Picture: The cozy, quaint Galena Lodge.
Galena was first settled as a mining town in 1879. People mined for silver and lead ore, metals that were also called Galena, hence the town’s name. At its peak, Galena was home to more than 800 residents, which at the time was a larger population than Ketchum. And with saloons, restaurants, shops and even a brothel, town was booming. But by 1890, when all the ore was mined, Galena had become a ghost town.
For years, the structures at Galena sat empty until 1924 when the Barber family opened the Galena Store and some guest cabins. With the development of the Sun Valley Resort, Galena began to see more visitors. After a series of ownership transfers, the Gelsky family finally built the current Galena Lodge in 1960, using remains of the old town for the lodge’s interior.
The Lodge continued to transfer ownership many times, and even sat empty for a while. Finally, in 1994, the “Help Save Galena Campaign” was kicked off and the Blaine County Recreation District took over This public purchase was made possible in large part by the late Senator H. John Heinz III, who made a huge donation on behalf of the cause.
Today, Galena Lodge is full of life. And, you can even see remnants of Galena’s mining past. Take a loop on the Cowboy Cabin Trail and visit the old cabin that is still used for horseback riding in the summer. Or, head out the Pioneer Cemetery Trail and you will see that gravesites for some of the late miners that frequented the area.
A trip to Galena is well worth it. Whether you just want to enjoy the scenery, or get a little history lesson by going snowshoeing with a ranger, Galena has a little something for everyone. And while you are out on the trails, make sure to think about the many people that walked there before you.
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