7 Towns in Idaho With Thriving Local Businesses

Idaho is an agricultural and natural gem in the northwestern United States. Although you probably associate this state only with farming and other outdoor businesses, it has a wealth of wonderful indoor establishments ranging from breweries, bakeries, and bistros to theaters. Perhaps even more surprisingly, many of those local businesses (both outdoor and indoor) thrive in some of Idaho's tiniest "towns." Learn more about seven small communities that sell more than just potatoes in The Potato State.

Wallace

Wallace is an Idaho Panhandle city with a deep mining history. Its Sierra Silver Mine Tour takes customers below ground at a real silver mine and above ground on a classic trolley. The trolley travels through town while a guide explains the significance of certain buildings. Much of Wallace's downtown was built during the turn of the century mining boom. Now, it has shops for coffee, drama, and beer rather than pickaxes.

The Tin Snug is a cozy café/record store in a 1905 building that used to be a funeral home. The Sixth Street Melodrama and Theater occupies a teal-tinged building that is said to be the only wooden downtown structure that survived an 1890s fire. And the Wallace Brewing Company is in a steel and brick edifice that survived the Great Fire of 1910. Despite being destroyed twice by fire, like phoenixes, vibrant businesses rose from the ashes.

Salmon

Catch a new release in the River Cinemas, one of many extraordinary establishments in the remote river city of Salmon. On the same street as the theater are the Odd Fellows' Bakery, whose Alan Scott-style oven has baked hundreds of thousands of loaves of delicious sourdough bread; Salmon River Coffee Shop, which sells a variety of tasty beverages and pastries from a historic lounge building; and Junkyard Bistro, a family-friendly restaurant serving homemade food and delectable beer and wine.

You can visit those businesses from your base at the Twin Peaks Guest Ranch, a 677-acre estate that offers luxurious accommodations and sights as well as a number of outdoor activities, from disc golf and horseback riding to target shooting.

Driggs

Driggs is a growing community in the lush Teton Valley of Eastern Idaho. Its population has more than doubled in the last few decades, going from 846 residents in 1990 to nearly 2,000 in 2020. Outdoor recreation, particularly in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest to the west and Grand Teton National Park to the east, has been the main catalyst for growth, but bustling businesses have helped pave the way.

Hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, and skiers are serviced by such Driggs digs as the Teton Valley Cabins and the Teton Creek Resort. Find gear at Peaked Sports and calories at The Royal Wolf. And then, after conquering your respective fields, celebrate at the Citizen-33 Brewery.

Sandpoint

Sandpoint is an appropriate name for this lakefront city in North Idaho. About 9,000 residents and myriad tourists chill on the banks of Lake Pend Oreille, which, at 43 miles long, is the largest lake in the state. Of course, all those people need places to dry off between plunges, and Sandpoint has you covered. On 1st Ave sits The Panida Theater, which draws visitors with community productions and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture dating to the 1920s. On 2nd Ave is Second Avenue Pizza, whose savory slices have been satiating customers for over 30 years.

And filling up Farmin Park from May to October is the Farmers' Market at Sandpoint, which has been showcasing local farmers, food vendors, fine artists, and craftspeople for more than 35 years. One can tour the booths and buy fresh milk from the Mountain Cloud Creamery, gourmet pepper jelly from Sweet Heat, and a hand-felted scarf from Four Winds Creations.

Riggins

Riggins is a Western Idaho city with about 400 residents. Riggins has the population of a small town but, thanks to its lively businesses and outdoor adventures, the vibrancy of a city. Before hiking the Payette National Forest or rafting the Salmon River, residents and tourists wander along Riggins' winding, riverside Main Street, stopping at several highly rated shops and eateries.

These include a casual dining restaurant called River Rock Cafe, a state-of-the-art coffee roaster called Two Rivers, a steakhouse/bar called Seven Devils, and a unique souvenir store called Tourist Trap Consignment & Gift Shop. Riggins even has a full-service grocery store called Riggins Whitewater Market, which sells everything from fresh meat to sporting goods.

Hagerman

An excellent ambassador for rural Southern Idaho, Hagerman has around 1,000 residents, a majestic river, lots of agricultural land, modern wilderness areas, prehistoric wilderness areas (Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument), and a bunch of booming businesses. They consist of restaurants like the Snake River Grill, Riverboat Restaurant, and Los Potrillos Mexican Restaurant, as well as shops like Bullets 'N Brew.

But if you want to brew yourself in the Hagerman region, check out Miracle Hot Springs. Dubbed a "Geothermal Oasis In The Desert," this resort is fueled by miraculous natural spring water maintained at 96 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit for a range of rejuvenating soaks.

Stanley

If you thought Riggins deserved a shout-out for its small population yet big business, Stanley deserves a bullhorn. This mountainous municipality is home to just over 100 people but is filled to the brim with restaurants, bars, stores, and hotels. Stanley is a hub for outdoor recreation, so such businesses serve outdoor enthusiasts.

Peaks & Perks offers views and cold brews from its roadside stand. The Stanley Baking Company & Cafe has all-day high-quality breakfast. Riverwear provides outdoor wear in its iconic mom-and-pop shop. And the Stanley High Country Inn boasts a rustic retreat. The Mountain Village Resort presents almost all that and more, since it comprises not just a lodge but a mercantile and a restaurant/saloon.

A sightseeing trip to Idaho need not be limited to nature and agriculture. Sure, climbing the mountains, paddling the rivers, and touring the farmers' markets are wonderful, but there are modern and vibrant thriving local businesses to check out as well. You do not have to leave rural Idaho to see them, either. They can be found in Wallace, Salmon, Driggs, Sandpoint, Riggins, Hagerman, and Stanley. Start searching!