Along with being a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author, Ernest Miller Hemingway was also an avid outdoor enthusiast. In fact, Hemingway spent a substantial amount of time enjoying Idaho’s natural beauty. He purchased a home in Ketchum in 1959 and lived there for a few years before sadly ending his own life in 1961. Since Hemingway lived and died in the Gem State, it’s only right that his final resting place is also here. You can find Hemingway’s Grave in the Ketchum Cemetery, but there’s a myriad of ways the writer has been immortalized around the small mountain town that he grew to love so much.
Known for scouring destinations like Paris, France and Havana, Cuba during his literary career, Hemingway sought inspiration from the places that he lived. One of the lesser-known spots that left an impression on the novelist was our very own Ketchum, Idaho, and it's here where he is buried.
Hemingway's love affair with Idaho began in 1939 when he first came to stay at the Sun Valley Lodge. In fact, it was in Suite 206 that he finished one of his most well-known works, For Whom The Bell Tolls. Even to this day, the resort boasts an entire suite that commemorates Hemingway and the time that he spent there.
The famed American author loved the solace that Idaho provided. One of his favorite destinations was none other than Silver Creek where he would regularly go fishing or bird-hunting. Pictured here is Hemingway at Silver Creek with actor Gary Cooper and Bobbie Peterson.
Of course, Hemingway also had his favorite Idaho watering holes. He was known to frequent places like the Sawtooth Club and the Pioneer Saloon, both of which are still in business to this day. In fact, the Pioneer Saloon proudly displays one of Hemingway's own guns, a 1953 Winchester Model 21 twelve-gauge shotgun.
He was known for his globe-trotting adventures, but his final resting place is a fairly simple plot right here in Ketchum, Idaho. Those who visit the Ketchum Cemetery can find his grave tucked away between two spruce trees, surrounded by his family and friends.
It almost seems bizarre that such a prominent figure would be contained to a simple headstone with only a name, date of birth, and date of death. However, that's also exactly what we'd expect from the man who was known for his simple and direct style. Fans who visit his final resting place are known to adorn the stoic grave with things like coins, flowers, and of course, bottles of alcohol.
His death occurred nearly half a century ago, but the memory of Ernest Hemingway is still very much alive in Sun Valley. Lastly, a memorial on Trail Creek Road, built by Hemingway's friends and adorned with the writer's own words, pays tribute to the author's lasting legacy.
Did you know about Hemingway’s grave in Ketchum? It’s unfortunate the beloved writer couldn’t spend more time in the beautiful Gem State. Learn more about Ketchum and why it’s considered one of “the coolest towns in America” here.
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