Alpine Village Blog | Alpine Village in McCall, Idaho

One Man Flying: Getting Mail to the Backcountry

We came across a great article today about Arnold Aviation, the last backcountry air mail delivery service in operation in the lower 48.  Based in Cascade, Idaho - just south of McCall - Ray Arnold has been delivering everything from ice cream and bananas to floor stripping wax and magazine subscriptions to the people that call the nearby Frank Church Wilderness home.  Here is an excerpt:

"Every week, the mail plane lands on river banks and grassy cliffs scattered across remote parts of the Salmon River country, a stretch of land bigger than Indiana.     

In a place where time seems stuck in a bygone era of the West, the sound of the plane reminds the wilderness dwellers they are not forgotten."

To read the full article, which has reached newspapers as far away as the UK, click the link below:

Backcountry Mail Pilot Helps Preserve Way of Life

Learn more about the people, planes and amazing wilderness destinations surrounding McCall at our Backcountry Aviation Exhibition this July 4th Weekend on the plaza. 

Don't Miss our Grand Opening this 4th of July Weekend

This Fourth of July marks the official opening of Alpine Village in downtown McCall, Idaho. The holiday promises to be a great time to come by and experience what you have been hearing about for so long. The Firetower Building and the pedestrian plaza are now open. Tour nine beautifully furnished condominiums, all of which can be reserved for vacation lodging stays. To commemorate this exciting milestone for McCall, we are hosting a weekend-long backcountry flying exhibition on the plaza.

Celebrate With Us at the Backcountry Aviation Exhibition!

We invite you attend our Backcountry Aviation Exhibition on July 4th and 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly event features three backcountry planes - a Cessna 206, Super Cub and an American Champion Scout - on display in the Alpine Village plaza, giving visitors an up close look at these incredible aircraft, as well as the Saint Alphonsus Life Flight helicopter. Staff and pilots will be on hand to answer questions and give tours. See our official event poster below.

In addition to the aircraft, visitors will be able to learn about the spectacular destinations throughout Idaho accessible only by airplane. McCall Aviation, flight training seminar provider Mountain Canyon Flying and the Idaho Aviation Association are all scheduled to participate in the exhibition.

McCall has been a hub for excursions into the most remote wilderness in the Pacific Northwest for decades, including the nearby Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. At over 2.3 million acres, it's the second largest contiguous protected wilderness area in the lower 48 states. Bush pilots will be on hand to discuss the challenges of navigating and landing planes on backcountry airstrips, some only 30 feet wide, in these rugged mountains and deep river canyons.

The Backcountry Aviation Exhibition marks the first of many social events on the plaza, including our outdoor movie nights Fridays on the plaza throughout the summer.

We look forward to seeing you in McCall!

We're Getting Close!

Outstanding progress has been made at Alpine Village this spring, and we remain on schedule for our grand opening July 4th weekend. Here are some new photos of the Firetower building taken earlier this week. Exterior painting is complete and trees have been planted along the plaza. Pavers are being laid and expect new decor in our model condominium soon.  More information on our opening event will be announced in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Celebrate Whitewater in Riggins this Weekend

Head to Riggins, Idaho this Saturday for the Bigwater Blowout Salmon River Festival -  a full day of fun that signals the start of another season of the best whitewater rafting in the country.  Local outfitters will be offering discounted trips on the Salmon. With great spring runoff, the rapids should be extra thrilling. It will be a great day in the park too, with live music, food vendors, a beer garden and a dutch oven cookoff. 

For more information, go to www.bigwaterblowout.com