Sun Valley Resort is located in Idaho’s Wood River Valley. With the success of the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid, railroad tycoon and avid skier, W. Averell Harriman decided to build the first U.S. destination ski resort to increase ridership on the Union Pacific Railroad. From 1935-1936, Harriman built a resort that featured the world’s first ski lift on Proctor Mt., which is listed in the National Register. Harriman’s vision was a success and drew athletes and celebrities, including skier Gretchen Fraser.Fraser was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1919. In 1938 she traveled to Sun Valley and competed in a new ski event, the Harriman Cup. She subsequently lived and trained at Sun Valley and during World War II spent time rehabilitating wounded and disabled veterans through skiing. At the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland she became the first American woman skier to win gold and silver medals. She returned to Sun Valley and became a mentor to Olympians like Picabo Street.