Belton Chalets Inc. wins Park concession
<p>Sperry Chalet as seen from above in the summer of 2008. The chalet is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.</p>
The National Park Service has selected Belton Chalets Inc. to operate Granite Park and Sperry chalets under a new 10-year concession contract in Glacier National Park.
Belton Chalets Inc. has a long history with the chalets. The company operated the chalets from 1954-1992, Granite Park Chalet from 1996-97, Sperry Chalet from 1999-2004 and both chalets again from 2005-2014.
The existing concession contract will expire on Dec. 31, and the new concession contract will take effect Jan. 1. The contract covers the seasonal operation of the Granite Park and Sperry backcountry chalets.
Granite Park Chalet is a hiker shelter providing lodging accommodations and kitchen facilities for guests to prepare their own meals. Sperry Chalet is a backcountry hotel with lodging accommodations and meals provided by the operator.
Services under the contract will include environmental education programs for guests, limited sales of snacks and emergency care items, and vehicle transportation for guests to and from the trailheads leading to the chalets.
Competitive bidding initiated earlier this year with the release of a prospectus. Offers had to be submitted to the National Park Service by May 19.
An evaluation panel of National Park Service technical experts outside the Park performed a comprehensive analysis of the proposals and selected the best responsive proposal based on factors identified in the prospectus.
For more information, visit online at www.concessions.nps.gov/news.htm.