Many Glacier Hotel could see millions

The Many Glacier Hotel could see another $8.5 million in funding for upgrades to the 94-year-old structure.

The funding was announced jointly by Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester last week. It is part of an Interior Appropriations bill under consideration by Congress.

The funding made it out of Senate Appropriations Committee last week and now goes to the full Senate for debate.

If the bill passes intact it would complete the repairs at the hotel. Earlier this year, the hotel received a $15.6 million earmark in the economic stimulus package.

That work will focus on plumbing and electrical work to the north end of the structure. This latest round of funding will do more of the same, including work in the dining room. Some of the electrical wiring in the hotel is very old — in fact, it's wires on insulators.

In the past several years, the Park Service has put millions into the hotel — straightening its structure, re-siding, ridding it of bats and rebuilding windows and balconies.

The contract for the stimulus work hasn't been awarded yet, said Park spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt. Additional funding will be needed to complete work on the south end of the hotel.

The work funded by stimulus dollars will be deferred until the fall of 2010, so it doesn't interfere with the Park's Centennial celebration.

Glacier turns 100 next year.

Many Glacier, the biggest hotel in the Park, was built on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake in 1915 by the Great Northern Railway.

"Not only will these resources create jobs repairing and renovating Many Glacier, but now we can preserve this historic landmark for future generations of Montanans," said Tester, who secured funding in the Appropriations bill. "This is just one of the smart, worthwhile projects that are important to Montana, the people who live here and to future generations."

"I'm committed to protecting Montana's outdoor heritage," said Baucus. "With this funding, we get to do just that while creating good paying jobs and helping to draw tourists to one of the most beautiful places on Earth — Glacier National Park. This is truly a win-win-win."