Years ago, if you told an acquaintance that you lived south of town, she might assume you meant Hailey, maybe even Bellevue. But south of that? Shoshone—sure—but before that even, nestled along Silver Creek, are a few small, quiet towns: Picabo, Carey, and Gannett.
Perspectives have shifted in recent years, and people are taking note of the area. Some are moving there for the opportunity to own land at an affordable price, others simply to enjoy the pace of country life. Living in the “south county” has taken on new meaning.
Gannett is technically an “unincorporated community” but can boast all the best attributes of a small town. With only 316 residents, the community is close knit and enjoys a peaceful lifestyle 45 minutes away from the “hustle and bustle” of Ketchum, Hailey and Sun Valley. Gannett also affords visitors beautiful landscapes and a wide assortment of year-round outdoor activities. Unlike the other towns, however, Gannett has one, and only one, restaurant—7 Fuego at the Gannett Country Club—known to locals as the GCC.
The GCC has become the social hub of Gannett. The “club” moniker is apt because it is a gathering place where locals meet to socialize, catch up on the gossip, and enjoy a good meal.
As it turns out, this has been true for a long time. Back in the 1980s, there were living quarters at the back of the property and a “general store” connected to the restaurant, so the owners, Vern Gibbons and his wife, were almost always there. It was well known throughout town that Vern would serve the high school kids one beer and one beer only, playing the part of the “cool uncle” to Gannett’s youngsters. So, the kids would fish all day and stop in for a burger and a beer on their way home, feeling a little bit grown up as they discussed their luck on the river.
The next owners were snowbirds from Arizona. They opened the restaurant four to five days a week from June through October. They had brunches on the weekends and even a little live music periodically. Neighbors, visitors and locals gathered and enjoyed the long summer nights together.
Eventually they sold the club to the notorious Lady Victoria and her husband Tom O’Gara. Lady Victoria White O’Gara was a former model who took on, and kept, the title of “Lady” because she was once married to a duke. Lady Victoria was gorgeous, charming, and always welcoming.
In 2003, she tore the place down and rebuilt it. She purchased new tables and chairs, nice silverware and tablecloths, and top-of-the-line appliances: Wolf cooktops, Salamander ovens, and brand-new fryers. Unfortunately, those fryers stayed clean and untouched by hot oil for 18 years. The O’Garas were divorcing, and Lady Victoria’s time in Idaho came to an end. She was, however, unwilling to let go of the Gannett property, just in case someday she wanted to reopen the restaurant. For years, the refrigerators, though empty, kept running. Eventually, the caretakers shut down the fridges and the place went quiet.
In 2022, local Brett Bashaw scooped up the property after long and involved negotiations on the phone with Lady Victoria. The transaction wasn’t easy, but eventually they were able to come to terms.
Charlie Gerard from the restaurant 7 Fuego in Bellevue ran the club for a time but then connected Bashaw to Joe LaManna and Veronica Hawkes, who became manager and chef, respectively.
LaManna came with food and beverage experience in the Wood River Valley—from Tulley’s coffee to Starbucks to Wiseguy Pizza—where he worked closely with Hawkes and eventually convinced her to partner with him and explore the opportunity at the GCC.
LaManna handles front of house, and Hawkes does all the cooking and prep. Experienced culinary guru, Goose Sorensen redesigned the menu to help appeal to a wider clientele. The trio has elevated a quaint old restaurant to a wonderful getaway with great service and fantastic food.
Local favorites include the artichoke crab dip, buffalo cauliflower, and the pan roasted chicken entrée. The steak and burgers are tried and true choices as well. The fries are crispy and delicious, and the wedge salad is truly something to behold. We joined the Bashaws for a Friday night dinner—a five-minute commute for them. The Club feels comfortable and familiar, like the fictional “Cheers”—“where everybody knows your name.”
Both LaManna and Hawkes love that 7 Fuego at Gannett Country Club has such a rich history and that everyone who comes in usually has a story.
LaManna noted, “We love the location, and even though we are a little out of town we hope that anyone who takes the time to come dine with us will be given an experience that they will always remember, from the beautiful scenery to the incredible food.”
Bashaw added, “Historically, Gannett was more of a town; there was a school, and a cheese factory, and even a mini golf course! I think the GCC is a good starting point to bring some of that back!” ï