The Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch is a historic lodge with cabins built in 1930 by the President of Frigidaire. This property on the National registry of historic places is incredibly preserved as if it were built yesterday - pristine. On 900 acres with surreal vistas of the majestic Sawtooth Mountains, this all-inclusive ranch and its spectacular, wonderful, genuinely happy and caring staff ensured a transcendent vacation with fabulous (I mean fabulous for foodies) food, live music, hot springs fed pool, horse riding, flyfishing, rafting, etc. Yee hah. Comfortable and not fussy. We stayed four nights. Indulgent and expensive, yes. Next time we plan to stay a week!

The first time my wife and I visited the IRMR (1992), we left a baby at home on the East Coast; we loved the place, and we knew we would be back. We did not make it back until 2004, but that time, we brought our three kids. And, this past week, our family returned to IRMR. When you are driving up the scenic byway from Sun Valley to find the IRMR, just consider where the best place to look at the Sawtooth Range would be, and that is where the IRMR is. The place was built around 1930 by a Frigidaire magnate, and that gentleman knew the best place in the Sawtooth Valley, if not the whole of the West, to put the IRMR.

This is a special place to us. The setting is incomparable, the staff is friendly, warm, and helpful. The cabins are well-appointed, clean, and comfortable, but maintain the homey feel of a mountain abode with a large fireplace ready for use. There are a million things to do both on the IRMR campus and in the nearby mountains. Horseback rides, mountain biking, hiking to pristine Alpine lakes, fly fishing, and white water rafting were just some of the things we did in our four day stay. The gourmet food and wine was outstanding, and again the service was great.

One cannot help but smile in awe of the natural beauty of the Sawtooths when sitting, looking West, on the lodge porch. And for viewing the stars (many of which twinkle and some shoot), I recommend the natural hot spring pool.

We cannot wait to go back.

A year after reading a feature on IRMR in Sunset magazine, my husband and I arrived for our belated honeymoon. We decided to put our money into the honeymoon instead of the wedding, so that meant two things:
1. We spent a pretty penny on this trip and
2. We had very high expectations.

And everything was perfect. The service was great, from managers Erica and Sandra to the summer, just-out-of-college staff that checked you in, served you breakfast and dinner, and helped you plan your excursions, everyone made us feel so welcome and as part of the ranch as they were. When we checked out, we truly felt that they were genuinely as sad to see us leave as we were sad to go!

The honeymoon cabin was spacious and cozy at the same time. Despite the lack of TV or alarm clock, it was only rustic in terms of (very carefully planned) decor. The bed and shower were both so comfortable and nice. The only improvement would have been the addition of a tub; but it is a cabin, after all.

While the service and accommodations were superb, the real star of IRMR is the food. The culinary school that can call Chef Jim Roberts an alum should be proud. My husband and I both agreed that on the first night we experienced the "Country Fine Dining" menu (which happens four times a week), we had the best meal of our lives. The other meals throughout the trip—even breakfast and the deli spread for lunch, which you pack yourself—were fantastic as well.

IRMR exceeded all but two of my expectations. The first expectation was that I thought there would be some sort of campfire at some point (perhaps after the Dutch Oven Cook-Out), since the whole experience reminded me of camp, and what’s camp without a campfire and s’mores? That said, our cabin had its own fireplace, and the one in the lodge was always impressive. The second expectation was in regards to housekeeping. They do come in each day to make your bed and straighten up, but the degree to which they do it is a bit odd, as we would be missing soap or have full trash cans when returning from an adventure some days.

Most people furrowed their brows when we told them we were honeymooning in Idaho. Thanks to IRMR, I can confidently say that besides eloping, it was the best wedding-related decision we made.

Complete comfort and relaxation In the middle of nowhere (well, at least from my point of view) with absolutely everything we needed and wanted. The cabin, the scenery, the activities, the food and the other guests all made for a wonderful vacation. Nothing like sitting on lodge's front porch after a day spent hiking up a mountain or horseback riding, sipping a glass of wine, listening to live music and staring at the majestic Sawtooths across the way. The days were warm, the nights cool, the cabin comfortable, the staff gracious and helpful.