GPI plans to build RV Park, rental cabins in West Glacier
Glacier Park Inc. is proposing to build a large campground with 25 rental cabins in West Glacier off River Bend Drive. The plan is for 102 recreational vehicle spaces in addition to the cabins on a 178-acre forested tract of land just west of the main village site.
Glacier Park Inc. acquired the land when it purchased the West Glacier land holdings from the Lundgren family in 2014. That deal included the West Glacier Mercantile and other holdings in West Glacier as well as cabins in Apgar in Glacier National Park.
But the sale also included a large tract of land just east of the main village, wedged between River Bend Drive and the Burlington Northern Railway.
The RV Park will have 63 acres of open space, 67 acres of residential area and 47 acres for the campground. The actual developed land is about 23 acres.
According to plans submitted to the county planning department, the cabins will be located in a subdivision on the lot close to River Bend Drive, while the RV sites will be located in the back of the lot.
GPI plans on building a new water and sewer system, with a 150,000 gallon water reservoir. GPI owns the land immediately surrounding the site as well — no other private landowners abut the property, according to the application.
The development will be constructed in phases, with the cabins being built first with 41 RV sites. The remaining RV sites would be built in phase two.
From a traffic standpoint, it’s estimated the development will have about 361 trip ends per weekday.
Glacier National Park officials have already commented on the plan, encouraging the county to require bear-resistant garbage containers. It also suggests fencing the sewage lagoon and spray field to keep bears away from the area. It also asks that night-sky friendly lighting be installed, as the Park is soon to become an International Dark Skies Park.
The main concern from the Park is traffic — noting the Park will add to traffic congestion in the area.
Glacier urges the county to require an additional access point to either Belton Stage Road or U.S. Highway 2 to ease traffic on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, particularly at the intersection of River Bend Drive.
If the plan is approved, GPI would like to begin construction by mid-fall of this year, said GPI vice president Ron Cadrette.
He said there are no plans to keep the cabins open in the winter months. He also said there is no room on the site to build an additional lodge.
The project is subject to the regulations in the Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System.
The Flathead County Planning Board will hold a hearing on the project at 6 p.m. April 12 at its offices at 40 11th St. West, Conference Room 200 in Kalispell.