The McCall region was first home to several Native American tribes who moved throughout the region following food resources such as plants and big and small game. The tribal bands gathered here in the summer for the salmon runs. Fishing was a major subsistence for the tribes and provided a critical winter food source. From the mid 1800’s trappers, miners, loggers and recreationists came to the region for both economic and social benefit.

Around 1820, Donald McKenzie of the Hudson’s Bay Company led great fur brigades through the mountains west. Two of his trustworthy trappers were Francois Payette and Jack Weiser. Payette Lake and the River are named after Francois.

Payette Lake has been a recreational destination from the beginning. Several families, the first tourist campers on record, came to the southwest shore in 1883 in covered wagons. A homesteader, Anneas Jack “Jew’s Harp Jack” built the first wood-powered, steam-driven 30 foot boat called “Lyda” on which he carried freight and offered passenger excursions to the recreationists.

The spark for creating the town of McCall was an emigrant family from Ohio. Tom and Louisa McCall were nearing their 50s when they decided to head west for a new life. They arrived on Payette Lake’s shore in the late 1800s. Tom served as McCall Postmaster from 1894. His sons, Ben and Dawson, carried mail in backpacks on snowshoes from Council to meadows and Van Wyck to Warren. Their daughter Flora was the first teacher. In 1906, to honor the hard work, contributions and mentorship of the McCall family, the citizens formally named their community McCall. On July 19, 1911 the.

Commissioners of Boise County in Idaho City voted to incorporate the town of McCall, Idaho.