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Sun Valley was discovered by Count Felix Schaffgotsch about 80 years ago.  Averell Harriman, the chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, had asked the Count to go west and try to find a suitable site for the creation of a ski resort like those that he had visited in Europe.  The railroad needed “destination places” to encourage rail travel.  The Count was advised to take a trip to Ketchum, Idaho, a mining town in central Idaho. Upon arrival, the Count wired Harriman, “This area combines more delightful features than any place I have seen in Switzerland, Austria or the United States for a winter resort.” 

Within days they purchased a 4,300-acre ranch and the Sun Valley Resort opened in the winter of 1936.  The “chair lift” was invented in Sun Valley.  You can visit www.sunvalley.com for information on the resort.   When you get there be sure to tune in to KWRV 91.9 which used to be YourClassical MPR. MPR sold KWRV to Boise State Public Radio a couple of years ago.

The Sun Valley Music Festival is live from the Sun Valley Pavilion once again this year. This year the Gala Concert features an evening with Sutton Foster. The Gala is scheduled for this coming Thursday, August 6^th. If you live in the Sun Valley area you can enjoy live concerts outdoors now through August 20th from within the open-air Sun Valley Pavilion or from the lawn. More information is at www.svmusicfestival.org  

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”  Albert Einstein