Wallace, Idaho

Pick a direction and you’ll run into something fun! By Colin Anderson.

It may be just a two hour drive from Bonners Ferry, but when you exit the freeway and stroll through downtown Wallace it’s like traveling back in time. Many don’t realize that the entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (the reason why I-90 travels over town instead of through it.) You might also be interested to learn:

· More silver was mined in and around Wallace over a 100-year period than anywhere in the world.

· ‘Dante’s Peak’ starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton was filmed here in 1997.

· The Pulaski tool used by wildland firefighters around the world was invented here.

· Outside of Nevada, Wallace had the last legally open brothel in the United States, not closing its doors until 1988.

Quite a lot for a town where less than a thousand people call home, and that’s just the beginning. Settled in the late 1800’s, Wallace grew quickly as thousands of prospectors came searching for riches in the surrounding mountains. Immigrants from all over gathered here at the time making it one of the more diverse communities in the west. An estimated 1.2 billion pounds of Silver has been pulled from the region. There are several museums downtown that will share the incredible history of this region. Stop by the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot museum to see how the railroad brought prospectors and prosperity to the region. The Wallace District Mining museum takes you inside the lives of those who worked one of the most dangerous jobs at the turn of the century. And the Oasis Brothel Museum will guide you through how many of these workers spent their hard earned money, complete with some very interesting ‘artifacts.’ For those looking to take an up close look for themselves, both the Sierra Silver and Crystal Gold mines offer guided tours.

As we approach winter, Wallace is a perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s conveniently nestled between Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain ski hills, and the surrounding area is littered with places to explore on snowshoes or snow machines. Lookout Pass boasts an annual snowfall of 400” ensuring great conditions whether you’re on the mountain or exploring the vast backcountry behind it. Silver Mountain hosts live music and also has an indoor water park, allowing you to ride and surf in the same day.

When spring and summer return, get ready for hiking, 4-wheeling, fishing, and miles of biking trails. Wallace backs up to both the Route of the Hiawatha and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Both are incredibly scenic ways to explore the area and both trails are extremely well maintained. There are festivals seemingly every summer weekend from huckleberry and accordion festivals to the ATV Jamboree and ever popular Wallace Blues fest, which brings in thousands of music fans each July.

While it’s only a short drive back to Bonners Ferry, plan on spending the night. There are name brand hotels, local motels, bed and breakfasts, and RV lots. This ensures your ability to take on Wallace’s ever expanding nightlife.

In such a small town, one would not expect a wide variety of dining options, but you’ll find just about everything here. There is pit style bbq, pizza, pubs and burgers, game, and several fine dining locations. Fainting Goat Wine Bar is continuing to grow in popularity as is the Wallace Brewing Company where you can get a pint, sample several styles, or fill a 64-ounce growler jug to go. You’ll find all kinds of history in the local antique shops, and just admiring the long lines of brick buildings that have stood for 100 years or more is a treat in itself.

Many towns in the west have come and gone as the natural resources become tapped out, but not Wallace. While the mines are not producing at near the levels they once were, the town has not shriveled up, but rather reinvented itself as a gateway to the outdoors and place of rich history and culture. Whether you find fresh powder, a cold beer, fun festival, or a new appreciation for mining, you’ll be surprise how much fun you can have so close to home.

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