Sun Valley Resort Projects Continue This Fall & Winter

Sun Valley Resort is bustling with activity this fall with major projects well underway, including the rebuild of the Warm Springs Day Lodge, phase two of the Sun Valley Inn remodel, and the new employee housing. The Cold Springs Canyon Project is also progressing with preparation work and the Cold Springs Canyon guided tours slated to happen this winter.

“We are excited to have these improvements happening both in the village and on the mountain,” said Tim Silva, Vice President and General Manager of Sun Valley Resort. “Our continued dedication to providing the highest level of guest satisfaction is shown by our commitment to remodeling the Sun Valley Inn, creating an even better Warm Springs Day Lodge, and providing a desirable place to work and live in Sun Valley with our new employee housing. It’s going to be an outstanding winter.”

Sun Valley Inn – phase two of the remodel

The Sun Valley Inn renovation started last fall with the first 25 of the 105 guestrooms undergoing a significant revamp, along with The Ram, The Ram Bar, and the introduction of the resort’s newest restaurant, the Village Station, all of which opened in December 2017. Phase two, which started right after Labor Day weekend this year, includes the remodel of the remaining 80 guestrooms with new furnishings, carpeting, 55-inch televisions, wall coverings, bathrooms, linens, enhanced wireless internet, energy-efficient windows, and amenities adorning the guestrooms while retaining the traditional look and feel of the historic hotel.

A new fitness center is also replacing the existing one currently in the hotel, providing Sun Valley Resort two state-of-the-art fitness centers. The "archway" is also being reintroduced, which will connect the Sun Valley Inn parking area to the Sun Valley Inn lawn, welcoming guests as they enter the Sun Valley Village, similar to the one that existed in the original Challenger Inn.

Once completed by January 2019, the Sun Valley Inn will have 97 spacious and modern guestrooms.

The Sun Valley Lodge, also located in the Sun Valley Village, was completely renovated in June 2015.

Warm Springs Day Lodge - rebuild

After the tragic fire, which sparked just days after the 2017-18 winter season, Sun Valley Resort had to make critical decisions on how best to reconstruct the Warm Springs Day Lodge, which was one of the first of its kind in the ski industry. Faced with extensive damage to the roof, but with a solid structure in place, work began immediately. With an enriched guest experience in mind, the leadership team decided to increase the seating in the dining area by more than 100 seats, create a more user-friendly layout of the servery for easier navigation, and move the bar to the front of the building with unobstructed views of the mountain.

The Konditorei, a favorite among locals and guests for organically-grown, locally-roasted coffee and house-made pastries, will have an express location at Warm Springs, providing the same favorites either before hitting the slopes or while taking a break during a day on the mountain. The Sun Valley SnowSports desk is relocating to the retail area, and the bathrooms are being completely updated and remodeled for easier access for all guests.

“We are excited to open the revitalized Warm Springs Day Lodge,” said Jim Snyder, Sun Valley Resort’s Director of Food and Beverage. “An unfortunate situation has transformed into an excellent opportunity to improve upon an already beautiful venue. From the increased seating with a more spacious layout, the Konditorei Warm Springs option in the food court, to the relocation of the bar with uphill views of the mountain, we are very confident that our guests will enjoy the changes.”

The Warm Springs Day Lodge rebuild is progressing quickly, with an anticipated opening day by Christmas. Skiing and riding on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain should begin around the second week in December, depending on weather and current conditions.

Sun Valley Employee Housing

Located in the southwest corner of a 16-acre parcel next to the Sun Valley Horseman’s Center, and a short walk to the Sun Valley Village and public transportation, the new employee housing broke ground this past spring for the first building that will have 116 dorm-style rooms, a fitness room, multi-purpose room, storage lockers, and free employee laundry facility. High-speed wireless internet will also be available in the common areas and some of the individual rooms. Building one is slated to be open by early December 2018. It will also be the home to the Sun Valley Human Resources department, which is moving from its current location in the Moritz building.

The second building, which will have 62 apartment-style rooms and house up to 124 staff, is slated to be completed by April 2019. Upon completion, 178 rooms will accommodate over 575 employees living and working at Sun Valley Resort.

“Our biggest asset is our employees, so we feel it’s important and a vital part of our livelihood to provide quality housing for our staff,” stated Snyder. “With an increasingly tough long-term housing market in resort towns, the leadership felt it was the perfect time to build housing that would address these needs, while also making it more affordable to live and work in the Wood River Valley.”

The architect is Ruscitto Latham Blanton based out of Ketchum, Idaho. The local firm also worked on the Sun Valley Lodge and Spa renovation, Sun Valley Club, the Warm Springs Day Lodge rebuild, and sister properties, The Grand America Hotel, and Little America Hotel

Cold Springs Canyon Project | Replacement of the resort’s oldest chairlift

The much-anticipated replacement of the resort’s oldest chairlift with a high-speed detachable chair, Cold Springs #4, will be ready for the public next winter. The lift replacement will also add another 380 acres of skiable terrain to the existing 2,054 acres at the iconic ski area. Preparation began this summer, with the rerouting and reconstruction of the Cold Springs mountain bike trail and site preparation. The new lift and snowmaking are scheduled to be installed next summer.

When the project is complete, the new detachable chairlift will be a six-minute ride from the bottom of the lift terminal to The Roundhouse, with a vertical rise of 1,525 feet and 5,500 feet long.

This winter, advanced skiers can get a preview of the area by taking the Experience Cold Springs Canyon guided tour, led by Sun Valley Resort’s professional guides and ski patrol. Tours are slated to begin in January 2019.

Sun Valley Project Preview Center

The public is invited to learn more about the Sun Valley Resort projects at the preview center, located in the former Wells Fargo building, across from the Konditorei in the Sun Valley Village. Open daily from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.