Did you know? Ezra Pound, forefather of modern poetry and author of the lengthy "Cantos," was born in a two-story clapboard house in Hailey, Idaho.
Before Demi Moore and Bruce Willis brought celebrity status to Hailey, Idaho, the town already had its own identity steeped in American history
Did you know? Ezra Pound, forefather of modern poetry and author of the lengthy "Cantos," was born in a two-story clapboard house in Hailey, Idaho.
Before Demi Moore and Bruce Willis brought celebrity status to Hailey, Idaho, the town already had its own identity steeped in American history. Located 11 miles south of Sun Valley and 160 miles east of Boise, Hailey sits in the heart of the Rockies with Sawtooth National Forest about 50 miles away to the northwest.
Hailey was an early outpost for trappers, prospectors, and explorers. In 1862 it grew into a mining town, thanks to the discovery of gold and silver ore. The town gets its name from John Hailey, a U.S. State Representative of the Idaho Territory -- a prospector who made his homestead in what's now historic Hailey and brought the first stage coaches and freight rail to town. Signs of Hailey's vision for the town are still evident, especially in the historic section; the downtown area has wide tree-lined streets, long narrow lots, and homes set back at least 25 feet from the street.
When the silver market collapsed in the late 1880s, Hailey's population dropped -- but thanks to Teddy Roosevelt's drive to preserve wilderness and carve out federally protected forests, tourism brought the failing town back to life. Sun Valley ski resort opened in 1936. Hotels built by near hot springs attracted tourists looking to bathe their ills -- or maybe just their psyches -- in natural therapeutic baths. Celebrities clinched the town's lifeline; already drawn to resorts like Aspen and Vail, they sought out Sun Valley as the next new thing.
Today, tourism still accounts for much of Hailey's economy. Celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks and many others use Hailey as their primary or secondary places of residence -- and the population has grown nearly 30 percent since 2000, to about 7.960. Though much of the workforce rotates with the ski season, many professionals and entrepreneurs have moved to Hailey to capitalize on this new boom -- not unlike when city founder John Hailey rightly predicted Hailey's first mining-based boom, except that this "boom" seems guaranteed to stay.
Like many resort towns, Hailey's cost of living is notably higher than the average cost of living in Idaho. Property taxes are low, but real estate prices zoom up to 300 or 400 percent above the state's median home price. However, rentals are a different story. Homeowners who purchase condominiums for seasonal use frequently look for renters to take care of their homes in the offseason.
So if you're looking to rent, you'll find plenty of options here -- even though the town is just over 3 square miles in size. Rental properties in garden apartments, plus plenty of regular 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, are abundant. And, if you're thinking of working at one of the nearby resorts when you move, many companies offer free or rent-reduced housing as a perk of employment.
As you might expect with such a big ski resort nearby, housing demands fluctuate with the ski season. Hailey's resident population of just under 8,000 swells during the peak tourist season and ski season, then subsides again in the off season -- so that's the best time to do your house hunting.
Most of Hailey's neighborhoods are built around subdivisions and, with an influx of upper-crust residents, builders are expanding beyond the original town limits.
Cedar Bend: Located in West Hailey, Cedar Bend has a small number of homes tucked between cottonwood and aspen forests.
Historic District: Located in the older section of Hailey, this neighborhood had to be rebuilt after a fire in 2003. It still includes a number of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
Northridge: This neighborhood is located in northeast Hailey, just before you leave the city limits. Northridge is close to shopping, eateries, entertainment, and the high school.
Apartment, Condominium, or House Rental
Single-family homes are typically scarce for both buyers and renters in Hailey. The good news is that there are plenty of rental units -- vacation homes, garden-style apartments, studios and more -- to be had. In fact, nearly 35 percent of the town's residents rent. Condominium rentals are abundant and affordable.
If you're into outdoor recreation, Hailey is really the place to be. It's less than a dozen miles south of two major ski resorts: Sun Valley and Ketchum. Hailey also has its own smaller ski resort, Rotarun Ski Area, within town limits. The town, nestled in the Wood River Valley on the perimeter of Sawtooth and Challis National Forests, is also convenient to recreation areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
If you just can't wait to ski when you get to town, there's regular transportation between Friedman Memorial Airport and the ski resorts, plus regular shuttles to Boise, Twin Falls, and other towns. But Hailey doesn't have its own public transportation system -- so if you're not planning on hoofing it or biking, you're going to need a car.
Hailey is part of the Blaine County School District and has a few supermarkets to choose from, but it doesn't have its own hospital. The closest -- St. Luke -- is in neighboring Ketchum. As with most tourist towns, you'll also find that much of the shopping is geared toward a tourist's needs -- but you'll still find plenty of eclectic apparel and thrift shops. For more serious shopping, a trip to Sun Valley or Ketchum may be in order.
Hailey is justifiably proud of its historic roots; in addition to the rich local mining history, Hailey also sponsors an annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival. Though not as prominent as mining, between 1 and 2 million sheep were raised in the Wood River Valley from the late 1800s into the 1920s. The goal of the festival is to celebrate the natural migration of the sheep through the valley during the spring and fall seasons. Other annual festivals include a Days of the Old West Celebration, the Northern Rockies Music Festival and Wagon Days. Theater and live music are easy to find in all three close-by towns: Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley.
Although it's popular with the rich and famous, Hailey still has a lot to offer to those seeking a slower pace, pristine surroundings, lots of outdoor recreation opportunities, and the laid-back pace of life in a resort community. Though the cost of living is high, you can still find affordable apartments to rent in Hailey. For entrepreneurial folk, this just might be a "capital" place to live.
