Sun Valley becomes first U.S. resort to earn DarkSky certification

Sun Valley Resort in Idaho has become the first resort in the United States certified through DarkSky International’s lodging and resorts program. Photo: Nathan Anderson

SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Sun Valley Resort has become the first resort in the United States certified through DarkSky International’s lodging and resorts program, recognizing its outdoor lighting practices and efforts to protect the nighttime environment.

DarkSky International announced the designation July 13. The organization said Sun Valley Resort met standards involving responsible outdoor lighting, habitat protection and public education about the effects of light pollution.

The designation makes Sun Valley the first U.S. resort certified through the DarkSky Approved Lodging & Resorts Program and, according to DarkSky International, the first certified DarkSky resort in North America.

“At Sun Valley, the outdoors has always been at the center of the guest experience,” Pete Sonntag, CEO of Sun Valley Resort, said in the announcement. “Preserving the natural beauty of this place, including the night sky, is an important part of protecting what makes the experience here so special for future generations.”

Sonntag said the resort hopes the certification will raise awareness and demonstrate how resorts can protect the environment while serving guests.

Sun Valley Resort is located along the edge of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which was certified in December 2017 as the first International Dark Sky Reserve in the United States. The reserve covers 906,000 acres, or about 1,416 square miles, and includes Sun Valley, Ketchum, Stanley and large areas of the Sawtooth National Forest.

The reserve includes a dark central core surrounded by communities and lands that support efforts to preserve the core’s nighttime conditions. Most of its acreage is public land.

“We’re excited to recognize and celebrate Sun Valley Resort’s achievement as the first certified DarkSky Resort in North America,” James Brigagliano, lighting program manager at DarkSky International, said in the announcement.

Brigagliano said the resort’s work shows how responsible lighting can improve the guest experience while also protecting the surrounding nighttime environment.

DarkSky International identified several areas at or near the resort for stargazing, including Bald Mountain Summit, the Trail Creek Cabin area, Dollar Mountain Lodge and locations within Sun Valley Resort Village. Galena Summit, about 30 miles north of Sun Valley within the dark sky reserve, was also highlighted.

The resort plans to expand its night-sky programming with guided stargazing, astronomy events, educational programs and wellness offerings, according to DarkSky International.

The DarkSky Approved Lodging & Resorts Program was founded in 2023. It recognizes overnight accommodations that meet standards for responsible outdoor lighting and offer access to naturally dark skies. Certified properties are subject to regular reporting and periodic recertification.