Bald Mountain | February 2, 2023

Business Spotlight: Sun Valley Heli

The Sun Valley Report | Friday, February 3, 2023

Even though the fresh snow is now gone, the skiing remains fantastic. If you are a real powder hound, though, we still have options! Our friends at Sun Valley Heli Ski, can make sure you have an epic powder day even when we haven’t had snow in a few weeks.

Fun fact: Sun Valley Heli Ski is the oldest helicopter ski operator in the United States. Bill Janss started helicopter skiing with Sam Grossman and Peder Morrison back in 1965. Occasionally, they would take guests out with them and when they did so they would ask Sun Valley Ski Patrolman to be their guides. My father-in-law, Carl Rixon, was one of their lead guides. In 1972, Bill Janss helped Carl, Roger Bergdahl, Greg Morrison and John Dondero officially start Sun Valley Heli Ski. They ran the business until 1988.

Sun Valley Heli Ski, or SVHS, now owned and run by Jay Levine, has exclusive helicopter access to over 750,000 square acres in the four mountain ranges surrounding the Wood River Valley. And the best perk: you can often book a day trip a day or two before, when you know the weather is going to be great.

Local’s secret: SVHS is offering local businesses the opportunity to take out four employees for a full day of heli skiing for $5,000, compared with their normal cost of $7,000.

Now that is a pretty unique and awesome employee bonus!

Sun Valley in the News

For those of you who may not have seen the recent New York Times piece on Sun Valley, it looks like our secret is out: there is no party scene here, just an old-fashioned, no-nonsense, fantastic ski resort. So come here if you want to ski and maybe have a beer and a nice meal afterwards, but if you want to see or be seen, Aspen or Park City might be more up your alley.

Pretty accurate if you ask me. And how lucky we are!

Real Estate Update

This week Jordan pulled Blaine County sales by month for the past 12 months. The graph below shows the gradual market slow down since its high last spring. As inventory tends to come to market in the spring, we do expect the number of sales to increase again in a few months, but there is no doubt that the market is still in a bit of a lull.

I’m going to be taking a bit of a hiatus from these e-updates for the next two weeks as I’m heading off on a birthday ski trip to the Dolomites. Laurel, Rob, Erika and Jordan will be available to assist with any of your real estate needs while I’m away.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend!

Katherine