If everything goes to plan, next winter will see skiers being whisked up to a renovated Roundhouse restaurant via a brand new gondola, all from right behind the River Run Lodge.
Jack Sibbach, director of sales and marketing for Sun Valley Co., said on Monday, Feb 11, that the company was ready to sign the contract with gondola manufacturer Dopplemayr and that he was "99 percent sure" that everything would be in place in time for construction to begin this spring. However, he did not give an exact date for the start of construction.
The eight-passenger gondola cars are planned leave from the southern side of the open ground behind the River Run Lodge near Ketchum and go directly to the Roundhouse restaurant, which is also scheduled for renovation this summer.
Due to the addition of the gondola, the company is planning to remove the existing Exhibition chairlift, which travels from the top of the River Run lift to Roundhouse.
These improvements are part of Phase 1 of Sun Valley Co.'s Bald Mountain Master Plan, which was first revealed in 2005. The plan was approved by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land management—which collectively own and manage Sun Valley's Bald Mountain ski area—late last year. The aim is to complete all three phases of the plan over the next 10 years.
The company hopes the changes—which include additional snowmaking, expanded ski terrain and numerous new lifts—will help attract more skiers to the mountain.
Sibbach said the gondola installation and Roundhouse renovation, which is being designed by Ketchum-based architect Nick Latham, will have a positive effect on summertime operations as well.
"This will enable us to keep Roundhouse open year round and at night," Sibbach said of the historic restaurant, which currently is only accessible during the ski season for lunch.
However, Sibbach said the plans for the remodel have yet to be finalized, but that the company wants to retain the "flavor" of the restaurant, which was built in 1939.
Although the timing is not yet known, the plan is to eventually extend the gondola to the top of Baldy, replacing the existing Christmas chairlift. This will likely coincide with either an expansion or complete replacement of the Lookout cafeteria restaurant at the Lookout summit of Bald Mountain.
To read more about Sun Valley Resort's Bald Mountain Master Plan, visit sunvalleyguide.com/w08/movingamountain.htm.
The Roundhouse restaurant, located midway up Bald Mountain on the River Run side, is scheduled for a remodel this summer. The restaurant, which was built in 1939, will be accessible year round by a new gondola, also slated for construction before next winter. Photo by Chris Pilaro
