Knob Hill Inn is a quaint slightly off the beaten path inns in Sun Valley Idaho. It’s more than a healthy walk from the Sun Valley Lodge but a stone’s throw from downtown and the beautiful thing about this quaint gem is that they have vans to bring you to and fro when you need to get somewhere.
What was most memorable about my stay was the staff. From the bell guys to the van drivers, I felt that I was personally “taken care of” every step of the way, as if they were there to cater to their guest’s needs.
Their rooms are homey enough to have your morning cup of tea in fireside and all, however they also have a Fireplace Room where your included breakfast boasts a diverse buffet. While their buffet offerings change daily, they always include at least one hot item. You can choose from pancakes with assorted toppings to a quick fruit and yogurt parfait, fresh juices, sausage or toast and cereal if your breakfast needs are a little lighter.
Below is one of their suites.
Its size is small making the property feel very intimate and charming. With only 29 guestrooms and suites, you feel like you’re staying in an upscale guest house rather than a hotel, which is a big part of its charm. The rooms are generously sized and feature a marble tiled, five-fixture bathroom with an oversized tub, radiant floor heating, wet bar, dressing area, and balconies so you can take in the spectacular Sun Valley views.
Below is the view taken from the balcony of my room towards the end of the day, just as the sun was beginning to set.
While the regular rooms offer ample space, they do offer a large suite which is ideal for families. Their largest suite is the ultimate in luxury with over 1,000 square feet of space with its own private entrance. The master bedroom has a king-size bed, walk-in closet and bathroom done in Italian marble complete with a soaking tub and separate glass shower. The second bedroom has two twin-size beds and adjacent walk-in closet and bathroom and there’s a full kitchen and dining room table that seats four as well as a living room area with a sectional sofa and chaise lounge.
Here’s a look at their inside pool, which if you’ll notice, opens up to the outside world when you want to soak up some of the summer sun. For winter months however, they have the doors closed.
The bar area is close to the lobby on the main level and has a cozy ambiance including a fireplace with chairs. You can sit at one of the bar tables or simply have a meal and/or drinks at the bar.
They have used natural materials highlighted by sandblasted tree branches and rich earth tones that complement the barrel-vaulted ceiling. The main restaurant is owned by esteemed locals Bob and Jolie Dunn, formerly of Warm Springs Ranch Restaurant and The Bigwood Grill. They tout instinctively Northwest cuisine, with a variety of American and European classics, such as Idaho Ruby Red Rainbow Trout, prime steaks, local lamb, wild game and “Felix’s” Calamari.
They also have pizza, lamb chops with a mint pesto, esgargot, black trumpet mushroom risotto, calamari with garlic, shallots, green onions, tomatoes, red chili flakes and fresh herbs, a broiled butterflied shrimp in the shell, served with drawn butter, steamer clams steamed in white wine, with garlic, parsley and shallots and sesame seared yellowfin with wasabi ponzu dipping sauce to name a few to whet your appetite.
The garden area couldn’t be lovelier, whether you plan to walk the grounds or have dinner in their outside patio on a warm summer night.
The style of the inn looks like a Swiss chalet mainly because the original owners were Swiss. The property was recently acquired by a group of investors with strong ties to the Wood River Valley including Fred Crosetto, Robert Cimino, Eric Bensussen and John, Skip and Doug Oppenheimer.
In addition to the vans that can take you into town or the Lodge, there are daily shuttle service to Bald and Dollar Mountains and evening service throughout Sun Valley and Ketchum. Ketchum’s public bus, Kart, stops in front of the Inn to shuttle you to the lifts and Sun Valley, Ketchum or Elkhorn for shopping, dining, entertainment and sightseeing. Two golf courses, including the championship 18-hole course at Sun Valley are situated nearby, as are tennis courts, bike paths and the Big Wood River. Some of the best mountain biking, hiking, and cross country skiing in the country are just a few minutes away.
We give this property a big two thumbs up! Its cozy ambiance mixed with its stellar service makes it an ideal place to stay for your next trip to Sun Valley, especially if you’re heading there for a romantic getaway. Remember that most of the rooms boast fireplaces, great soaking tubs and great views!
Details:
Knob Hill Inn
960 N Main Street, Ketchum, ID 83340
(208) 726-8010
Note: I was hosted by the inn but all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
