Shining Mountains Lodge, West Glacier, Montana

Abstract

Shining Mountains Lodge is a proposed four season resort Facility located in northwestern Montana on the east slope of Teakettle mountain, eight miles southwest of West Glacier, Montana (illustration 1-3). The facility will be a complex of 15 buildings that include a main lodge, ten guest cabins, management and employee housing, a spa and a maintenance building. The lodge is conceived as being a destination resort that will provide lodging, food, and services. In the winter the Lodge will function as a cross country ski resort offering lessons, rentals and an extensive trail system. The price of lodging will include three meals a day, use of all facilities and ski trails...The maximum expected guest occupancy in the winter is between 60 and 75 people. In the summer the resort complex will be a family interpretive and educational center for Glacier National Park accommodating 70 to 95 guests. As an interpretive center, the Lodge will offer classes on the geology, wildlife and plants of Glacier as well as classes on photography. The courses will be a mix of classroom and field work with the participants staying at the Lodge but spending time outdoors in the surrounding area and Glacier National Park. The lodge will have two connected meeting rooms for instructional purposes as well as outdoor meeting areas. A children's program with plenty of activities and 'field trips' will keep the kids entertained. There will be a variety of interesting recreational activities organized by the lodge -- such as van and hiking excursions to Glacier Park, scenic floats, white water raft trips and float fishing trips -- which will compliment the interpretive program. Hiking, mountain biking, a fitness par course and access to the North Fork of the Flathead River for Fishing and swimming will all be available on the premises. The Lodge will also provide information to guests wanting to take advantage of golf, horseback riding and other independently operated attractions. The remainder of the year, the Lodge will cater to conferences, seminars and group meetings.