Columbia Falls has more than 600 vacation rentals

The number of vacation rentals available in the Columbia Falls area has risen sharply in the past few years, according to figures provided by AirDNA, a firm that tracks the vacation rental industry.

In Columbia Falls (59912 Zip code), for example, in July 2019, the number of available listings was 293, with 270 having at least one night booked that month.

By July 2022, that number had rocketed to 595 available listings, with 563 booked.

In 2023, the numbers were even higher. June 2023 saw 650 listings, with 592 booked.

Figures for July 2023 weren’t yet available.

Places like Hungry Horse have seen an even bigger increase in vacation rentals, according to AirDNA.

In July 2019, there were 68 listings — all of them booked at least one night.

By June 2023, there were 112 listings, but just 88 booked.

The trend continued further up the line. Coram for example, showed 94 listings in July 2019, with 92 booked. By June 2023, there were 224 listings, with 207 booked.

West Glacier also had a similar trend.

In July 2019, there were 95 listings, with with 93 booked.

By June 2023, there were 173 listings, with 168 booked at least one night of the month.

All told, there were about 1,104 vacation rentals listed from Columbia Falls to West Glacier in June of this year.

In all of Flathead County, there were 4,507 available listings in July 2023. In 2019, there were 2,637 available.

Vacation rentals run the gamut of course, from a room in a house to the entire house, but the figures do seem to point to a problem in the valley — that there plenty of vacation rentals to be had, but fewer long term rentals — at least in the summer months.

(The number of vacation rentals falls off substantially after October, when it gets colder and the summer tourist season comes to a close).

But there also appears to be a somewhat softening of the market as well, at least in the Columbia Falls area.

The occupancy rate in June 2021 in Columbia Falls for example, which was the height of the pandemic, was 87.2%. By June 2023, it had fallen to 66.7%. In June 2022 it was 69.2%.

There were even lower numbers in other areas. For example, in June 2023 in Hungry Horse, the occupancy rate was 57.7%.

Some owners have lowered their rates as a result.

Jean Flynn has a vacation rental in rural Columbia Falls. Prior to the pandemic, she’s rent her place 50 to 60 nights a summer season. During the pandemic, that number jumped to 110 nights a summer season.

This year she said she expects to rent her place about 90 nights, but there’s a caveat, she said.,

She had to lower her rates by nearly half.

She also noted expenses have risen as well. Housekeeping, for example, has risen to $50 an hour, so she finds herself doing it more on her own, as she can’t afford it every time the place turns over.

The numbers back up Flynn. The average daily rate in Columbia Falls was about $403 in July 2022 — the highest in the past four years.

But by June 2023 that was down to $352.

Flathead County as a whole, appears to be holding its own. In July 2022, the occupancy rate was about 80% and this year it was 80%. June did see a drop-off however, from 67% in 2002 to 62% this year, which is a bit contrary, since the Going-to-the-Sun Road opened fully in mid-June this year, while in 2022 it didn’t open until July 13.

Countywide, the going rate is higher than it’s ever been in July, according to AirDNA. The average daily rate is now $441.

But some businesses are noting an “August hole” this year. Some owners are seeing a slowdown in August, with few or no bookings in the middle of the month, only to see occupancy bounce back in September.

That could be a result of Glacier National Park’s reservation system, which ends the second weekend in September.

After then, no reservations are required. But by then, snow can be flying in the mountains and the weather can turn on a dime.