Mackay, Idaho is an Untapped Outdoor Paradise with Huge Development Potential

[Eric Janes]

I have been looking at small towns across the West and stumbled across one that completely surprised me. Mackay, Idaho.

For anyone unfamiliar, Mackay sits in the Lost River Valley surrounded by some of the tallest peaks in Idaho. The views are stunning with the White Knob Mountains on one side and the Lost River Range on the other. It truly is an outdoor paradise with hiking, fishing, hunting, climbing, and skiing potential all in one place.

Here is what makes it interesting from an investing and development perspective.

Affordability: Compared to other mountain towns, land and property are still extremely cheap. Downtown commercial lots are available in the twenty thousand dollar range which is almost unheard of in a place with this kind of scenery and potential. It is nowhere near Sun Valley prices, yet you are only about an hour and a half away.

Accessibility: Despite its rural feel, Mackay is an easy in and out drive from larger hubs like Idaho Falls, Hailey, and Sun Valley.

Tourism and Recreation: The area has all the raw ingredients for eco lodges, cabins, adventure tourism, or even a boutique ski operation. It is surprising that more has not been built here already.

Growth Potential: With outdoor tourism growing and small town mountain markets heating up, Mackay feels like a boom waiting to happen. It has the charm, the scenery, and the affordability that the next wave of buyers and developers are looking for.

I cannot help but wonder why Mackay has not already been developed the way other towns in the Rockies have. The fundamentals are here. It just has not hit the radar of enough people yet.

Curious what others think. Is this the kind of place you would consider putting money into before the wave hits?