Life in a mountain town
PHOTO BY JON CONTI
BY APRIL THOMAS WHITNEY
Living in a mountain town means embracing the shifting of the seasons. While winter brings a blanket of snow and exhilarating skiing, spring ushers in a burst of wildflowers and new life. Summer invites long hikes and leisurely afternoons by the lake, while autumn sets the landscape ablaze with fiery foliage. The challenges of a dramatic seasonal change tighten the bonds in a close-knit community, where you expect to run into neighbors stocking up on firewood in the woods and carving lines into the ski slopes. The weather is not the only thing that changes with the seasons in a town like McCall. Our daily lives can’t escape the influence of the ebb and flow of traffic up and down Highway 55. In recent years, that seasonal flow has grown from a trickling stream to a rushing current. U.S. Census data shows Idaho’s population rose by a whopping 17% between 2011 and 2021. During the same period, the population of tiny McCall spiked by an astronomical 24%, from just short of 3,000 permanent residents to nearly 4,000. While the permanent population grew by a quarter, tourist visitation has more than tripled during peak periods. A common metric to measure tourism in McCall is the city’s LOT collections, which are based on lodging receipts. Over the ten-year period from 2012 to 2022, summer LOT collections rose 274% when adjusted for inflation. Winter LOT collections were up 345% from 2013 to 2023. While much of Idaho is experiencing growing pains, those effects are magnified in small communities that serve as gateways to recreation. Severe shortages in long term rental housing, skyrocketing home prices, overburdened infrastructure and public services, and a dramatic drop in the availability of employees are forcing uninvited change. McCall is not alone in these struggles. Jake Powell is the director of an initiative at Utah State University called GNAR. It addresses the
unique challenges of communities in what they call Gateway and Natural Amenity Regions. “When we have a place that facilitates an adventure lifestyle, that’s becoming attractive to people living elsewhere, you start to see amenity migration, people moving to the community who are there for the outdoor amenities,” said Powell. Powell said it’s crucial for growing communities to identify what makes them special and to build policies that preserve those attributes or risk losing their individuality. “The pleasure of finding that unique special thing is evaporating,” said Powell. “We’ve binged on homogenization for so long that people are seeking something unique, authentic, and special.” Holding on to what makes McCall special while managing the unprecedented flow of people through the area is a tough balancing act, but the community is facing the challenge. Local restaurateurs are finding ways to serve more guests with fewer employees. Businesses are building dedicated workforce housing. Municipalities are working to improve roads, sewer facilities, libraries, and access points to recreation. Local ski resorts are investing in strategies to accommodate a heavier flow of visitors. Brundage Mountain is expanding chairlift capacity and lodge facilities and Tamarack Resort is adding more skiable terrain and snowmaking. The McCall Chamber of Commerce is changing the format of the town’s historic Winter Carnival to help businesses keep up with the surge of visitors while holding on to treasured traditions. Change is a constant in a mountain town, but so is community spirit and pride. As you look forward to your next day on the slopes, in the powdery backcountry, or soaking in a hot spring, remember to savor the offbeat allure of your favorite mountain town and acknowledge the efforts underway to keep that quirky charm alive. www.idahomemagazine.com
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