CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUNDER
Charming central Idaho mountain-lake retreat Whitetail Club transforms traditional private-resort-community model
MCCALL, Idaho (Aug. 1, 2011) — At a time when private resort communities throughout Whitetail Club by the numbers the United States and the world are Established...... 2002 experiencing economic distress and dwindling Single-family home sites sold...... 69 membership, Whitetail Club is at the forefront of delivering what today’s affluent market Maximum number of homes...... 228 wants. In addition to offering a diverse and Total acreage of Whitetail Club ...... 1,300 fully developed set of amenities — including a Total debt of development...... $0 championship Andy North golf course — this gated community in McCall, Idaho, is offering Number of holes on golf course...... 18 new cabin products and multiple membership Total golf course length in yards ...... 7,200 options that are more in line with changing Golf course par rating...... 72 social trends. As a result, developer Joe Scott — the owner of Alscott Real Estate and the Golf course slope ...... 125 grandson of grocery store magnate Joe Number of unfinished amenities ...... 0 Albertson — has transformed Whitetail Club Square footage of golf clubhouse ...... 3,500 into the Northwest’s most desirable, family Square footage of Fish & Swim Club ...... 6,000 friendly, year-round, mountain-lake resort community despite a very challenging and Square footage of athletic complex ...... 14,000 uncertain market sector. Workout stations in athletic complex ...... 14 While golf remains an important draw for new Square footage of lakefront access members and property owners, Scott says it is via Shore Lodge...... 3,500 not what truly distinguishes this private Miles of adjacent snowmobile trails...... >500 community from other Northwest mountain Miles of paved walking trails ...... 10 resort clubs. “Whitetail Club combines championship golf, beachfront mountain-lake Miles of Nordic ski trails...... 5 access, fully built member facilities and Price range of single- amenities, a wide array of onsite and offsite family home sites ...... $178,000 to $664,000 recreational opportunities, a vibrant member Price range of pre- activity program, fantastic culinary designed cabin homes . $650,000 to $695,000 experiences, and more,” he says. “These attributes — along with our debt-free status, strong and financially stable ownership, first-class management team, and passion and commitment for McCall — positions Whitetail Club for sustainable growth and success.”
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Just a 2-hour drive along the Payette Scenic Byway from Idaho’s state capitol of Boise, McCall is quickly gaining notoriety outside the Northwest for its world-class recreation and friendly, small- town atmosphere. It is also only a half-hour flight from Boise — which is served by all the major airlines via the regional commuter airline McCall Air. The town is set on Payette Lake, a breathtakingly beautiful, glacially carved lake on the western edge of the Rocky Mountains that’s some 600 feet deep and boasts more than 44 miles of shoreline. Whitetail Club rests on 1,300 beautiful acres and is the area’s only private club and community. With its 18-hole championship golf course, first-class facilities, and premium access to stunning Payette Lake and a new world- class spa called The Cove, Whitetail Club offers unsurpassed mountain-lake living and a generous package of amenities and year-round recreational opportunities for every age group.
The development is close to three major river systems and the finest and most plentiful natural hot springs in the lower 48. Whitetail Club is also adjacent to more than 500 miles of snowmobile trails and only 10 minutes from Brundage Mountain ski resort, which Ski Magazine says has “the best powder in North America” and which provides lift-assisted access to more than 20 miles of mountain bike trails.
Diverse, fully developed amenities Whitetail Club’s roads, infrastructure, and myriad recreational and social amenities are fully completed and ready for members to enjoy as they wish. They include: • Private, championship golf course — Designed by Roger Packard and two-time U.S. Open winner Andy North, Whitetail’s links are ranked by Golfweek Magazine as a Top 100 Best Course to Play in America. Also considered one of America’s 100 Greatest Courses by Golf Digest Magazine and an important link in the Idaho Golf Trail, this 18-hole, par-72 course extends 7,200 yards. Whitetail Club maintains a driving range, putting practice greens, and chipping greens, as well as a 3,500-square-foot full-service clubhouse that boasts a pro shop, restaurant, lounge, outdoor patio, locker rooms, swing-training equipment and analysis tools, bag storage and stunning, panoramic views. • Unparalleled Payette Lake access — Whitetail Club maintains a private lakeside clubhouse on the southern shores of pristine Payette Lake. In addition, members have unfettered access to its sister property Shore Lodge’s 3,500 square feet of lakefront that includes a sandy beach, water trampoline, lakeside swimming pool, and full-service marina. Whitetail Club members enjoy preferred boat slips at the latter facility. • Fish & Swim Club — This 6,000-square-foot, members-only clubhouse is the social hub of the community. In addition to offering indoor and outdoor dining and cocktails, it boasts a saltwater swimming pool, oversized spa, beach with fire pit, and stocked trout pond for fly and spin fishing. Kayaks and rowboats are available, and it’s also home to a game room and first-rate locker rooms. • Game room — The game room at the Fish & Swim Club boasts pool and ping pong tables, air hockey, foosball, darts, a Pop-A-Shot electronic basketball game, a Wii gaming console, a jukebox, and numerous board games.
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• Indoor Tennis & Fitness Center — Indoor tennis courts, fitness machines, free weights, a movable basketball hoop, and golf training equipment can be found in this 14,000-square- foot facility. • Other recreation and sports amenities — Whitetail Club maintains more than 10 miles of paved walking paths and a mountaintop yurt with a fire pit and scenic valley overlook. In the winter the community also offers 5 miles of Nordic ski trails, plus it is adjacent to more than 500 miles of snowmobile trails. Brundage Mountain is only 10 minutes away via the Shore Lodge shuttle, which is free to Whitetail Club members. • Fine dining — In addition to the Golf Shop & Grille and the Fish & Swim Club, Whitetail Club members have immediate access to and enjoy discounts at three establishments at the development’s sister property, Shore Lodge. With panoramic lake views, The Narrows restaurant provides an unforgettable setting for an extraordinary meal. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are expertly prepared under the guidance of Executive Chef Eric Gruber, whose inventive style mixing Continental and Northwestern elements with fresh, seasonal, local and regional ingredients has earned accolades from Every Day With Rachael Ray and National Culinary Review. Offering casual fare, lush landscaping, and gorgeous views, Lake Grill is open for breakfast and lunch year round — with its Sunday breakfast buffets being especially popular — and during the summer it opens its sunny, tiered lakeside patio and starts serving dinner. The Narrows Grill offers great libations — including several taps from one of the local brewpubs — plus its own menu, numerous games including shuffleboard and a Wii gaming console, and panoramic lake views. • Kids camp — Whitetail Club members have access to Shore Lodge’s Camp Sharlie, which offers structured activities for children ages 4-13 six days a week throughout the summer for harried parents in search of a much-needed reprieve. • World-class spa — The Cove, which opened in June, provides Whitetail Club members and Shore Lodge guests with “adventures in luxury” that revive their body, mind, and spirit. Offering massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, and an array of body-treatment services, the first-class extended-stay spa includes a full-service salon, individual and couples dry and wet treatment rooms, lounge facilities, deluge showers, indoor and outdoor immersion pools, and rock fountains in a serene setting.
Exciting, new cabin homes Whitetail Club recently introduced a series of elegant spec cabin homes that take advantage of both the stunning scenery and the temperate climate and feature generous outdoor spaces.
The first design is a 2,600-square-foot, two-story, three-bedroom home called the Selway Cabin that’s priced at $695,000. Featuring flow-through living, dining and kitchen areas and a large, stone-covered fireplace with built-in entertainment cabinets, the home boasts vaulted ceilings for a large, open feel. With a main-floor master suite that includes a walk-in closet, his/her vanities, a soaker tub and shower, the layout enables convenient, single-floor living that expands with two upstairs guest bedrooms.
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New for 2011, the second design is an inviting one-story, 3,100-square-foot, three-bedroom plan that starts at $895,000. Known as the Clearwater Cabin, it boasts an engaging great-room floor plan for those who enjoy entertaining as a part of their mountain lifestyle. A signature feature of the new plan is the bistro bar, which connects the main living area to the kitchen with a three-seat bar and pass-through serving areas. It also features a spacious covered patio, as well as a bonus room over the garage that works well as a family room, a secluded study, or even a theater. The open living space has a large, stone-covered fireplace with built-in entertainment cabinets, and the master suite includes walk-in closets, his/her vanities, a soaker tub and shower. A model of the Clearwater is currently underway with completion slated for October 2011.
Both designs have an attached two-car garage, a mudroom between it and the house, and a bonus bay that provides extra room for recreational gear or a golf cart. Distinctive exterior features include a large covered front porch and rear patio, stone accents, cedar finishes, Andersen windows, and a Presidential lifetime roof.
Custom homesites Whitetail Club enhances mountain-lake living with topography similar to an amphitheater that rises more than 500 feet from the meadow to the ridgeline along its western border. Presently a limited selection of 25 homesites offering panoramic views of Payette Lake, the Salmon River Mountains, the gorgeous golf course, and 30 miles down Long Valley are available for owners who want to design and build their own custom home. They range from one-half acre to 2-1/2 acres in size and from $178,000 to $664,000 in price.
One of the resort’s hillside home sites will soon sport a new custom cabin home that Whitetail Club is building on spec. Construction is slated to begin in July 2011, and the stunning showcase dwelling will rest along the top ridgeline at Whitetail Club and boast striking lake, golf, and mountain views across the entire valley. In addition, several other new cabins will soon be popping up inside the community as existing club members break ground this summer.
Multiple membership options The development’s membership structure includes plans that give nonresidents an opportunity to join the club and residents for whom the universe does not revolve around golf a less-expensive option. Whitetail Club’s three distinct membership plans are: • Resident membership — Designed for the avid golfer, Resident Full members enjoy priority tee times, 30-day advances on reservations, discounts on select pro shop items, preferred pricing on lessons, and expanded guest-play privileges. Nonrefundable membership fees are $40,000 and monthly dues are $475 (with incentives to pay annually). • Resident social/sport membership — Ideal for homeowners who only golf occasionally, Resident Social/Sport members enjoy all the privileges of full club membership but can only golf the course 6 times per season and have certain limits on advance reservations and guest play. Nonrefundable membership fees are $15,000 and monthly dues are $270 (with incentives to pay annually) with a $300-per-quarter food-and-beverage minimum.
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• Nonresident membership — Offered by invitation only, Nonresident Full members enjoy full golf privileges and all the amenities and comforts of Whitetail Club no matter where they live. Nonrefundable membership fees are $60,000 and monthly dues are $475 (with incentives to pay annually).
Connect with Whitetail Club • On the Web — Visit www.WhitetailClub.com for more information • On Facebook — Find the development at www.facebook.com/whitetailclub • Via email — Email [email protected] for more information • Via phone — Call Whitetail Club Realty at 877.634.1725 (toll free) or 208.634.1725 • In person — Visit Whitetail Club at 501 W. Lake St., McCall, ID 83638
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CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
MCCALL BACKGROUNDER Central Idaho mountain-lake resort community McCall is an extraordinary and increasingly popular vacation destination MCCALL, Idaho (Aug. 1, 2011) — Sun Valley McCall, Idaho, by the numbers may be Idaho’s most famous winter and summer playground, but people in the know Founded...... 1891 throughout the Northwest flock to McCall, a Population (2010 U.S. Census) ...... 2,991 resort community on the shores of beautiful Latitude...... 44.911 Payette Lake on the western edge of the Rocky Longitude...... –116.097 Mountains. The community was named after Elevation in feet...... 5,013 Tom and Louisa McCall, who arrived in 1891 Restaurants within city limits ...... >30 as homesteaders and traded a team of horses Ponderosa State Park’s acreage...... 1,515 for the 160 acres of land around which the town is centered. Still retaining its laid-back Payette National Forest’s acreage ....>2,300,000 charm, McCall is only a two-hour drive north Nearby high-mountain lakes...... >400 from Boise, the state capitol. McCall hiking trails @ Go-Idaho.com ...... 30 Miles of groomed snowmobile trails ...... >500 McCall is known for its mild summers and Chair lifts at Brundage Mountain ...... 5 fantastic winters. During the summer, Payette Brundage’s annual snowfall in inches .....>300 Lake and nearby rivers offer activities like swimming, fishing, boating, waterskiing, and Brundage’s vertical drop in feet ...... 1,800 whitewater sports. It also is a Shangri-la for Brundage’s inbounds skiing acreage ...... 1,500 hiking, golfing, biking, horseback riding, and Brundage’s guided cat skiing acreage.....19,000 camping. Winter visitors enjoy snow sports like Miles of mtn. bike trails @ Brundage ...... >20 skiing, tubing, sledding, snowshoeing, and Miles from Boise via car ...... 107 snowmobiling. Renowned Brundage Mountain Miles from Portland via car...... 458 ski resort is only 10 minutes from McCall, and Miles from Reno via car...... 528 the surrounding backcountry boasts more than Miles from Salt Lake City via car...... 449 500 miles of snowmobile trails. Miles from Seattle via car ...... 532 While it is home to many noteworthy events, Major airlines with service to Boise...... 8 McCall presents two annual signature celebrations. The first is a 10-day revel called the McCall Winter Carnival that was named one of the Top 100 Events In North America in 1986 by the American Bus Association. Although McCall resident and Olympic ski champion Cory Engen conceived the festival in 1924 as a way for locals to beat the winter blues, it has grown into a massive soirée that attracts visitors and amateur and professional snow sculptors from throughout the world. It transforms downtown into a fairytale- like winter wonderland via the Idaho Snow Sculpting Championship, and the affair also features parades, a hairy-legs contest, snowshoe golf, dances, dogsledding demos, ice-skating, and hockey.
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The town’s other signature celebration is its annual Fourth of July fireworks display. Trekking to McCall for the holiday to watch the town’s spectacular pyrotechnics presentation over Payette Lake has become a beloved tradition for thousands of visitors.
McCall has many noteworthy facilities — chief among them the iconic Shore Lodge. Nestled on the southwestern shore of Payette Lake and one mile from downtown, the resort was established in 1948 and ushered in the transformation of the community from a dying timber town to a vibrant tourist destination. Across the street is the resort’s 1,300-acre sister property, Whitetail Club, which boasts a private, championship golf course designed by Roger Packard and two-time U.S. Open winner Andy North that’s ranked by Golfweek Magazine as a Top 100 Best Course to Play in America. The private, gated community’s amenities are fully developed, and it is becoming one of the Northwest’s most desirable, family friendly, year-round, mountain-lake resort developments. In addition, Shore Lodge and Whitetail Club recently created The Cove, a new, world-class, multimillion-dollar, extended-stay spa that opened in June 2011.
Completed in summer 2003 at a cost of $6.2 million, the nonprofit Manchester Ice & Event Centre offers an NHL-size ice-skating rink in the middle of downtown McCall that is open year round and overlooks Payette Lake and the surrounding mountains. In addition to hosting skating activities, the facility rents and sharpens skates, offers private lessons, and operates an arcade and snack bar. With grandstand seating for up to 650 people, the rink also stages special events.
The city is also home to Harshman Skate Park — which is Idaho’s largest dedicated boarding facility and was commemorated in August 2006 by skateboard legend Tony Hawk. The McCall Smokejumper Base is one of only eight such training installations operated by the U.S. Forest Service nationwide, and it provides free tours during the winter every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1 p.m. if staff is available. They suggest calling (208) 634-0390 the morning of the tour to confirm it’s still on. The McCall Fish Hatchery — one of 19 such facilities the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game runs statewide — is fun to tour, too, and is open to visitors year round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The result of James Warren's discovery of gold, the nearby ghost town of Warren was established in 1862. Boasting a population of 660 rugged individuals by the next year and peaking at about 2,000 during the height of the gold rush, many of the structures seen today in Warren were built by those hardy folks. Stop by the McCall Ranger District Office for a tour guide, or check it out online at www.secesh.net/Walk.htm. Other local attractions include the Central Idaho Cultural Center, the Valley County Museum, and the McCall Visitor Center, plus the beautiful downtown district counts a growing array of art galleries, antique stores, gift shops, and clothing and sporting goods retailers among its merchants. There’s even an old-fashioned drugstore with an antique soda fountain. Downtown McCall also boasts more than 30 restaurants and cocktail lounges — including two brewpubs — that serve everything from family fare and quick meals to ethnic food and fine cuisine.
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The beauty of McCall, Payette Lake, and the Payette National Forest drew attention from Hollywood in 1938 when the motion picture “Northwest Passage” starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, and Walter Brennan was filmed here. Released in 1940 and nominated for an Academy Award, the movie tells the tale of two friends who join the elite force Major Rogers’ Rangers during the French and Indian War. Several celebrities and business moguls call McCall home, too, including the family of billionaire potato magnate J.R. Simplot, which maintains a gorgeous, sprawling compound on the west side of the lake. The town is also home to many past winter Olympic athletes, plus Barbara Morgan — a local elementary school teacher who became the first teacher to go into space — has resided here since 1975. Payette Lake The glacier-carved Payette Lake has inviting, sandy beaches, and its crystal-clear waters support a slew of summer sports. Waterskiing — especially on the legendary early morning “Payette glass” — is one of the most beloved activities, and the lake’s still waters and warm summer breezes also make it a sailing paradise. Visitors also can discover secluded coves and other hidden wonders the lake has to offer — many of which make ideal picnic sites — via canoe, kayak, or Jet Ski. The easy swim out to the water trampoline at Ponderosa State Park is well worth the effort, yielding fun, refreshing bounces into the lake during the dog days of summer. Great swimming and sunbathing can be had on the north end of the lake, too, at North Beach State Park, which also boasts a boat ramp and offers kayak, canoe, and paddleboat rentals. Visitors also can rent boats and personal watercraft or launch their own crafts downtown at Mile High Marina. There are plenty of activities to pursue around Payette Lake that don’t involve venturing out upon or into the water. Ample campsites are strewn with beautiful conifers and spruce and wildlife is abundant. There are plenty of fun places to take a stroll — including the lush Charlie’s Gardens off Warren Wagon Rd. or the infamous Red Dot Trail up by Paradise Point. Many visitors drive, cycle, and bike the Payette Lake Loop that follows Warren Wagon Rd. and circles around and across the Payette River and back to town — a CD auto tour for which is available from the Payette National Forest’s McCall District Ranger Office. Brundage Mountain Tucked away just eight miles northwest of McCall at the edge of the Payette National Forest, Brundage Mountain offers skiers 1,500 acres of lift-served terrain with an 1,800-feet vertical drop. In the summer it gives mountain bikers lift-assisted access to more than 20 miles of trails. Visitors can also snowshoe or hike through the surrounding forest, or they can kick back or dance while enjoying a summer concert at the resort, which opened in 1961.
According to Ski Magazine, Brundage Mountain is home to “the best powder in North America.” It receives nearly 400 inches of annual snowfall and boasts spectacular terrain and primarily west- facing slopes in an uncrowded setting. The family owned resort, operated by descendents of early McCall pioneers, added two new chairlifts in 2007, bringing the total to five. The DeBoer family also runs a guided backcountry Sno-Cat ski-tour business with access to more than 19,000 acres of fresh powder.
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Nearby Little Bear Basin has 30 kilometers of groomed cross-county ski trails, and Jug Mountain Ranch welcomes dogs on its Nordic trail system. And just outside McCall on Highway 55 along the way to Brundage Mountain is the 76-acre, community-supported Little Ski Hill. It opened in 1937 as a diversion for local forest workers and was the second ski area established in Idaho after Sun Valley, which opened a year earlier. It currently operates a T-bar surface lift and has a vertical drop of 405 feet. Ponderosa State Park Home to some of the largest old-growth trees in the western United States, Ponderosa State Park is a 1,515-acre peninsula jutting into Payette Lake less than two miles from downtown McCall. Established in 1965, the park boasts a scenic overlook at Osprey Point that affords a spectacular view of the lake, plus it offers sandy beaches, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, guided walks with park naturalists, evening campfire programs, and onsite campgrounds, cabins, and group shelters. The park’s North Beach Unit, mentioned earlier, maintains a boat ramp and offers kayak, canoe, and paddleboat rentals.
Winter visitors can follow the park’s winter hiking trail, go snowshoeing, and Nordic and skate ski a dozen miles of groomed cross-country trails underneath the old growths. In partnership with the city, the park even hosted the 2008 Masters World Cup — an unofficial world championship for veteran cross-country skiers held by the World Masters Cross-Country Ski Association. For those who enjoy making tracks underneath the stars, Blue Moon Outfitters serves up a unique, festive, multi-course dining experience that blends New World cuisine, ethnic food, and liberal servings of hot mulled wine in between the one-mile, guided ski or snowshoe trek to and from its spacious, cozy yurt.
Untamed wilderness and abundant wildlife Surrounded by national forests, McCall serves as a convenient trailhead to some of the best hiking, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, geocaching, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing in the Gem State. Visitors can book guided tours of the interior or snowmobile, drive, motorcycle, or bike along lengthy, scenic stretches of meandering country roads.
The Payette National Forest surrounding McCall encompasses 2.3 million acres, and its dynamic landscape ranges from dry desert grasslands to heavily forested expanses and mountain peaks reaching elevations of nearly 9,500 feet above sea level. It is the most sizable component in the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness Area, which is the largest designated primitive area in the lower 48 states.
Granite basins cradling about 400 pristine alpine lakes make the forest and its drainages an ichthyologic utopia that should be on every angler’s “bucket list.” More than 40 species of fish inhabit area waters and range from smallmouth bass, crappie, and catfish to trout, perch, steelhead, Chinook salmon, and even white sturgeon. Many developed campsites can be found close to hot fishing spots, and guided trips are also available for more remote experiences.
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Roughly 300 species of mammals and birds inhabit the Payette National Forest. Deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes, bobcats, and apex predators like mountain lions, bears, and wolves are among the larger forest denizens. Smaller forest residents include foxes, river otters, snowshoe hares, marmots, blue jays, osprey, and herons. Rare birds include the bald eagle, harlequin duck, spruce and blue grouse, calliope and rufous hummingbirds, red-naped and Williamson’s sapsuckers, black and Vaux’s swifts, three types of woodpeckers, pine grosbeaks, both crossbills, and flammulated, northern pygmy, great gray, and boreal owls.
Eight species of conifers — Ponderosa Pine, Douglas fir, grand fir, Western Larch, Lodgepole Pine, Englemann Spruce, subalpine fir, and Whitebark Pine — make their home in the Payette National Forest, too. And the grass and shrub communities are dominated by Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, stiff sagebrush, mountain big sagebrush, and bitterbrush. In addition, more than 1,500 wildflowers and plants — including at least 38 rare species — grow and bloom from early March through late September.
Several other national forests are adjacent to the Payette, including the Boise National Forest to the south, the Salmon-Challis National Forest to the east, and the Nez Perce National Forest to the north. And on the Payette National Forest’s western flank lies Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area — renowned for the deepest river gorge in North America. In some places along the eastern rim, visitors can gaze down at the winding Snake River a mile and a half below or across the 10-mile-wide chasm into the neighboring state of Oregon and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. World-class whitewater With three major river systems nearby, McCall and the surrounding area offer exceptional choices when it comes to extreme water sports. Plunging 7,900 feet, Idaho’s Hells Canyon along the Snake River is deeper than the Grand Canyon. Idaho’s Salmon River — known as the “River of No Return” because of its difficult passage — is the nation’s longest free-flowing river that heads and flows within a single state. And the Payette River has several stretches and forks that offer a wide range of experiences from relaxed family floats down the Cabarton Run of the North Fork to an adrenalin-filled rollercoaster ride down the South Fork. Lessons and guided one-day and overnight kayak and raft trips are available on all three rivers throughout the summer, with many outfitters offering gourmet meals and first-class service and amenities. In addition, several jet boat tours operate on the Snake and the Salmon. The hot springs capitol of America One of the most seismically active regions in the country, Idaho is home to more hot springs than any other state and boasts about 130 soakable pools out of some 340 total. McCall is close to around 30 of these geothermal mineral baths, many of which rest on federal lands and are thus open to the public.
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Founded in the 1870s, Burgdorf Hot Springs is one of the oldest developed hot springs in the state and only about 45 miles northeast of McCall near the historic ghost town of Warren. It features a steamy, 6-feet-by-6-feet spring-box pool at 113 degrees Fahrenheit and a 50-feet-by-85-feet pool ranging from 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit. Both are outdoors and have sandy bottoms. Electricity- free cabins are available for rental and come with a wood stove and oil lamp, and visitors intending to spend the night need to bring cooking equipment, food, and any other supplies. A resident elk herd completes the rustic atmosphere.
The holy grail of Idaho’s commercial mineral springs, Gold Fork Hot Springs is about 20 miles southeast of McCall near Donnelly. The water is renowned for its exceptional quality and healing properties, possessing intense alkalinity levels and high concentrations of other minerals that rejuvenate the skin and relax the body. The facility maintains six separate, tiered, gravity-fed outdoor pools of varying sizes and temperatures that range from hot to cool and achieve complete flow through in four hours. The decks are composed of all-natural wood, and the retreat’s pools — one of which has a sandy bottom — are lined with river rock.
Zim’s Hot Springs is another noteworthy privately owned soaking option. Located 16 miles northwest of McCall just past the town of New Meadows, Zim’s has two outdoor pools fed by natural mineral water from an artesian well that is cooled by the waters of the Little Salmon River. The soaking pool maintains a temperature range of 103-106 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Olympic-size swimming pool ranges between 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Further reading • Whitetail Club — www.whitetailclub.com • The Cove, An Authentic McCall Spa — www.thecovemccall.com • Shore Lodge — www.shorelodgemccall.com • McCall Chamber of Commerce — www.mccallchamber.org • Brundage Mountain — www.brundage.com • Hell’s Canyon Raft — www.hellscanyonraft.com • Payette National Forest & McCall Ranger District — www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette • Ponderosa State Park — http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/ponderosa.aspx • Hot springs — www.idahohotsprings.com • Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association — www.ioga.org
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CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
OUTDOOR RECREATION BACKGROUNDER
Myriad mountain adventures abound in McCall, Idaho
MCCALL, Idaho (Aug. 1, 2011) — McCall is a four-season mountain resort town located just two hours north of Boise, Idaho, on the shores of Payette Lake. With roots in mining, logging, and ranching, McCall has emerged as a preferred vacation and second-home-ownership destination for people from around the country. And no wonder — outdoor enthusiasts come for the skiing, miles of summer hiking and winter cross-country trails, lake boating, fishing, golf, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and biking. Events like the long-running Winter Carnival have become grand traditions for visitors and locals alike.
A vast wilderness awaits you Uniquely situated in the heart of Payette National Forest, McCall provides prime access to the largest area of protected wilderness in the continental US. There are more than 2.3 million acres filled with lush forests, deep river gorges, and glacial lakes — all perched atop the Idaho Batholith, the largest body of granite in the country. Glaciers played a key role in shaping the terrain in and around McCall. Payette Lake and the many alpine lakes nearby were all formed by glacial erosion and melt water.
You may encounter upwards of 300 species of birds and animals in dense forests and amid wide river plains filled with more than 30 rare varieties of plants and wildflowers. Six nearby campgrounds are excellent starting points for outdoor vacation adventures. Plus McCall is centrally located to embark on trips to Hells Canyon — the nation’s deepest river gorge — and the Frank–Church River of No Return Wilderness — the largest designated wilderness area in the lower 48 states.
Any time of year is a fantastic time to visit McCall. Temperate and sunny summers are a great time to go whitewater rafting, fishing, horseback riding, or to enjoy the miles of bike paths. During fall the colors are vibrant, the afternoon temperatures are still warm, and the crowds are gone, making the area a hiking and wildlife-watching paradise. And after basking in the summer sun, Payette Lake is at its warmest temperature of the year.
Winter brings the highest snowfall depths in the state for optimal snow-sport enjoyment. With hundreds of miles of trails nearby, hikers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers have a lot to explore. Spring is capricious — sometimes it arrives late and we enjoy an extended spring-ski season, and sometimes it comes early and you start seeing roof racks sporting summer gear well before Memorial Day.
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SUMMER ACTIVITIES The temperate climate and abundance of family and outdoor activities has made McCall one of the most popular retreats in the Northwest during the summer.
Payette Lake has always been the big draw for locals and vacationers. At more than 6 miles in length, it has become a water-sports mecca for power boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and kayaking. A number of local outfitters provide watercraft rentals, or you can take a scenic guided cruise.
Being surrounded by thousands of acres of protected wilderness makes McCall a favorite destination for hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Nearly 100 backcountry mountain lakes make spectacular destinations for overnight fishing trips. Running through these lands are majestic river canyons, including Hells Canyon — the nation’s deepest river gorge. Plan a day trip or a weeklong adventure on some of the most exhilarating whitewater rafting in the world.
And there is much more, including lift-assisted mountain biking at Brundage Mountain, golfing at five area courses, events like the Classic Boat Show at Shore Lodge Marina, the weekend farmers markets, and USGA Amateur Qualifier at Whitetail Club.
Lake sports In McCall, you’re just steps away from the crystal-clear waters of scenic Payette Lake and the abundance of water sports that come with it. • Sailing — The still waters and warm summer breezes make Payette Lake a sailing paradise. Rent a sailboat for the day or charter a captained vessel for a romantic sunset cruise. • Waterskiing — Waterskiing is one of Payette Lake’s most renowned activities. Bring your ski boat, dock it in a preferred slip at Shore Lodge Marina and enjoy the legendary early morning “Payette glass.” • Jet skiing — Personal jet-ski rentals are available at multiple locations in McCall. Take one out for a spin and discover secluded coves and other hidden wonders Payette Lake has to offer. • Canoeing and kayaking — Set a more relaxing pace in your own kayak. Or share a canoe with your sweetheart and find a scenic picnic spot on the shoreline of Ponderosa State Park.
Fishing Fishing the lakes and rivers of Idaho should be on every angler’s lifetime list. Arrange a guided trip to the nearby Salmon and Snake Rivers to fly fish for smallmouth bass and the famous Chinook salmon. Or hike to one of nearly 400 mountain lakes for a peaceful day on your float tube.
Hiking McCall serves as a trailhead to some of the best hiking in Idaho. Whether it’s a walk through a granite basin or a trek to a lake on a nearby peak in the Payette Mountains, you’ll find plenty of paths on which to stretch your legs.
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Biking Mountain biking has gained quite a following in McCall. Rent or bring your own bike and hit the trails, or head to the local ski areas for lift-assisted biking to enjoy more of those exhilarating downhill runs. Long stretches of country roads make for relaxing riding on your road bike.
Horseback riding Enjoy scenic views of the surrounding area on horseback. Guided tours and lessons are available.
River recreation With three major river systems nearby, McCall offers virtually unlimited choices when it comes to river recreation. Enjoy everything from an afternoon family float down the Cabarton run of the North Fork of the Payette River to a heart-thumping ride through the Canyon section of the South Fork of the Payette River. • Kayaking — Whether you’re just picking up a new sport or are a seasoned kayaker, kayak instruction and guided trips on the Salmon, Snake, and Payette Rivers are available throughout the summer. Learn the basics or hone your skills on some of the most talked- about whitewater in the country. • Whitewater rafting — In McCall, you have access to many of Idaho’s famous river runs and guided trips. From the Snake River to the Salmon, you can experience a truly world- class whitewater adventure.
WINTER ACTIVITIES McCall offers countless opportunities for winter recreation. Nordic skiing, alpine skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing and sledding are all big draws. There are three downhill ski areas within a few miles of downtown: • The Little Ski Hill lives up to its name, offering a T-bar and 405 vertical feet, but it stands tall with illuminated ski runs and its 30K of cross-country ski trails. • Brundage Mountain ski resort — just 10 minutes north of town — averages more than 300 inches of snow a year (365 inches during the 2010/2011 ski season) and offers snowcat trips into 19,000 acres of the powdery backcountry. • Tamarack Resort, 20 miles south of McCall, has closed for the time being although we look forward to their return and the 2,600 feet of vertical terrain and its amazing mountain- bike trail system.
In 2008, the prestigious Masters World Cup Nordic Ski Championships were held at Ponderosa State Park with rave reviews from the thousands of elite racers and fans that came here from around the world. In addition, McCall was honored to host the snowshoeing events for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
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Snow sports In the mountains of Central Idaho, you can pretty much count on skiing, riding, and playing in the best snow in the state — and arguably the best in the lower 48. With so much to offer, snow-sports lovers from around the country descend upon McCall — the Northwest’s best-kept secret. • Alpine skiing — Home to “the best powder in North America,” according to Ski Magazine, Brundage Mountain offers spectacular terrain in an uncrowded setting. Just 10 minutes north of Shore Lodge, there are runs for everyone. Or you can opt for a backcountry snowcat tour. • Nordic skiing — Tour or skate ski miles of scenic, groomed cross-country ski trails throughout the McCall area. Ski through the old-growth forest at Ponderosa State Park or tackle the 30K of trails at Little Bear Basin. • Snowmobiling — Looking for an adrenaline rush? Suit up and enjoy the ride on 500 miles of groomed trails that go through some of the Northwest’s most stunning and remote country. • Snowshoeing — Enjoy the beauty of McCall at a more leisurely pace on snowshoes. Ponderosa State Park has a winter hike and Jug Mountain Ranch welcomes dogs on their Nordic trail system.
HOT SPRINGS Idaho is home to some of the most soothing and well-developed hot springs in the world. From McCall, you can find yourself soaking at a number of pools within a short drive regardless of the season. • Burgdorf Hot Springs — One of the oldest hot springs in the state, Burgdorf is worth the drive. Approximately 30 miles from McCall, there are cabins for rent and a resident elk herd that adds to the rustic atmosphere. • Gold Fork Hot Springs — Just outside Donnelly, Gold Fork has several pools of varying degrees of heat in a scenic backcountry setting. • Zim’s Hot Springs — Located in New Meadows north of McCall, Zim’s has an Olympic- sized, spring-fed pool kept at a cozy 93 degrees.
SHOPPING, DINING, AND EVENTS GALORE Since the heyday of the mining and logging boom faded into the history books, the natural beauty and attraction of Payette Lake transformed McCall into a popular vacation spot. A walkable downtown features numerous shops, restaurants, spas, and galleries to enjoy.
Such long-running events as the Winter Carnival and Independence Day gala have become very popular with locals and visitors alike. At the former event, parades, snow-sculpting contests, rounds of snowshoe golf, and live music concerts have been a tradition for more than four decades. The latter observation begins at noon and culminates in a massive fireworks display over Payette Lake at dusk.
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Other noteworthy events include a classic boat show at Shore Lodge presented by The Payette Lakes Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, antique car shows, farmer’s markets, barn dances, and the USGA Amateur Qualifier at Whitetail Club.
EXPLORE SOME MORE ONLINE • Whitetail Club — www.whitetailclub.com • The Cove, An Authentic McCall Spa — www.thecovemccall.com • Shore Lodge — www.shorelodgemccall.com • McCall Chamber of Commerce — www.mccallchamber.org • Brundage Mountain — www.brundage.com • Hell’s Canyon Raft — www.hellscanyonraft.com • Payette National Forest & McCall Ranger District — www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette • Ponderosa State Park — http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/ponderosa.aspx • Hot springs — www.idahohotsprings.com • Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association — www.ioga.org
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CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
GOLF PRO PROFILE
Renowned Idaho golf course boasts illustrious head pro
MCCALL, Idaho (Aug. 1, 2011) — The golf course at Whitetail Club in McCall, Idaho, is renowned as one of the best in the country, and now so is its head pro, Todd Bindner. In January the Professional Golfers’ Association of America’s Rocky Mountain Section named Bindner PGA Golf Professional of the Year.
The highest honor paid to a PGA professional, the award recognizes outstanding leadership abilities, exceptional performance as a PGA professional, and distinguished service to the association and the game of golf. He will be formally recognized at the Rocky Mountain Section’s annual meeting in May.
Bindner — a 22-year member of the association who has served the Rocky Mountain Section as an officer since 2005 and is currently its president — is no stranger to PGA accolades. The Rocky Mountain Section named him Teacher of the Year in 1997 and 2001, Junior Golf Leader in 2008, and Assistant Golf Professional of the Year in 1990 and 1992.
He has served as Whitetail Club’s head golf pro for the past two years and has earned multiple certifications from the Titleist Performance Institute and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. (No more than a handful of Gem State golf pros are TPI-certified instructors.) In addition, Bindner has been published in PGA Magazine and USA Today and has appeared on the Golf Channel. In 1993 he was named Big Sky Conference Women’s Golf Coach of the Year during his 1992-1994 tenure as women’s golf coach at Boise State University.
An accomplished player himself, Bindner served as captain of the University of Arkansas men’s golf team for two terms. He has competed in the Albertsons Boise Open on six occasions and was an integral part of teams that have won six Rocky Mountain Section PGA events.
Whitetail Club rests on 1,300 stunning acres in McCall, Idaho, and is the area's only private club and community. Designed by Roger Packard and two-time U.S. Open winner Andy North, Whitetail’s links are ranked by Golfweek Magazine as a Top 100 Best Course to Play in America. Also considered one of America’s 100 Greatest Courses by Golf Digest Magazine and an important link in the Idaho Golf Trail, this 18-hole, par-72 course extends 7,200 yards. Whitetail Club maintains a driving range, putting practice greens, and chipping greens, as well as a 3,500- square-foot full-service clubhouse that boasts a pro shop, restaurant, lounge, outdoor patio, locker rooms, swing-training equipment and analysis tools, bag storage and stunning, panoramic views.
Guests at Whitetail Club’s sister property, Shore Lodge, enjoy playing privileges at the course and can even schedule golf and fitness training sessions with Bindner. He expects increased demand for these services when Shore Lodge opens its new world-class spa and workout center in June.
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CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
EXECUTIVE CHEF PROFILE
Chef Eric Gruber gives fresh regional ingredients center stage at Whitetail Club and Shore Lodge dining venues
MCCALL, Idaho (Aug. 1, 2011) — As executive chef of Whitetail Club and Shore Lodge, the renowned Chef Eric Gruber oversees all culinary operations for the Golf Shop & Grille and the Fish & Swim Club, as well as the Narrows, Lake Grill, and Narrows Grill.
A native of Santa Barbara, Calif., Chef Gruber began his cooking career at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Scottsdale, Ariz. He graduated with top honors in 1995 and secured an internship at The Biltmore Santa Barbara — a four-star, four-diamond Four Seasons Resort. From there, Chef Gruber was recruited by the Mayflower Park Hotel — renowned as one of Seattle’s finest luxury hotels in the downtown area — as chef de cuisine at its nationally recognized Andaluca Restaurant.
Following his time at the Mayflower Park Hotel, Chef Gruber spent 2 years at the acclaimed Bellevue Club, a four-star, four-diamond establishment in Bellevue, Wash. Afterwards he returned to Southern California, spending 2 years at the La Jolla Country Club and 5 years at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club.
Along with a lifetime of passion for cooking, Chef Gruber brings more than two decades of culinary experience and knowledge to Shore Lodge. His philosophy of building menus around seasonal and regional ingredient-driven cuisine is showcased most notably at the Narrows, Shore Lodge’s signature fine-dining restaurant and lounge. Locally sourced products like grass-fed lamb from Hailey, Idaho, with mountain huckleberries picked fresh right here in McCall are highlights to the menu. “If you take the philosophy of finding the best, local products and building a menu around those items,” he says, “you really can’t go wrong.”
Chef Gruber has served as executive chef at Shore Lodge since September 2008, introducing his Continental style and focus on Northwest ingredients and influences with popular dishes like Northwest seafood stew with West Coast mussels, clams, prawns, Alaskan halibut, and wild king salmon, as well as the aforementioned herb-roasted Lava Lake lamb chops with huckleberries. His efforts at the resort are garnering increasing acclaim, with the Narrows receiving glowing reviews in the August 2010 issue of the Big Sky Journal. And the February 2011 issue of Treasure, a quarterly lifestyle magazine published by The Idaho Statesman. Moreover, the November 2010 issues of Everyday With Rachael Ray and National Culinary Review featured recipes by Chef Gruber, and BehindTheKnife.com — a website about the tools in chefs’ arsenals and the stories behind them — recently named him to its advisory panel. He makes frequent appearances on local morning and noon TV talk shows in nearby Boise, the state capitol.
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CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
FOOD & BEVERAGE BACKGROUNDER
Central Idaho mountain-lake private club’s restaurants pair heavenly flavors with heavenly views
MCCALL, Idaho (Aug. 1, 2010) — Whether it’s Sunday brunch, lunch on the patio, an anniversary dinner, a business meeting, or a wedding reception, the restaurants at Whitetail Club and Shore Lodge and their breathtaking views offer unforgettable settings for extraordinary meals.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are expertly prepared under the guidance of Executive Chef Eric Gruber, who graduated from Scottsdale Culinary Institute with honors and has worked at several four-star, four-diamond restaurants. His inventive style fuses Continental and Northwestern elements with fresh, seasonal, local and regional ingredients and has earned accolades from Every Day With Rachael Ray and National Culinary Review.
Chef Gruber’s “locavore” approach means change is deliciously constant. “The menus change weekly, if not daily,” he says. “They’re like living, breathing entities. We talk to purveyors throughout the Northwest to find out what’s available and then we build our menus around that.”
According to Chef Gruber, about 20 percent to 35 percent of the restaurants’ menus are static, with fish entrees and side dishes being the most prone to change. “We’ll always offer our free- range organic chicken, which is sourced from Niman Ranch out of Boise, and we’ll always have a certified Angus filet mignon and in-season fish on the menu,” Gruber says. “But we’ll suggest pairing them with something that’s in season, which right now include artichokes, morels, Walla Walla onions, and asparagus.”
Whitetail Club operates two restaurants onsite at the Golf Shop & Grille and the Fish & Swim Club for exclusively for members and their guests. The kitchens are open mid-May through October and serve food daily. Plus club members enjoy premium service and discounts at the three eateries that Shore Lodge operates on its premises: The Narrows, Lake Grill and Narrows Grill. The Narrows — Shore Lodge’s signature fine-dining establishment — is open for dinner seven days a week and boasts floor-to-ceiling views of beautiful Payette Lake and the mountains of Central Idaho. Leveraging the fact the resort boasts the town’s only movie theater, the Narrows offers a special dinner-and-a-movie deal every Tuesday night where it holds special screenings of new releases and classics that include a two-course dinner. Lake Grill, which offers a more casual experience and serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week, provides dinner and lakeside outdoor dining right on the water about four months out of the year. Narrows Grill, which is open from 2 p.m. to as late as midnight on the weekends and serves food from 4-10 p.m., offers a smaller sampling of the Narrows’ menu, plus it observes a special Burger Night every Thursday.
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In addition to taking an a-la-carte approach to dining, the Narrows’ menu has a “small bites” section and two available portions — large and small — for pastas and curries. “We offer a fine- dining experience without the traditional fine-dining menu,” Chef Gruber says. “Going a la carte and focusing on single dishes instead of traditional entrées makes the Narrows very approachable. You’re not forced to eat the protein/starch/veggie combo that the chef wants you to eat. Instead you can order those pork chops without that side of sweet potato pie if that’s what you prefer.”
Chef Gruber says patrons at the Narrows can build their own meals to order in the same sort of way one can at a Tapas restaurant. “Our approach to dining is the way people dine out in Europe — where the quality of the food doesn’t reflect the stuffiness of the room,” he says. “You don’t have to drop $50 on dinner. At the Narrows you can order a salad, a half order of scallops, an order of house-made fries, and maybe a glass of wine for only $20-25.”
Current main courses at the Narrows include: filet mignon of beef with braised cipolinni onions and a blue-cheese demi glace; miso-glazed beef short ribs with togarishi rice; chimichurri prime skirt steak with grilled scallion-and-avocado salsa; Berkshire pork chop with prosciutto, apple chutney, and cider demi glace; blue-corn-crusted Idaho trout with Dungeness crab and pecan brown butter; and herb-roasted Lava Lake lamb chops with sourdough gremolata and locally picked huckleberries. The restaurant also offers two to-die-for soups — Idaho potato leek and a soup of the day — and five salads, seven small bites, a half-dozen pasta and one-pan wonders, and sides like baked crimini mushrooms, pomme frites, cauliflower gratinee, goat-cheese mashed potatoes, blue-cheese popovers, fried asparagus with anchovy mayonnaise, and wild-mushroom spoon bread.
Shore Lodge’s approach to dining may be pretty novel for the Gem State, but Chef Gruber says it’s a trend that began with the advent of California cuisine in the 1970s. “The philosophy of building your menu around fresh, seasonal, locally grown ingredients was pioneered by Alice Waters when she opened Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., in 1971,” he says. “Fine dining was brought to the U.S. in 1939 by French chefs who attended the New York World’s Fair and ended up staying here, and they continued to order a great many of their ingredients from France. Alice thought it was crazy to fly in food from Europe when Northern California is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the U.S., so she started working with local farmers, which she describes as ‘the chef’s best friend.’
“Alice believes a restaurant’s menu should reflect the ingredients instead of the ingredients reflecting the menu, which is a simple yet intelligent way of cooking to which I and a growing number of chefs prescribe. She didn’t realize it at the time, but she launched the original farm-to- table, slow-food movement and in the process revolutionized dining in the U.S.”
Recently Chef Gruber began sharing his expertise by hosting couples cooking classes at the resort. The events, which cost $250 per couple (plus 19% service charge and sales tax) and include a recipe book of the night’s menu, provide up to a dozen participants with classroom and one-on- one instruction in a professional kitchen where they prepare all the evening’s courses, which are then served to them in the dining room. The resort also recently launched a series of winemaker’s dinners, with the first two events pairing special prix fixe menus tailor made to featured vintages from Michel-Schlumberger’s Benchland Wine Estate and Duckhorn Wine Co.
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CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
OWNERSHIP PROFILE
Albertson’s heir invests in Idaho’s economy through ownership of iconic mountain-lake resort properties
MCCALL, Idaho (Aug. 1, 2011) — Legendary grocery store magnate Joe Albertson had his supermarkets. He founded the chain in Boise, Idaho, in 1939 and grew it into an industry leader that peaked at 2,500 stores nationwide before SUPERVALU acquired it in 2006. The business pursuits of Albertson’s grandson Joe Scott may be more leisure-oriented, but they’re every bit as ambitious as his namesake’s — especially considering today’s difficult economy — and they’re creating much-needed jobs in Idaho.
Scott, owner of Alscott Real Estate, recently acquired sole ownership of two iconic Central Idaho properties: the historic Shore Lodge resort and the private golf community Whitetail Club in McCall. With the help of several partners, he revitalized Shore Lodge and made it once again available to the public in 2008 (it was available only to a select few for nearly two decades under the prior owner). Now, having purchased all remaining interests in Shore Lodge and Whitetail Club from his former partners, Scott is seeking to transform the latter property into the Northwest’s most desirable, family-friendly year-round, mountain-lake residential resort community.
Despite a very challenging and uncertain market sector, Scott has several things working in his favor: The properties are debt free, the wide array of amenities is fully developed, and he enjoys a level of financial strength that is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, Scott has invested a great deal via new, experienced leadership personnel, infrastructure enhancements, extra amenities, and new cabin products and multiple membership opportunities that are more in line with changing social trends. As a result, he’s helping evolve the traditional model of the private resort community.
McCall — one of the Northwest’s greatest vacation destinations — is quickly gaining notoriety outside the region for its world-class recreation and friendly, small-town atmosphere. Located just 100 miles north of Idaho’s state capitol of Boise, McCall is set on Payette Lake — a beautiful, glacially carved lake surrounded by the western edge of the Rocky Mountains. It’s also nearby the largest area of protected wilderness in the continental United States, three major river systems and the best and most plentiful hot springs in the lower 48. Plus it’s only 10 minutes from Brundage Mountain, which Ski Magazine says has “the best powder in North America” and which provides lift-assisted access to more than 20 miles of mountain bike trails. Outdoors enthusiasts come for the skiing, miles of summer hiking and winter cross-country and snowmobile trails, boating and waterskiing, fishing, golf, whitewater rafting and kayaking, horseback riding, and biking.
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Established in 1948 and nestled on the sandy, southern shores of Payette Lake, the historic Shore Lodge is a quintessential mountain retreat. The property and its amenities are second to none and include 77 suites (61 of which boast lake views), fine dining, a private beach and outdoor marina, a lakeside swimming pool and hot tubs, 13,000 square feet of meeting and events space, and complimentary shuttle services to Brundage Mountain ski resort and other area attractions.
Adjacent to Shore Lodge, Whitetail Club rests on 1,300 stunning acres and is the area’s only private club and community. With its 18-hole championship golf course designed by two-time U.S. Open winner Andy North, first-class facilities like the 6,000-square-foot Fish & Swim Club and the 14,000-square-foot Indoor Tennis & Fitness Center, and access to Shore Lodge’s beach and marina, Whitetail Club offers unsurpassed mountain-lake living and a generous package of amenities and year-round recreational opportunities for every age group.
Scott continues to invest in infrastructure and recently created The Cove, a new world-class extended-stay spa onsite at Shore Lodge that opened in June 2011. The Cove was developed by the renowned team of Mark Natale (brand strategist) and Colum McCartan (designer) whose signature projects include the Parker Meridien in New York City and the Parker Palm Springs in Southern California. The new spa offers a comprehensive array of treatments it touts as “adventures in luxury” that are authentic to McCall, and its amenities include two stunning, natural-looking immersion pools (one indoor and one outdoor), individual and couples treatment rooms, a wet treatment room, an ADA-compliant treatment room, a fitness studio, steam rooms, a full-service salon and an outdoor sanctuary.
Please visit www.whitetailclub.com, www.shorelodgemccall.com, www.thecovemccall.com, www.brundage.com, and www.mccallchamber.org for more details.
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CONTACTS: Jocelyn Kidd, Whitetail Club, 208.630.0216, [email protected] Tony Harrison, Stoltz Marketing Group, 208.880.9814, [email protected]
WHITETAIL STORY ANGLES
Whitetail Club’s mountain-lake community has many stories to tell • Financial stability in an uncertain economy — Private clubs everywhere are experiencing economic distress and dwindling membership thanks to the late-2000s financial crisis, but at least one private community — Whitetail Club in McCall, Idaho — is bucking that trend. Backed by a financially stable developer, Whitetail Club enjoys zero debt, an already-built infrastructure, a broad range of amenities, and vibrant club life, positioning it for sustainable growth and success. • Idyllic destination — A mountain-resort community nestled on the shores of beautiful Payette Lake in the midst of the majestic Central Mountains of Idaho, McCall is an ideal gateway to myriad outdoor recreation opportunities, and Whitetail Club makes the perfect base camp. Resting on 1,300 beautiful acres, Whitetail Club is the area’s only private club and community. With its 18-hole championship golf course, access to stunning Payette Lake and the Shore Lodge Marina, and first-class, fully developed amenities, Whitetail Club offers unsurpassed mountain-lake living and year-round recreational opportunities for all ages. • A world-class spa in one of the world’s greatest undiscovered destinations — When one thinks of world-class spa experiences, destinations like Sedona, Southern California, the Virgin Islands, St. Moritz, Paris and Milan immediately leap to mind, but not so much Idaho. That’s bound to change with the opening of The Cove, a new extended-stay spa Whitetail Club and its sister property Shore Lodge recently created in the Central Idaho town of McCall, which is quickly gaining notoriety outside the region for its world-class recreation and friendly, small- town atmosphere. • Winter wonderland — Only 10 minutes away from Brundage Mountain — home to what Ski Magazine describes as “the best powder in North America” — and with access to hundreds of miles of snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, Whitetail Club and McCall are paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. For those needing to relax after playing in the snow all day, McCall is close to the best and the most plentiful hot springs in the lower 48 states. And for those who don’t want to stray from Whitetail Club, the development boasts an indoor saltwater swimming pool and oversized spa. • Wondrous whitewater — With the world-renowned Snake, Salmon, and Payette river systems nearby, McCall and Whitetail Club are next door to some of the best extreme water sports on the planet. Only an hour away from put-ins on the Salmon and the Payette and 3 hours away from the launch on the Snake, Valley County is also home to five premiere river outfitters.
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• Family friendly vacation destination — An all-season tourist destination on the shores of the stunningly beautiful Payette Lake, McCall, Idaho, is a terrific travel destination for families. And as the area’s only private club and community, Whitetail Club offers unparalleled access to adventure. Outdoor recreational opportunities in the area are boundless, plus Whitetail Club boasts premium access to Payette Lake beachfront and Shore Lodge Marina, a 6,000- square-foot Fish & Swim Club, a 14,000-square-foot Athletic Complex, and a private golf course that’s ranked among America’s finest links. In addition, Whitetail Club members have access to Shore Lodge’s Camp Sharlie, which offers structured activities for children ages 4-13 seven days a week throughout the summer for harried parents in search of a much- needed reprieve. • Hot Springs, U.S.A. — Idaho is home to more hot springs than any other state and boasts about 130 soakable pools out of almost 350 total springs. McCall is close to around 30 of these geothermal mineral baths, many of which rest on federal lands and are open to the public. Whitetail Club makes an excellent base camp for exploring these natural hot springs. And for those who don’t want to stray from the community, the development offers an indoor saltwater swimming pool and oversized spa. Plus Whitetail Club members enjoy access to Shore Lodge’s two large hot tubs, one of which is surrounded by river rock. • Buy-local dining trends — Locally sourcing ingredients is an increasingly popular restaurant trend and an approach that is central to the philosophy of the food and beverage department at Whitetail Club in McCall, Idaho, and its sister property, the historic Shore Lodge resort. Eric Gruber, executive chef for both properties, bases the restaurants’ menus on entrees and sides that boast seasonal and regional ingredients, creating such unforgettable fare as grass-fed lamb from eastern Idaho with mountain huckleberries picked right in McCall. “If you take the philosophy of finding the best, local products and building a menu around those items,” Chef Gruber says, “you really can’t go wrong.” The move is already garnering attention — Big Sky Journal gave The Narrows restaurant, the fine-dining establishment shared by the two properties, a glowing review in its August issue and BehindTheKnife.com, a website about chefs’ arsenals of tools and the stories behind them, appointed Chef Gruber to its advisory board. In addition, Every Day With Rachael Ray published his recipe for rosemary blue cheese mashed potatoes in its November 2010 issue and an upcoming edition of National Culinary Review, the official magazine of the American Culinary Federation, is featuring his recipe for nouvelle three-cheese grilled cheese sandwiches. • Vacation homes that won’t break the bank — Want true value in today’s resort real estate offerings? Give McCall, Idaho — one of the Northwest’s best-kept vacation secrets — a try. Whitetail Club, the area’s only private club and community, recently introduced new, handcrafted cabin homes and multiple membership options that are more in line with changing social and economic trends. In addition to a private 18-hole championship golf course, Whitetail Club’s offerings include mountain-view and lake-view homesites and a wide array of fully developed amenities.
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• Historic vacations — McCall enjoys a rich, Western legacy as a hub for Native Americans and mountain men. Three tribes — the Tukuaduka Shoshone, the Sheepeaters (a sub-band of the Shoshone), and the Nez Perce — inhabited the land primarily during the summer, plus McCall is about 60 miles south of where Chief Joseph’s Nez Perce War began at White Bird Hill. In the 1800s, the nomadic French Canadian fur trapper Francois Payette, for whom the Payette River and Payette Lake are named, roamed the area alongside other mountain men like Jim Bridger, Peter Skene Ogden, and Jedidiah Smith. Mining, timber, and farming opportunities drew settlers to an idyllic mountain-lake community whose economy is now based largely on tourism. McCall is also nearby Warren, a well-preserved ghost town established in 1862 after its namesake James Warren discovered gold. • Transforming the traditional model of the private golf-club experience — Whitetail Club is at the forefront of delivering what today’s affluent market wants. In addition to offering a diverse and fully developed set of amenities and mountain-lake access, this gated community in McCall, Idaho, is offering new cabin products and multiple membership options that are more in line with changing social trends. • Closest Rocky Mountain ski resort to the Puget Sound — McCall, Idaho, is arguably the westernmost Rocky Mountain ski resort in the lower 48 and the only such resort within a day’s drive of the Puget Sound. And Whitetail Club, as the area’s only private club and community, offers unparalleled access to Rocky Mountain adventure. Only 10 minutes away from Brundage Mountain ski resort — home to what Ski Magazine describes as “the best powder in North America” — and immediately adjacent to hundreds of miles of snowmobile and cross- country ski trails, Whitetail Club is the ideal base camp from which to experience everything McCall has to offer. • Fond memories of McCall foster developer’s commitment to Whitetail Club — The family of Whitetail Club owner Joe Scott built a home in McCall in the 1950s, and he has fond childhood memories of waterskiing and snow skiing there. The grandson of grocery store magnate Joe Albertson and a member of the board of directors of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, Mr. Scott is transforming Whitetail Club into the Northwest’s most desirable, family friendly, year-round, mountain-lake resort community despite a very challenging and uncertain market sector. With deep Idaho roots and a love for McCall, Mr. Scott has the personal commitment, credibility, and financial strength to ensure Whitetail Club remains a thriving, vital community for many generations to come.
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