STORY BY JOHN LUNDIN
Reindeer aren’t new to Sun Valley. They were part of early Sun Valley lore, along with Andy the Antelope whom Leif Odmark used to pace his Nordic Olympic team.
Sun Valley historian John Lundin is sharing his tale of how Alaskan reindeer were brought to Sun Valley in 1937 with Eye on Sun Valley readers.
Lundin, a retired lawyer who splits his time between Sun Valley and Seattle, has written several award-winning history books, including “Skiing Sun Valley: A History from Union Pacific to the Holdings.” He wrote a larger essay explaining how reindeer were introduced to Alaska for the National Nordic Museum in Seattle:
“In fall 1937, for Sun Valley’s second Christmas celebration, a herd of Alaskan reindeer were brought to the Resort to entertain its guests, remnants of those brought to the state during the 1890s. The herd was accompanied by Andres Bongo, “special trainer and caretaker, a Laplander whose father brought the first reindeer herds from Siberia to Alaska 40 years ago.”
“Averell Harriman planned for the celebration of Sun Valley’s second season at Christmas for the reindeer to “feature in holiday festivities surrounding the season’s opening” and carry guests around the resort.
“The reindeer did not have an easy journey. They were taken into captivity in August in northern Alaska, and flown three at a time in a transport plane from their inland range near Teller, Alaska, to Nome, where “Bongo and his staff of trainers have made considerable progress in breaking and gentling them.”
“The reindeer were introduced to their new food, alfalfa, to wean them off of the tundra on which they subsisted, although over 100 bags of tundra were taken with them as a precaution. From Nome, they were taken by freighter to Seattle, by train to Boise, Idaho, then onto to Sun Valley.
“The reindeer were named Dancer, Prancer, Donner, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet, Dasher and Vixen with others named after Union Pacific Challenger trains: Streamer, Liner, Clipper, Saint and Nick.
“At Sun Valley, the reindeer were fitted with special harnesses and trained to pull sleighs that would carry visitors around the resort. They were housed in a new barn built for them near the main road where every Sun Valley visitor may see them.
“Sun Valley officials hope that this group may be the nucleus of a permanent stand of reindeer in the Sawtooths, said the Boise Statesman in November 1937.
“But problems arose as soon they arrived--they refused to eat local alfalfa, and more tundra had to be imported from Alaska to keep them alive, at great expense.
“For the opening of Sun Valley’s second season, Harriman orchestrated a splash of publicity combining his two pet projects. He had Union Pacific send one of its new Streamliner trains, the City of Los Angeles, on its maiden trip from New York to Sun Vall in December 1937 … and it was met by 1,000 to 2,000 people, several bands, dogs, reindeer and “other instruments of publicity.” Sun Valley publicist Dorice Taylor said U.P. publicist Steve Hannigan organized so many activities at Sun Valley (dog sleds, toboggan rides, reindeer, ski joring, etc.) because he didn’t believe anyone would want to just ski.
“On January 1, 1938, the New York Times told its readers what to expect the coming season: Woolen stockings, Alpine hats and shorts are converting Sun Valley, Idaho, into an American St. Moritz as vacationists descend on this resort set in the Sawtooth Mountains for Winter sports. Scheduled entertainments appear to leave visitors little leisure. What with party sleighs drawn by reindeer, evening high jinks by cow punchers, luncheons on the ice with music, ski-joring, programs whirl along at fast tempo.
“In the evenings, guests went to Ketchum in sleighs pulled by dogs or reindeer.
“Although the reindeer added color to Sun Valley, they caused problems. They bit at children, chased Santa Claus, and were eventually sent home as nuisances rather than ending their days in the Sawtooths. Actress Janet Leigh described how a reindeer, rejecting Christmas cheer, ‘lowered its antlers and charged at Santa’s baggy rear end, chasing him round and round the tree. Everyone shrieked with laughter,’ she added.”