The two-mile boardwalk meanders through a 500-acre protected area that’s home to moose, deer and other wildlife.
By Jim Adair
Maybe you haven’t heard of Huntsman Springs or Driggs, Idaho yet – but you will. Although the resort already has an award-winning golf course in place, development has just begun. The Huntsman family, owners of Huntsman Springs, believe the area will become a four-season vacation destination to rival spots like nearby Jackson Hole, Wy., Deer Valley and Park City in Utah and other well-known but over-developed ski regions. Now is the time for real estate investors to get in on the ground floor and for real estate professionals, a referral fee of six per cent is on the table.
Recently Huntsman Springs picked up the tab so REM could visit the area and find out why Canadians would be interested in visiting the Teton Valley, where Driggs (population 1,627) and Huntsman Springs is situated. There are direct flights from 12 major U.S. cities to Jackson Hole. From there it’s a 45-minute drive over the spectacular Teton Pass to Driggs.
Huntsman Springs was founded by Jon and Karen Huntsman. Jon is chairman and founder of Huntsman Corporation, which was the world’s largest privately held chemical company with more than $12 billion in annual revenues before going public in 2005. It is now the third-largest chemical firm in the U.S., behind Dow Chemical and Dupont.
Huntsman has been named to Forbes Magazine’s list of America’s wealthiest people. He says early in his career he spent a lot of time in the European Alps in Germany and Switzerland, and that “Teton Valley is almost an exact duplicate of those beautiful European Alps,” according to an article in Executive Golfer magazine. His inspiration was to build a community with the natural beauty and amenities of the Alps, but the small-town ambience of Driggs.
“I hope that the characteristics of Driggs never change” despite the development boom that’s coming, says Huntsman. “It may be among the last great American small towns. Rural towns everywhere tend to be discovered eventually and attract people trying to escape the hassle of urban life, but I would not like to see Driggs develop into an Aspen or Park City. We truly love everything about Driggs as it is and hope that it stays small and clean and a safe place to live and spend time with the family.”
The Mountain View Lodge homes overlook the award-winning golf course.
In 1995, the Huntsmans founded the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. Dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, it features leading-edge research laboratories and a state-of-the-art hospital treating cancer patients. All profits from Huntsman Springs are donated to the institute.
We were there during the snowy winter, when the options for downhill and cross-country skiing are unlimited. In the summer, the area is a gorgeous natural setting with miles of wilderness trails for hiking and mountain biking. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, horseback riding and mountain climbing, with a focus on family-friendly activities.
A number of special events are held throughout the year, including an annual Fourth of July celebration featuring fireworks, concerts and food vendors. Last year the event brought 30,000 people to Driggs.
The world-famous Yellowstone National Park is about an hour away. But for golfers, the big attraction is the course designed by golf architect David McLay Kidd. It was named among the 2014 Best Residential Golf Courses by Golf Week, one of the top 100 courses by Links Magazine, and Best of the Best by Robb Report.
“We have never built a course with so much risk-reward, ‘do or die’ and go-for-broke hole after hole, yet it is fair and playable,” says Kidd.
Huntsman Springs president Anthony Snoey says the course is “visually intimidating” and non-members must be accompanied by a Huntsman caddy to steer them through it.
Beside the golf course is a 500-acre wildlife refuge with a two-mile boardwalk, which only residents and golf course members and their guest can access. It includes seven lakes that are stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout and have solar-powered aerators to sustain the fish population.
Members and guests take a fly fishing lesson at no charge and are taught the basics of fly casting and landing. The lakes can be fished from access points along the boardwalk and are designated for fly fishing and catch-and-release only. Huntsman Springs also offers guided fly-fishing trips on the nearby Teton and Snake Rivers.
The challenging course has already won several awards
The golf course is the heart of the master plan of the community. There are four Mountain View Lodge Homes models currently available, starting at $1.69 million (US) for 3,400 to 5,400 square feet of living space. Designed in a Rocky Mountain rustic style, the homes can be purchased fully furnished. They feature natural timber and stone and moss rock on the exterior. Inside, the homes have vaulted ceilings and large open living spaces. There are huge windows everywhere to take advantage of the views of the golf course and the mountain ranges beyond. High-quality finishes include travertine marble and white oak cabinetry.
There are also building lots available, some with excellent golf course views and all of them with mountain vistas. The lots start at $250,000.
Park Homes are also offered, which will range from 2,450 to 2,750 square feet and include two-car garages. They also come fully furnished and are priced from $749,000 to $769,000.
Still pending approval from the local municipality is a planned group of town homes called City Walk at a lower price point. They will feature front porches and rear alley entry.
The next phase in the project is the development of Huntsman Village, including the new 102-room five-star Huntsman Lodge. The lodge is focused around a winter ice rink that becomes a fountain in summer and will be situated so the expansive lobby looks out over the rink to the majestic Grand Teton Mountain. Lodge villas will include individual outdoor fire pits and hot tubs, with each unit overlooking the golf course.
For all of the Huntsman Springs real estate offerings, rental programs are available.
Any real estate professional who refers a client who buys a property will receive a six-per-cent referral fee.
A new Discovery Package – a discounted three-day, two-night stay that includes accommodations in a Mountain View Lodge home, reduced greens fees on the golf course, access to the Wellness Center, fly fishing and more is now being offered at $359 per night (based on two people, two night minimum). Guests will also receive a “welcome” gift basket and a tour of Huntsman Springs real estate. For information, call 208-354-9660 or email sales rep Julie Bryan at [email protected].
For more information: www.huntsmansprings.com.
