STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the saving of the Galena Lodge during the annual Galena & The Trails Winter Benefit.
The benefit will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Limelight Room of the Sun Valley Inn.
It will include a silent auction and drinks, dinner, a life auction and the Stand for Galena paddle raise. And it will end with dancing to the sounds of the High Street Party Band, which plays pop favorites from the 1960s through today.
This year’s auction items include a trip for two to Telluride, Colo., with lodging and downhill skiing included. Also, a private dinner party for 40 provided by Anne and Scott Mason; a private cocktail and appetizer party for up to 40 people in Senate Meadows hosted by Don Shepler of Galena Lodge and Warfield Distillery, and a private dinner party for 10 people at the home of Mark and Jami Grassi featuring award-winning Grassi wines and a catered dinner by CK’s Real Food.
Plenty of ways to fuel up for that epic ski from Galena Lodge to SNRA!
The historic lodge was slated to be torn down in 1994 when a group of locals began a campaign to raise funds to save the lodge and maintain its surrounding trails. Teresa Heinz Kerry stepped up to the plate with a large matching gift from the Heinz Family Foundation and the community followed suit.
“Can you believe it has been so many years ago? Times just goes by too quickly when you are having fun!” said Jenny Busdon, who co-chairs the benefit with Bob Rosso. “We have about 60 tickets left—and it’s going to be a sell-out once again with 450 people. Tickets go so quickly—everyone loves Galena and the Trails and everyone is willing to support so generously every year.”
The lodge and trails are now owned and maintained by the Blaine County Recreation District. The BCRD relies on Nordic pass sales, individual donations and the Galena and the Trails Winter Benefit to sustain the lodge and groom the trails for cross country skiing. No tax dollars are involved.
Tickets are $100 per person and tables are available for groups of eight and 10 people. Reservations may be made at www.bcrd.org or by calling 208-578-2273.
The evening is provided by the BCRD, the Galena and the Trails Advisory Council and Tastevin Wines.