun stuff for everybody, kids included.

There will be BBQ, a no-host bar, a silent auction and a raffle for 2 season ski passes on Baldy. The whole Ski Patrol will be out, enjoying the event, and offering the latest version of the Ski Patrol t-shirts and hats for sale. It all goes to a good cause. And a good time for everybody.

Bring the kids and bring your own picnics if you prefer, but be sure to come help out, you won’t regret it.

See you there

After a stellar season, Dollar Mountain has said goodbye for the 2009/2010 season. To send off the season in style, Dollar Mountain and Sun Valley Resort hosted a skier/boarder cross on Saturday and a big Pond Skim Party Sunday.  Dollar was jammed with people in costumes, kids, families, skiers, boarders, mono-skiers, snowbladers, telemarkers, Easter Bunnies and revelers as hundreds lined up for the pond skim. DJ’s played tunes, burgers were grilled, beers were served and even though the pond skim pond was eventually punctured by an enthusiastic skier, good time was had by all. It was the perfect way to celebrate  an awesome season on Dollar Mountain!

Thank you to Tim Silva, Peter Stearns, John Matteson, Brian Callahan, the Sun Valley Snow Sports School,  the Mountain Department, the Sun Valley Ski Patrol, the Snow Making and Grooming Staff, the SPT-crew, the lift operators, the staff at Dollar Lodge and everyone who made Dollar the place to be this year. See you in November!

And in case you haven’t noticed, it is snowing! Head up on Baldy and get some of the fresh snow that has been falling for the past week. Baldy’s last day isn’t until April 18th and there are calls for more snow in the next few days and over the weekend, plenty of time and snow left to enjoy!

This weekend, April 3-4, Dollar Mountain and Sun Valley Company will be celebrating an epic season on Dollar Mountain.

The 2009/2010 had many highlights, including the introduction of the new SPT-designed terrain park, the revamp of the tubing park, the Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series, a skier/boarder cross course, a photo shoot with Monster Energy/Scott/Freeskier Magazine, and huge numbers of kids, families, skiers and boarders enjoying Dollar Mountain.

So in order to go out with a bang, Sun Valley Company is honoring Dollar Mountain and the local community with “Dollar Dayz”. The action will start Saturday, April 3, with a skier/boarder cross race. The race will have two age groups, ten and under, and 11-15. The race cost is $10, sign up is at nine, and racers will be in the gates at noon.

Dollar Dayz will continue Sunday, Dollar’s final day of the season, with a Pond Skim, BBQ, and Last Day of the Season Party. This is Dollar Mountain’s “Thank You” to the community, a way for them to thank the local community for making this one of Dollar’s best seasons ever. Everyone is invited to participate in this age-old spring tradition that has skiers and boarders gliding across the water on their skis or boards and costumes are strongly encouraged. There will also be a bbq, beer tent, and music.  The Pond Skim is FREE for all ages, sign up is  from 9 am -11 am, and the main event will begin at 1:00pm. There will also be a prize for the best costume, so come decked out and ready for some spring fun in the Sun Valley sun!

Celebrate the end to a great 2010 ski season on Dollar Mountain this weekend!
Saturday, April 3 will feature a Skier/Boarder-Cross event at Noon. Registration starts at 9am. $10 entry fee.
Races are for two age groups: Ages 10 & under, and Ages 11-15.

On Sunday, April 4 check out or better yet, participate in the first ever Pond Skim on Dollar Mountain.
Registration from 9-11am and the Skim starts at 1pm. The Pond Skim is Free for all ages. Prizes for Best Costume.
For more info about Dollar Dayz: bcallahan@sunvalley.com

Dollar Mountain ski operations end for the season on Sunday, April 4. Bald Mountain is scheduled to remain open through April 18, 2010.