Standing on the cusp of a new era, the future of Sun Valley Resort is being laid out to the public and to that of the City of Sun Valley, hinging on its master plan by the city leaders.
This broad and conceptual document plan laid out the vision for the resort’s redevelopment goals, aiming to transform Sun Valley into an even more vibrant and modern hub while preserving its unique charm.
The roughly 61-acre village was designated a “Specific Plan Area” in the 2015 City of Sun Valley Comprehensive Plan. This designation highlighted the area’s significance due to its size, location, and economic, cultural, and historical prominence. As such, city approval of the master plan was critical before the resort could proceed with any of the numerous projects it envisioned.
Sun Valley Co.’s master plan divided the proposed village improvements into “nearer-term” and “longer-term” projects. A transportation plan indicated that the first phase of improvements would be completed within approximately 10 years and the second phase within 20 years.
Near-Term Projects
The first phase of the master plan included several vital projects aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and improving infrastructure. One of the primary focuses was the renovation of the parking lot. The existing landscaped belt separating the sizeable eastern portion of the main village parking lot from its smaller western strip would be segmented to create three entry points to the smaller lot instead of the two existing entrances. Islands of landscaping would be added to the main body of the parking lot, creating a more aesthetically pleasing environment.
The redevelopment of the parking area also included improvements for public and mass-transit drop-off near the village core. Although the number of parking spaces in the main lot would remain unchanged, the plan highlighted an area in the northeastern corner of the village core for future development and integrated parking. This area, bounded by Moritz Road to the north and east, Old Dollar Road to the south, Sun Valley Inn to the west, and Inn Service Road to the northwest, was earmarked for significant changes.
Another significant aspect of the near-term projects was renovating or replacing existing village buildings. Inspired by European ski towns, the architectural designs would mimic Alpine chalets, featuring gabled roofs and symmetrical facades or asymmetrical facades with more minor, symmetrical elements. Conceptual drawings in the master plan showcased architectural refreshments to the Sun Valley Opera House, Pete Lane’s Mountain Sports, and other village storefronts while emphasizing the preservation of open space and viewsheds.
Improvements to vehicular and pedestrian circulation were also planned. The Baldy Bus Loop area bus stop would be moved farther south, near the ice rink, to shift traffic away from the village center. Designated Uber and Lyft pick-up and drop-off locations would be installed, and additional bike parking would be included in future developments. The plan also called for dedicated and separated pedestrian and bicycle crossings at key entrance points to the resort and parking areas. Three possible pedestrian crossing improvement sites were identified: one at Lodge Entry Lane, one at Inn Service Road along Sun Valley Road, and a third crossing Dollar Road at Cottonwood Condo Drive.
Furthermore, the master plan aimed to expand the village’s restaurant and retail offerings. With 230,000 square feet of existing retail and service space, the plan proposed a roughly 10% increase during the first phase. This included a hypothetical increase of 11,600 square feet of sit-down restaurant space, a 2,200-square-foot increase in supermarket space, a 2,100-square-foot increase in apparel store space, and a 2,000- square-foot increase in pharmacy space.
Phase Two
The second phase of the master plan included even more ambitious projects, such as the expansion of the Sun Valley Inn, increased conference and event space, and the shifting of Moritz Road southwest to provide open space for potential development along the Trail Creek Golf Course. The resort’s transportation plan also projected an increase in hotel rooms in the village, further cementing Sun Valley’s status as a premier destination.
The Visionary Leaders
On July 23, Pete Sonntag, Sun Valley Resort’s General Manager and VP of Operations, took questions from the public in an open house forum. Sonntag praised former general manager Tim Silva for his foundational work in shaping the village’s future. “This is the result of literally years of work, and it always takes one person to drive that forward, and that’s Tim,” Sonntag said. “While I’ve been running the operations and keeping the resort up to the standards that Tim has established, Tim has been focusing on what the village’s future can be by creating some foundation and guidelines of where we can take this forward.”
Sonntag emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and reinvestment in maintaining Sun Valley’s status as one of the finest mountain villages in the world. “Why we’re doing this is for two reasons: one, we’re in the business of continuous improvements, and I think Sun Valley Company, over many years, has continued to reinvest in the village to try and keep it up to date and keep it current,” said Sonntag. “We’d like to think of ourselves as one of the finest mountain villages anywhere in the world. That doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen if you don’t continue to reinvest and push yourself to do more and better things.”
Sonntag also highlighted the commitment of Sun Valley’s owners, the Holdings, to the vision and importance of planning. “It’s really about planning ahead and figuring out what changes are appropriate at what time, and we’re very committed to that. Sun Valley’s owners, the Holdings, are very committed, so that’s just how you know this is important,” Sonntag said.
Reflecting on the unique and special attributes of Sun Valley, Sonntag stated, “The vision is really based on honoring what makes this place so special, and I think there are a few views on that. We would all have our own list of attributes that we think are unique and special about Sun Valley village, and the history.”
Conclusion
As the city leaders prepared to review and approve the master plan, the future of Sun Valley Resort hung in the balance. With a comprehensive and visionary plan in place, the resort aimed to enhance its facilities, improve infrastructure, and preserve the unique charm that had made it a beloved destination for decades. The master plan promised to usher in a new era for Sun Valley, ensuring it would remain a premier destination for generations.