McCall Smokejumpers

McCall—Then and Now.  From its beginnings in logging and forestry to the present as a world class four season resort, McCall is a city with history, character and adventure.

The making of the Spencer Tracy classic Northwest Passage was filmed primarily in and around McCall in 1938—and the panoramic shots of Payette Lake and surrounding countryside helped earn the film an Academy Award nomination for best cinematography.  Click here for a recent McCall Magazine article on the filming of 'Northwest Passage'.

The character of McCall as Idahos
“Ski Town USA” is inscribed in its tradition as the second oldest winter recreational area in Idaho. In the early 1920’s, Finnish settlers introduced cross country skiing, alpine skiing and ski jumping to the region. Their mark is still apparent on the farms and street signs of Long Valley with well crafted examples of Finnish style architecture and Finnish dialect.

Winter Carnival Parade gets started

At elevation 5,000 the City of McCall anchors the north end of Valley County and rests on the shores of spectacular Payette Lake which has been referrred to as ”Little Lake Tahoe”. A pristine alpine lake of this size is a natural feature missing in many mountain resort communities. While the architecture and restoration of the Hotel McCall reminds McCall of its origin, the commanding, state of the art Manchester Ice Centre brings McCall into the present.

With a local population of 3,471 full time residents in the winter and 12,000 in the summer, McCall has become a diverse melting pot. Many locals have been here for generations. New residents - whether retirees, baby boomers fulfilling their dream or those relocating to the area for employment opportunities - easily discover a common ground of life in McCall.

McCall Smokejumper Base

Today, McCall’s leading employer is the US Forest Service which operates the largest regional Smokejumper Base and firefighting capabilities. The McCall-Donnelly School District, Tamarack Resort and Valley County are other major employers.

The region’s economy and landscape is changing dramatically. Along with international exposure generated by Tamarack Resort and the successful release of Fairmont Tamarack, Brundage Mountain Resort’s recent land swap with the U. S. Forest Service is expected to foster continued development and growth to Ski Town USA and it’s sister cities of Donnelly, Lake Fork and New Meadows.

The near distant future promises great excitement as McCall’s hometown astronaut, Barbara Morgan, is set to venture into space in the summer of 2007. And in 2008 McCall will host the international Nordic ski event, the Master’s World Cup. There is no doubt McCall will remain bright on the radar screen. Stay tuned for News as it develops.