With plans for new hotels and the iconic Sun Valley Lodge currently under construction, Sun Valley, Idaho is officially in the midst of a lodging revolution. Now, one of our favorite (and one of the more reasonably-priced) hotels in Aspen is looking to open a second location in Ketchum. The Limelight Hotel has been a fixture on Curbed Ski's 38 Essential Ski Town Hotel List for its well-priced rooms, downtown location, and local-friendly happy hour. Owned and operated by the Aspen Skiing Co., the Limelight's expansion to Ketchum would be the first time the resort has gone outside the Roaring Fork Valley to develop a property.
According to a report by the Aspen Daily News, Don Schuster, vice president of hospitality for SkiCo, has confirmed that the company is under contract to buy a parcel of land in downtown Ketchum. The property under contract has current development approvals for the Bald Mountain Lodge, but a sale to SkiCo would come with some modifications.
If SkiCo closes on the deal, the Sun Valley Limelight would have 105 hotel rooms and 18 free-market condos, 15 of which would be lock-off units. Like its Aspen counterpart, the Ketchum iteration would aim to attract a younger and more active visitor to Sun Valley. Sun Valley likely appeals to SkiCo investors because of its similarities to Aspen as a year round destination for the outdoors.
If the deal closes and SkiCo buys the Bald Mountain Lodge property, the Limelight Hotel could be up and running by 2016. In fact, with all the drama over developing the Snowmass Base Village, skiers could be lodging at an Idaho Limelight before they stay at the proposed Snowmass Limelight.
· SkiCo looks to Sun Valley for 2nd Limelight Hotel location [Aspen Daily News]
· The Limelight Hotel [Official Site]
· Sun Valley to Get New $53 Million Five-Star Auberge Hotel [Curbed Ski]
· Iconic Sun Valley Lodge To Get Major Upgrades, New Spa [Curbed Ski]
· Snowmass Hotel Gets Long-Awaited Green Light [Curbed Ski]