Town leaders study ways to build Bigfork

Its bones are good, but it could use a facelift.

“I think Bigfork is like an old house,” Sandy Leonard-Clare said. “Its structure is sound, but it could use a remodel.” Leonard-Clare, owner of Flathead Lake Brewing Company, spoke at a meeting of “Team Bigfork” at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts Wednesday. The meeting was a way to open up a dialog about Bigfork’s future, and give updates on community projects.

John Lang of the Bigfork Promotion Group led the meeting, opening with his perspective on Bigfork’s current situation. He explained the point of the meeting was to keep Bigfork moving forward.

“We’re asking everyone to be a participant in this discussion,” he said.

He hopes the community can come up with ideas that will work for Bigfork year-round and not just seasonally, making the town a stronger competitor with Kalispell and Whitefish.

“There is a big momentum swing,” Lang said. Kalispell and Whitefish are providing good packages and options that pull in tourism.

Leonard-Clare echoed Lang.

“I would love to see the community turn into a 9-month working village,” she said. She’d like to see more jobs that keep people in the area past the summer months. And she stressed the need to organize and create tangible goals that can be accomplished by a community of volunteers.

David Feffer praised the volunteerism that runs Bigfork, and agreed with Leonard-Clare about the need to communicate and organize. He said there are numerous great events in Bigfork, such as his own Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival. But those are separate events and maybe there is a better way to take advantage of what Bigfork offers.

“The key is to take control and make the future what we want it to be,” he said. “When people come here, they are coming to the valley. This is a critical time for Bigfork to organize.”

Flathead Lake Lodge owner Doug Averill agreed, pointing out the communities need to stay proactive about public access to Flathead Lake and Swan River. He reminded the audience that it’s important to look ahead and think about who is protecting Bigfork’s infrastructure.

“This isn’t just about business,” he said. “It’s about everyone in the community.”

Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork president Paul Mutascio spoke passionately about the community staying proactive as the best way to shape Bigfork’s future. He said that though Kalispell and Whitefish create economic competition, Bigfork could benefit from a partnership with its neighbors in the county.

“I’d like people to think of the community as more than just our little village,” he said. “Bigfork is only so big.”

He thinks Bigfork could benefit from working with the Kalispell Convention and Visitors Bureau to partner on events like the Dragon Boat Festival and Spartan Race. 

The Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork has also been active with the county recently fighting the closure of Bigfork’s greenbox site as well as Sliter Park and the Harry Horn day use area. 

“The village is much broader than downtown,” Mutascio reminds.

Renny Johnson, owner of Montana Adventure Sports, hopes his work with Flathead County on a bike path will benefit Bigfork by bringing in cycle tourism. The proposed bike path would create a ring around Bigfork and connect with other county trails. Johnson explained that if Bigfork could figure out how to provide lodging, bike parking and the appropriate signage it could be a great destination for cyclists.

“These are they types of people we want here,” he said. Fifty-six percent of cyclists have a median household income of $75,000 to $150,000 a year.

Other presenters provide updates on their efforts for the community. The Bigfork Promotion Group explained how they are working with limited funds to market Bigfork with signage and postcards.

 David Feffer spoke about how the Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival is growing, improving and bringing people to Bigfork. 

David Reese talked about the Bigfork Whitewater Festival and the natural playground on the Swan River that Bigfork should capitalize on. 

Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts board member Mary Jo Naive reminded people that the building itself is a community asset not to forget about, attracting top-notch performers. 

Micky Ohrn of the Bigfork Veterans of Foreign Wars post talked about how the Bigfork Rumble in the Bay car Show, though young has been very successful and all the proceeds are dedicated to Community Enrichment.

Joyce Billmayer and Margie Solberg talked about the wedding industry and the large revenue potential it provides for Bigfork.

And David Vale introduced a new event Bigfork will see at the end of the summer, the Chalk and Rock, a street art festival that will feature prominent talent and hopefully bring more people into Bigfork.

Bigfork Chamber of Commerce president Laurie Pacheco reminded people that the chamber is there to support the community and because it’s community members and volunteers that make Bigfork what it is.

“We all love Bigfork and it all begins with you, because you are Bigfork and Bigfork is where Flathead Lake begins,” Pacheco said.

There will be another Town Hall style meeting Wednesday, May 28, at 5 p.m. at Flathead Lake Lodge. The public is invited to attend.