Louies move appears imminent
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
Ketchums old Congregational Churchmost recently known as
Louies Restaurant should have a new home sometime this summer.
Thats according to Floyd McCracken, the past president of the
Ketchum/Sun Valley Ski and Heritage Museum.
McCracken and Dick Meyer, president of the museums historical
society, have been heading up efforts to save the aging structure since last fall.
The old church, one of Ketchums few remaining structures from the
1880s, was moved to the citys park & ride lot in November, narrowly saving it
from destruction when the lot it sat on was sold.
A proposal for a new commercial building, to be called The Peaks, on the
churchs old Leadville Avenue and Sun Valley Road site, is undergoing Ketchum
Planning and Zoning Commission review.
According to McCracken, ongoing negotiations should lead to successful
relocation from the park & ride lot within three months. He wouldnt disclose
where the church may end up, but said it would probably remain in downtown Ketchum.
Estimated restoration cost of the old building is between $60,000 and
$80,000, McCracken said, and that includes an approximation for some labor and materials
donated by the Building Contractors Association of the Wood River Valley.
"The contractors association wants to work with the historical
society to help," association president Chris Black said. He didnt spell out
any details.
Thus far, $18,000 in private donations have been raised to preserve the
structure, McCracken said.
Once moved and restored, he said, the relic from another era will be
available to the public as a community center.