McCarty Enterprises was established from the hard work, ingenuity and vision of its founder, James D. (Jim) McCarty. McCarty came to the White Mountains in 1952 with Isabelle Construction to build Show Low Lake Dam. He fell in love with the area and determined to make it home. In 1954, he purchased his first piece of property in Show Low, thus beginning his entrepreneurial journey in the area:

• Started the first trash collection service in the White Mountains
• Formed Navajo Sanitation - making, installing and pumping concrete septic tanks, and later adding full-blown sewer and water systems
• Formed Navajo Construction, a thriving construction company
• Developed multiple projects, including Navajo Pines in Pinetop-Lakeside; Park Valley subdivision, Fool Hollow Lake Resort and Pine Oaks in Show Low; and Moon Meadows Mobile Home Park in St. Johns
• Owner of Fools Hollow and Park Valley Water Companies
• Owner of Silver Creek Inn in Taylor and Best Western Paint Pony Lodge in Show Low
• Builder of the "Victorian Building" located at the entranceway of Show Low, one of the most photographed buildings in the state
• Developer of White Mountain Vacation Village, a planned recreational development in Show Low, still being developed

Jim McCarty passed away in 2006. His tireless efforts through various enterprises, partnerships and alliances brought untold jobs and economic development to the area and went a long way toward making the White Mountains what it is today - a wonderful place to live, work and play. His daughter, Victoria McCarty, continues to manage the organization.