Visit McCall | Winter 2022-2023

NEW BUSINESS ROUNDUP

Each winter, Visit McCall Magazine introduces readers to a handful of new businesses and member non-profits that are doing exciting things in the greater McCall area. This issue, we’re featuring new offerings in high-profile locations as well as several businesses that exemplify the all-important entrepreneurial spirit of our mountain communities.

Drift West

McCall has a new fly shop— and it’s only a stone’s throw from Payette Lake. Though they just opened this summer, Drift West is already creating a lot of buzz for fishing in the area. Their shop on Lake Street has already become a key stop for visitors and locals alike, and their following is quickly growing.

Drift West sees its role in the community as more than a fly shop and welcoming retail location, says manager Franklin Dyer. The company is also a booking agency, and they hope their bright, charming shop will become a gathering area for the local fishing community.

Drift West offers several ways for beginners to break into the sport, from formal flyfishing classes to casual advice on what’s biting where. They also work with multiple local and regional guide services to help you find the best type of trip to match your personal angling aspirations. The outfitters they partner with hold permits to guide across the area— from the Snake River to Yellow Pine and everywhere in between. Guests have the option to fish for bass, trout, salmon, or steelhead, depending on the location and season, and the guides have the know-how to make the trip a successful one.

On the retail side, Drift West is focused on both fashion and function. They offer everything you need to get set up for a fishing outing—but also some quality outdoor lifestyle clothing, like Duck Camp and Haller Bros, that you can comfortably wear around town.

Dyer says Drift West’s ultimate goal is to adapt to the local fishing community’s wants and needs; because while McCall is not generally considered a ‘destination fishery’, there is a ton of good fishing around here. “But you have to find it,” says Dyer. “While we won’t give you all the locations, we’ll send you somewhere you can be successful.”

Whether you’re looking to get local fishing tips, just beginning your fly fishing journey, or shopping for gear and clothing, Drift West has your back. “You can get your stuff here, you can talk about it, you can go out with our partners. OR, you can just come in and share fishing stories. We spend a lot of time just talking about fishing.”

Open 10am-6pm Thursday-Tuesday. www.drift-west.com

Nordic Inn

Originally built in the 1970’s, the two-story log hotel located on Third Street has been a part of McCall’s downtown landscape for nearly half a century. Throughout the years, this iconic building has been remodeled and renamed several times. Last spring the beloved hotel underwent its most dramatic transformation yet, and adopted a fitting new name to go with it: Nordic Inn.

The hotel’s current owners—4th generation Idahoans who also own McCall’s Scandia Inn and McCall Lake Cruises—decided to beautify the iconic building using bold black stain, barnwood shiplap accents, and rusted patina metal signage. This new exterior has already caught the eye of many a visitor, and represents a welcome change to McCall’s downtown scenery.

As you open the door to one of the thirty elegantly remodeled rooms, your jaw might just drop. Each room was completely renovated with new flooring, paint, and crisp, white bedding. The timeless décor features a modern and a fresh aesthetic— the perfect place to lay your head after a day of adventure in McCall. The owners want guests to know that while the decor has changed, the Nordic Inn’s dedication to this small-town community will remain the same. www.nordicinnmccall.com

Brunchette On the Lake

McCall’s charming collection of restaurants got a fresh new addition this year when Brunchette on the Lake joined the breakfast scene. The Brunchette concept was created to bring locally-sourced food to the table while providing a fun and vibrant dining atmosphere.

To launch in McCall, owner Boomer Godsill says the first hurdle was to find a great location. They chose a lakefront spot in the Waterfront Building downtown and completely remodeled the ground-floor space into a cozy, charming, and modern eatery. The menu features everything from classic breakfast dishes and lunch fare to signature items like a prosciutto and fig goat cheese omelet.

There’s a whole section of the menu devoted to the many Brunchette variations on eggs benedict—they have five different types of hollandaise sauce—with each providing a unique flavor profile.

Brunchette also offers gluten-friendly, keto, and vegan options, as well as a special ‘birthday’ menu that allows diners to pick one free item on their birthday (they also provide a tiara, sash, and birthday serenade).

“We try to focus on every aspect of eating at a restaurant,” says Godsill. “It’s not just the food, it’s not just the atmosphere, it’s not just the prices, everything wraps into one to create the experience. Moving forward, Brunchette plans to add more lakefront amenities, with a larger patio, a Victorian-style greenhouse, and private brunch cruises all on the wish list. In the meantime, stop in and grab a mimosa, or grab some friends, order a whole ‘mimosa tree’ and enjoy this fresh new lakefront dining option.

Open 7 am-2 pm weekdays and 7 am-3 pm on weekends. www.brunchette.com

Payette Pedal Party

There’s a fun new way to enjoy summers on Payette Lake, and credit goes to 2010 McCall- Donnelly High School grad, Sarah Lenda. This summer, Lenda launched the Payette Pedal Party with a specially designed boat, allowing passengers to motor around the lake with their own pedal power! (Don’t worry, if you and your crew get tired there’s also an engine for backup).

Growing up in McCall, Lenda worked a variety of jobs throughout the restaurant and recreation industries, including summers at Mile High Marina. That’s a big part of why she knew a pedal boat would be a great addition to McCall’s lake activities. Her 90-minute tours, launched from Art Roberts Park, can head either direction on the south shore of the lake. The tours are light-hearted, affordable, and a novel way for those without a boating background to safely enjoy the beauty and scenery of the lake.

“There’s not one person who comes on board who doesn’t have a smile and isn’t laughing,” says Lenda. “It’s just a fun way to get out there and enjoy yourself.”

You can book the entire boat for a private event or book a seat on a public trip. One of the special things Lenda offered during her maiden season was a Local’s Appreciation Day every Tuesday, where McCall locals got to ride for half price. “I know how it gets in the summertime when everybody’s working doubles, they’re really exhausted, they get in the routine of work-eat-sleep-repeat and you don’t get to enjoy yourself,” says Lenda. “People come here to play and have fun, so the idea was to give locals that opportunity to come out and have a little bit of fun and make it affordable.”

Take a ride with Lenda and Payette Pedal Party this summer: www.payettepedalparty.com

Friends of Weiser River Trail

For those who prefer to do their pedaling on dry land, one of our newest non-profit members is the quiet force behind Idaho’s longest rail trail, which runs 84 miles from Rubicon (near New Meadows) to Weiser. The trail opened in 1998 after the Union Pacific Railroad decommissioned the railbed and handed ownership over to the Friends of the Weiser River Trail.

The southern part of the trail features rolling hills and open canyons topped with black lava cliffs, while the northern section winds through forested canyons and alpine meadows. Wildlife often seen along the trail include deer, elk, great blue herons, bear, waterfowl, raptors, and wild turkeys. The trail is most popular with bikers and bikepackers, but is also open to horses, hikers, and some lower-powered e-bikes.

This stunning recreational trail is self-funded by member donations and grants. A single employee, a Habitat Manager, and assorted contractors provide repairs and construction as needed.

Unlike some rail trails, the Weiser River Trail offers a glimpse of the way the area might have looked when Lewis and Clark first explored the Northwest. It also offers an economic boost to

the towns along the route and a charming ride for anyone who wants to trek this extensive scenic route, or choose a shorter section or two to explore. weiserrivertrail.org

KozGro Organics

Modern gardening products, with deep roots in Idaho agriculture, are what KozGro Organics’ line of products is all about. KozGro features GardenGro for fruit and vegetables, Lawn & Landscape for lawn and ornamental plans, House Plant Elixer for the indoor gardener, and an Agricultural Field Blend for large pastures and growing operations.

All products are made using organic, plant-based ingredients designed to help build the natural fertility of the soil without depleting the soil of vital minerals. Each blend was tailor made for Idaho soil back in 1956 by Oree Ivie. Unhappy with the products available at

the time, Ivie created something he felt comfortable using on the crops he fed his family and community. After finding success sharing his new creation with friends and neighbors, KozGro Organics was born. 66 years later, KozGro Organics is run by the founder’s granddaughter along with her husband and his family. This third-generation Idaho business is proud to continue the legacy of plant and soil health. KosGro products are available for purchase at Franz Witte in McCall, C&M Lumber in New Meadows, Cambridge Lumber, and Farmer’s Supply Co-op of Cambridge. kozgroorganics.com

Idaho Barnwood

There is also a family legacy behind the beautifully crafted creations at McCall’s Idaho Barn Wood. Growing up in the forests of rural North Central Idaho, Clayton Gianopulos has always had a love for wood. From an early age, he worked at his late father’s reclaimed wood yard in Kamiah and has been enjoying the industry since.

In 2018, Clayton launched Idaho Barn Wood, which specializes in reclaimed barn wood he dismantles from local structures and meticulously re-purposes into products ready to install on homes and businesses. His McCall showroom displays many of the reclaimed wood products available, such as barnwood accent walls, exterior siding & trim, timbers, flooring, fireplace mantels, stair treads, benches, fences, and ceilings.

Gianopulos says it’s rewarding to be able to save some of the past for the future generations. “Taking an old forgotten piece of wood and giving it a new and appreciated life in someone’s home is what it’s all about.”

Take a walk through the showroom or check out the photo gallery at idahobarnwood.com.

We think you’ll agree he makes sustainable construction look amazing!

Simply Be Massage

Opening her own massage studio has always been one of Deborah Wade’s dreams, and after living in McCall for a year providing massage therapy at a local spa, the timing was finally right to make that dream come true.

Simply Be Massage focuses on truly individual care for each client, whether they are active, athletic people that want to continue doing what they love, or office workers sore and tight from sitting at a desk all day.. “It’s really about meeting people where they are and helping them come home to themselves through the tools of massage and guided meditation,” says Wade.

Simply Be specializes in longer massage sessions, offering 1 hour, 90 minute, and 2 hour sessions. Wade takes her time doing a thorough intake before each session, customizing her care based on what the client is going through that day. Deep tissue, trigger point therapy, positional release therapy, active release work, medicupping, Thai yoga, and massage are just some of the techniques at her disposal.

“My goal is to keep my clients in a place of feeling safe and calm, mentally, physically, and emotionally, so that they’re feeling that peace while I’m able to get really deep work done.”

Simply Be also offers a unique service – an infrared sauna blanket session – that makes you feel like you’re in a warm cocoon or a hot bath right there on the massage table. “It’s a nice compliment to massage because it can really get the muscles warmed up beforehand, or it can take what you’ve already done with massage treatment and finish with relaxation and heat.”

Book an appointment at Simply Be Massage with Deborah, open 9am-4pm Friday through Tuesday: www.simplybemassage.com

Jilly Renee Speaks

Longtime McCall Chamber and WCMEDC Board Member Jill Morris Chapman has made an exciting career change, and it could be just what your next event or workshop needs! After spending decades in the high-stakes world of emergency medicine, Jill has turned her professional attention to bringing her unique brand of storytelling, inspiration, and insight to events of all kinds. In addition to impactful keynote addresses, Jill provides a unique array of entertaining emcee services, including introductions, moderating panel discussions, and keeping things running smoothly through inevitable event hiccups. Check out www.jillyreneespeaks.com/services for more on her background and heartfelt approach to make your next event as vibrant as your cause.