Accessibility Info for Guests

Our Gathering stives to ensure our venues and events are accessible and inclusive for everyone. We take feedback from guests seriously and we work to remove any barriers to access in real-time, and if we can’t, we incorporate feedback and guest experience into the planning for nextyear’s event. Keep in mind that Stanley is a rural Idaho town. There are dirt roads and very fewdeveloped sidewalks. The businesses and City of Stanley are working to make the city asaccessible as possible, and feedback from visitors and guests is welcomed.

MOBILITY:

Camping and Parking:

~ Pioneer Park/Ballfield (#7): There are four van accessible parking spaces located adjacent to the ballfield in Pioneer Park.

~ Rustic RV/Tent Camping (#6): There are two van accessible parking spaces at the Sawtooth Valley Meditation Chapel.

~ Overflow Camping (#5): The overflow camping space at the northeast corner of Wall Street and Ace of Diamonds Street includes one 20’ wide accessible camping space close to the accessible porta-potty.

~ Town Rustic RV/Car Camping (#4): There are two reserved 20’ wide accessible camping spaces close to the accessible porta-potty and the paved Highway 21.

~ Velvet Falls Dance Hall (#1): This building is on ground level and has accessible entrance.

BATHROOMS:

Wheelchair accessible porta-potties are located at all festival related locations.

Anywhere festival porta-potties are located, there is a wheelchair accessible option.

Pathways: Wheelchair users will find a combination of compacted dirt, gravel, and asphalt/cement throughout Stanley. The pathway from State Highway 21 to Pioneer Park, for example, is a dirt road. The slope of the road from the “downtown” area (which is level) to the park could be steep for some wheelchair users, so accessing the park via vehicle may be preferred.

VISION:

To help orient visitors who are blind or low vision, we have provided the following description of Stanley and key destinations:

The town’s central area is primarily organized along State Highway 21, which runs east-west through Stanley. This highway is also known locally as Eva Falls Avenue within town limits.

Eva Falls Avenue (State Highway 21): This is the main thoroughfare of Stanley. Traveling eastward on State Highway 21 leads to the intersection with State Highway 75, which heads north toward Lower Stanley and Challis and south toward Ketchum and Sun Valley.

Niece Avenue and Wall Street extend south perpendicular to State Highway 21. Wall Street turns into Airport Road, which takes visitors to Pioneer Park.

Along State Highway 21, you’ll find several key establishments.

~ The City of Stanley and the Chamber of Commerce: Their offices are located on the north side of the highway.

~ Mountain Village Resort: Situated on the north and south sides of the highway, this

resort offers lodging, a restaurant, mercantile, gas station, and a saloon. It’s a notable landmark for visitors seeking accommodations and dining.

~ Shops for recreational clothing and outdoor equipment are on the north side of the highway.

HEARING:

With advanced notice, can make available a range of accommodations, including ASL interpreters for select performances, captioning for event announcements, and assistive listening devices upon request. Designated viewing areas with optimal sightlines for interpreters are available at the stage. If you need interpreting services for a specific performance or additional assistance, please contact us at least 30 days prior to the event.

SERVICE ANIMALS:

In accordance with the ADA, service animals—most commonly dogs, but in some cases, miniature horses—are welcome throughout the festival grounds. These animals assist in many ways, such as guiding individuals who are blind, alerting those who are deaf to important sounds, providing stability for those with mobility disabilities, detecting medical emergencies like seizures or changes in blood sugar levels, and even helping individuals with PTSD by performing calming tasks. Please remember that service animals must remain under their handler’s control at all times and should not be distracted or petted without permission.

Emotional support animals, therapy animals, and pets are not permitted.

Beginning on March 15, 2011, under Titles II and III of the ADA, the definition of a service animal is: "A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks directly related to the person’s disability." 

Examples of service animal tasks include:

~ Guiding a person who is blind.

~ Pulling a wheelchair.

~ Alerting a person who has a seizure disorder.

~ Providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability.

~ Assisting persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors

~ Providing a safety check or a room search for a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

An animal that provides only emotional support, comfort, therapy, or crime prevention is not considered a service animal under the ADA. A service animal is a working animal; not a pet. Laws similar to the ADA, as well as local states; counties; and cities, may have different and more broad definitions of "service animal." Check with your local ADA Center.

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals | ADA National Network
https://adata.org/guide/service-animals-and-emotional-support-animals

Service Animal FAQs | ADA National Network
https://adata.org/service-animal-resource-hub/FAQs