Waterslide could face foreclosure

But owners say they're looking at refinancing

By RICHARD HANNERS

Hungry Horse News

Claiming the Canadian company that owns Big Sky Waterslide has failed to make a payment, the Whitefish Credit Union has set a public auction date for the recreation facility.

"We will sell all land, buildings, inventory, equipment, machinery, furniture, fixtures, accounts receivable and contract rights now owned or hereafter acquired" during a public auction on June 15, the bank's attorneys said in a legal advertisement.

Credit Union president Charles Abell said the waterslide facility's owner, Summer Fun Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, failed to make a payment and were in foreclosure.

Bruce Dalen, who built the facility 22 years ago and still owns it, told the Hungry Horse News he's negotiating with the credit union and hopes to have the situation resolved by next week.

"I've never missed a payment in three years with Whitefish Credit Union," he claimed.

The Canadian firm is also behind in its property tax payments to the county. The Flathead County Treasurer's office reports that Summer Fun failed to pay its November taxes and currently owes $2,988.

In 1998, the Montana Department of Revenue filed an action against Summer Fun for missing payment on corporate income taxes. District Court Judge Katherine Curtis filed a statutory lien against the company, and the company eventually paid off the back taxes.

Summer Fun has also failed to file annual financial reports to the state, and the Montana Secretary of State's office administratively dissolved the corporation on Nov. 1, 2001.

The company's local facility manager, Roger Elliot, of Columbia Falls, said 2004 was an off-year because of the cool weather and rain, but he didn't see The Wave-a new indoor swimming facility in Whitefish that features a waterslide - as a threat to Big Sky Waterslide's business.