Bradley N.
Yelp
No, it isn't always raining or snowing or sleeting in Stanley. But whenever I find myself checking into a $99/night hotel room here, at the Mountain Village Resort, inevitably it is. Generally this is because the MVR is my dependable, Plan B overnight stop when the Sawtooth NRA campgrounds are either closed or so battered by rain, snow, and wind that the prospect of sleeping outside is ... less than optimal.
Fortunately, they know this here. They live in Stanley, after all. You get a lot of snow days when you live above 6,000 feet in the mountains of Idaho, and having a warm bed, a hot shower, a lockable door, and a dry roof over one's head goes a long way to keeping one sane.
So, too, do the amenities here that defy the norm: a private natural hot springs soaking area within easy dipping distance to the beautiful, if frigid, Salmon River; a $5 wooden token good for a drink (or discount) at the attached Stanley Club Saloon, where you can enjoy a bowl of beef sirloin chili (highly recommended) with a glass of Idaho or Washington wine (or craft beer). The saloon, along with the reception area, offers free wifi, while the rooms themselves do not. I tend to set up my laptop in the saloon in the afternoon, after checking in, order a glass of wine (last time it was a generous pour of 2016 CMS Sauvignon Blanc), and decide how best to leave Stanley early in the morning for my next road trip destination. Each morning, you will also find freshly brewed, strong dark coffee at the reception desk, so fill up your travel mug before you leave!
Even if you are arriving on short notice, it's best to call ahead of time to book your room, or reserve it online. Although it may not look it during non-peak times of the year, Stanley's hotel rooms can fill up fast, and the MVR is the closest you'll get to a one-stop destination, complete with car repair services, gas station, an outdoor gear and clothing store, a small grocery store, a music venue, a full service restaurant, and the saloon/bar area which offers food as well as drinks.
The hot springs is open to guests in one-hour time blocks; you need to register at the check-in and sign a waiver before you can use the self-service facility, which has two changing rooms next to the tub. The octagonal-shaped tub is around 4 feet deep and protected in a wooden roofed shed that has large barn doors on one end that open towards the Sawtooth Mountains and is the height of rustic elegance when it comes to such things: a soft, sandy bottom, freshly circulating hot water, a metal ladder for easy entry and access, and the chance to dunk yourself in the Salmon River (especially fun when it's full of snowmelt) and then rush back to the warm waters inside.
Between the wines for purchase at the saloon, the soaking tub, the soft pillows, and the hot showers, it's hard to find fault with the "luxuries" that MVR has to offer. No, it's not Mar-a-Lago, or a AAA diamond-rated hotel. It's much better than all of that! Snow or sunshine, the Mountain Village Resort has a special place in my heart. It has saved me from cold nights and cramped mornings and given me the time and peace of mind to continue the journey. I am already looking forward to my next visit!