11th Hole

Whitetail Club and Resort
The property originally opened in 1948 as the Shore Lodge, a lakeside motel and beloved piece of McCall history that, over the decades, had begun to show its age. Manchester Grand Resorts purchased the fading icon in 1993 and, six years later, began a two-year, $25 million renovation that utterly transformed it. If anything, Whitetail probably looks more like a lodge now than it did before. But its rustic exterior, which resembles a series of A-frame cabins, belies the elegant environs within, described as “hunting lodge chic” by San Francisco interior designer Warren Sheets. Blending river rock, massive beams of knotty pine and mounted trophy heads with plush sofas, gleaming mahogany tables and Old World oil paintings, he created a warm, inviting ambiance with one implicit message: “Make yourself at home.” Around every corner lies a fireplace, a cozy reading nook or a table designed for playing cards, chess or checkers. Poke around a bit and you’ll find both a game room (outfitted with billiards and shuffleboard) and a 45-seat movie theater (McCall’s one and only), stocked with make-your-own popcorn and DVDs (Disney for the kids, modern classics for adults).

Presidential suite

Whitetail’s guest rooms convey the same sense of comfortable elegance as its public spaces. When the lodge was renovated, 116 smaller rooms were turned into 77 larger suites, most offering stunning views of the lake. Considering the spectacular scenery beyond every terrace and balcony, it’s a wonder anyone stays indoors for five minutes. But they honestly do because each lavishly appointed suite, decorated in soft shades of green, red and gold, is a quiet haven replete with sitting area, refrigerated mini bar and marble-accented bathroom. Imagine having coffee on the balcony, swaddled in one of Whitetail’s thick terry bathrobes, as you watch the mist rise off the lake. That’s assuming you can get out of a bed with 900-thread-count Italian sheets and a snuggly down comforter.

But even a slugabed must eventually heed the call of the Great Outdoors – especially when the Great Outdoors is so unbelievably great. You can’t look at the lake without wanting to get out there on the water. Lucky for you, the resort’s private marina is equipped with ski boats, jet skis and a tour boat (all available to rent). And although “go jump in the lake” is usually a putdown, it’s merely a suggestion at Whitetail, where pristine Payette is so inviting that kids spend entire days cannonballing off the dock or jumping on the water trampoline. Parents keep a watchful eye from the dock or the sandy beach. There’s a sparkling swimming pool, too, for those who’d rather forgo the lake’s brisk temperatures (about 68 degrees in the summer).