Sun Valley area has a good year

KETCHUM, Idaho – Heavy snowfall is helping the Sun Valley Resort have one of its best seasons in nearly 10 years, pulling in thousands more skiers and tax dollars for cities like Ketchum.

For last month, resort officials say they hosted about 100,000 skiers, their best January in nearly 10 years. Almost 200,000 skiers have visited the resort this season, 18,000 more than last year, reported the Wood River Journal.

The resort has also received about 202 inches of snow, already exceeding the average snowfall for an entire season.

The crowded slopes and fresh powder are making for one of the resort’s best seasons in 70 years, said Jack Sibbach, Sun Valley marketing director. The economic impact can be seen in the surrounding area.

The city of Ketchum is reporting a 13 percent increase in local tax collected on restaurant bills, condos and hotel rentals. Condo rental receipts have risen 28.25 percent and there has been a 21.17 percent increase in drink receipts at local bars and restaurants. In total, the city collected $32,750 more in local tax over last year.

The biggest beneficiaries have been restaurants and snow merchandise stores.