Sitting on the front porch of the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, sipping wine, listening to a terrific guitarist, and - most important of all - staring at the Sawtooth Mountains cannot be replicated anywhere in the West. It's a unique and satisfying place to stay. The view alone is worth the price. I note some reviewers balk at the price, but you can stay in the lodge, for a less expensive room. Plus, two meals, appetizers, and a packed lunch are included, as well as mountain biking and a scrumptious hot spring swimming pool. Can't think of anyplace that offers that much for the price. The cozy, family style meals are very well done, including an Asian BBQ on Saturday night that would make sense for anyone staying in one of the motels in Stanley.
Last, but not least, I should mention how terrific the staff is. The young people who work here during the summers are eager, hard-working, and charming. They made our stay a first-rate experience from first to last.

As noted by other reviewers, the ranch is in a terrific location with panoramic views of the impressive Sawtooth mountains. Great hiking and mountain biking, and they provide the bikes (hard tails with caliper brakes, but in good condition). Horse back riding is on site (extra cost), and rafting on the Salmon river is near by, although pretty placid (mostly class two rapids, with two class threes). On site fishing pond, but they provided only spinning rods and the fish clearly wanted flies, so nobody seemed to be catching any. The warm springs soaking pool is nice, but a long walk across the highway, probably a half mile. The dinners and appetizers in the lodge were exceptional, but the Dutch oven dinner was disappointing - only red meat offered. The staff were college age folks, all friendly and helpful, but needed some polish in regards to volunteering information (as opposed to being asked), room cleaning/resupply, and dining room service (offering a wine list, checking back part way into the meal). The cabins are pretty spacious with adequate spacing for privacy. Overall a very nice experience, but for the price I had hoped for fewer rough edges.

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.