Inflation, housing and early snow cap off year
By WRW STAFF
As 2022 winds down, many of the year’s headlines can be described in the most pedestrian of terms. Kids went to school in person every day. People went to the office. Guests traveled to the Wood River Valley and enjoyed epic skiing, camping, biking. People made reservations at restaurants where they sat down and were waited on by well-trained servers. Enthusiasm was high for concerts, performances, lectures, and life during the third year of the Covid-19 world, returned to something resembling … normal. Though the pandemic that changed the way the world operated in 2020, and 2021 no longer dominated most people’s days, many were infected for the first, second, or third time in 2022. Thanks to vaccines, new treatments, and resistance gained from prior infection, the virus did not shut down our hospitals, schools, restaurants, and workplaces. Even though in January 2021, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare recorded its highest single-day Covid numbers to date, 4,537, life returned to many pre-pandemic rhythms this year.
But that doesn’t mean it was a year without highlights and lowlights, worries and joys. Here is a look at some of the local, regional, and national stories that impacted life in the Wood River Valley this year.
Ask most people what they will remember most about 2022 and the answer will likely be … inflation. The same bag of groceries cost more than this year, eating out got pricier, and just about everything from essentials to splurges simply got more expensive. One place Idahoans felt the pinch was at the gas pump. According to Gas Buddy, gas prices in the Gem State peaked July 1 when the Idaho average hit a whopping $5.25 per gallon. Thankfully, as the year winds down, gas prices are following. The statewide average reported on December 5 was $3.94, which is still $0.28 more than the same date last year, and $0.54 higher than the national average of $3.40.
Also on the decline, but only in a relative way, were real estate prices in 2022. With pandemic closures and new remote-work options, the Wood River Valley experienced an almost unbelievable influx of new residents in 2020 and 2021 and with them, record-setting real estate prices. 2020 saw almost $1.165 billion in total sales. In 2022, the market continued to be very strong, but settled a little from the height of the peak when people were buying properties over the phone, moving to town in record numbers, and realtors saw houses purchased the same day they were listed. This year, Blaine County residential properties saw a 12 percent increase in the median price during the first nine months of the year, according to a report from the Sun Valley Board of Realtors. Some of the takeaway numbers from the third quarter of 2022 are: median sales prices of $942,500 in Ketchum, $865,000 in Sun Valley, $837,500 in Hailey, $652,500 in Bellevue.
Which brings us to probably the biggest and most persistent headline of 2022 … the goal of creating affordable workforce housing. Leaders in every town in the Wood River Valley continued to struggle this year with the disparity between wages and cost of living, including the abovementioned home prices. Ground was broken at the future site of Bluebird Village, the former location of Ketchum City Hall and the Ketchum Fire Department. This 51-unit workforce housing development stirred strong emotions during the approval process, both for and against, but is now on track for completion in 2024. Many other proposals are being debated at city council meetings, a newly formed nonprofit group, the Wood River Community Housing Trust, is focusing on novel solutions, short-term rental policies are being debated, and the consensus is that we need much more affordable housing. How we get there, or don’t, will continue to be one of the biggest stories in the Valley into 2023 and beyond.
The work of elected officials brings us to another big story in 2022: the November elections. In both local, regional, and national contests, Blaine County remained a blue island in a sea of red, but, interestingly, due to redistricting, the numbers were much closer than they have been historically. The newly aligned District 26, that includes Blaine, Lincoln, and Jerome counties, voted in Hailey Democrat Ron Taylor for representative with 53.4 percent of votes and Democrat incumbent Rep. Ned Burns’ win with 51.8 percent of votes. Statewide, Idaho Republicans swept statewide offices, with Governor Brad Little handily winning re-election. Interestingly, in the upcoming session, 39 out of 105 legislators will be new to the Boise Statehouse, promising a steep learning curve.
On Baldy, cleanup continued throughout the summer to remove dead trees, freeing up ski terrain, and continuing to protect the forest. And with piles and piles of early season snowfall, 2022 will also be remembered for epic powder on some of those new trails, and an unparalleled first weeks of snow season, making the holidays truly merry and bright. Though major renovations closed the Sun Valley resort ice rink on Christmas Eve, and with it the traditional ice show, visitors and locals alike enjoyed the spectacle of a huge fireworks show and the traditional torchlight parade down Dollar Mountain. In 2022, Sun Valley celebrated
its third year in a row as number one ski resort as voted by SKI Magazine readers.
Weather was also in the news during the fall with a wildfire that edged precariously close to Smiley Creek, Alturas Lake, and Sawtooth City, drawing a large response of local and regional firefighters to battle the fast-moving blaze. In early September, the Ross Fork Fire forced evacuations and burned more than 40,000 acres by the time snow fell. Also, this fall, a tragic fire over Labor Day weekend destroyed Ketchum’s Limelight Condos and displaced 28 residents. A severe drought also challenged residents this summer.
The year brought some notable closures of beloved local institutions. In Ketchum, Keith and Paula Perry, of their eponymous restaurant, retired in June, Cristina’s shuttered its doors before Aroma moved into the popular space. Johnny G is no longer a daily presence at his Subshack, though the business is still serving its legendary sandwiches. In Hailey, Red Shoe was bought out by La Cab Sports Bar and Bellevue saw Fuego 7 and Oak Street Café close and make room for newcomers while the Gannett Country Club recently reopened.
But the more things change, the more they stay the same, and after two long Covid years, the Wood River Valley was back and better than ever with a flurry of activities. Slopes were filled with joyful skiers and snowboarders; the Boulder Mountain Tour was again hosting skinny ski enthusiasts. Ballet Sun Valley brought beautiful dance to the Sun Valley Pavilion, the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference and Sun Valley Museum of Art Wine Auction flourished, and the lawn at the Sun Valley Summer Symphony was jam-packed. People came to dance and swing in the fall as the Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival returned, as did live music, amazing performances, and a community ready to embrace it all.
2022 saw debates on whether e-bikes belong on the bike path, waited patiently during snarled traffic on Highway 75 while improvements were made, witnessed demonstrations over social issues, discussions about the use of Festival Field, and the feeding of elk. It saw children sledding down Penny Hill, appreciative audiences applaud at local library lectures, and people gallery walking. 2022 was the year the Wood River Valley returned to a new version of “normal”.
The staff at the Wood River Weekly wishes you and yours a memorable New Year’s Eve and health, happiness, and prosperity in 2023. Happy New Year!