Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [164]
Apgar Village Lodge
Apgar Village, Box 410, West Glacier, MT 59936. ☎ 406/888-5484. Fax 406/888-5273. www.westglacier.com. 28 cabins, 20 motel rooms. TV. $90–$227 cabin; $72–$95 double motel room. AE, DISC, MC, V. Closed early Oct to Apr.
The Apgar Village Lodge, on the south end of Lake McDonald, is one of two lodgings in Apgar Village. A less expensive alternative to the park's GPI-owned properties, the log-and-frame cabins have a rustic charm but lack in-room amenities.
Glacier Park Lodge
East Glacier, MT 59434. ☎ 406/892-2525. Fax 406/892-1375. www.glacierparkinc.com. 154 units. TEL. $149–$199 double; $399 suite. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Just outside the southeast entrance at East Glacier, this is the park's flagship inn, an imposing timbered lodge that stands as a stately tribute to the Great Northern Railroad and its early attempts to lure tourists to Glacier. The carefully manicured lawn and ever-blooming wildflowers frame the grounds in colors spectacular enough to rival the mountain backdrop. The interior features massive Douglas fir pillars, some 40 inches in diameter and 40 feet tall. In fact, stand in the middle of the lobby and look up—beams carved from massive trees are the structural supports for the entire building. Skylights, wrought-iron chandeliers, and a desk hewn from a 36-inch-diameter log add to the Old West flavor.
Rooms are well furnished, but showers are elbow-banging small, and sinks are significantly smaller than those found in today's modern hotels and motels. A wooden deck outside the lounge provides an excellent spot for cocktails, reading, or a late-afternoon snooze. A glass-enclosed breezeway connects the main building to the west wing; the oak lounge chairs there are an ideal spot from which to watch a sunrise. There's even an immaculately groomed executive-style 9-hole golf course. Some evenings, members of the Blackfeet tribe recount their history and culture around the fireplace. The entire property is nonsmoking.
Lake McDonald Lodge
Glacier National Park, MT 59936. ☎ 406/ 892-2525. Fax 406/892-1375. www.glacier parkinc.com. 62 lodge and motel units, 38 cottage units. TEL. $154 lodge room; $115 motel unit; $101–$154 cottage. AE, DISC, MC, V.
The Lake McDonald Lodge feels like a genuine mountain lodge. Although the two-story building doesn't have the same towering ceilings and open spaces as other park hotels, its wood construction lends it a warm, cozy feel. Lodge rooms, located on the second and third floor (there's no elevator), are pleasantly decorated and have a historic feel. Motel units are simply well-maintained motel rooms. The well-preserved cottages are in multi-unit buildings in a wooded area. Situated on the shore of the park's largest lake, the lodge provides a marvelous central base for exploring the western part of the park. The lodge is a center for boating activity; scenic cruises depart daily, and canoe rentals are popular. Common lounging areas are furnished with heavy couches, sofas, and chairs that surround a stone fireplace. The lodge houses a dining room, gift shop, and lounge; a coffee shop, post office, and sundries store are also on the grounds. The entire lodge is nonsmoking.
Many Glacier Hotel
Glacier National Park, MT 59936. ☎ 406/892-2525. Fax 406/892-1375. www.glacierparkinc.com. 216 units. TEL. $120–$199 double; $236 suite. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Built in 1915 by the Great Northern Railway, this is the largest hotel in the park and our top choice for a place to stay. The alpine-style hotel may be the most photographed building in the park. When you arrive at Many Glacier after driving along the park's interior road from Babb, it comes slowly into view, as picturesque as a Swiss chalet and almost as inviting as the turquoise blue waters of Swiftcurrent Lake. The chalet-style architecture fits right in with the surrounding alpine environment. In August, after the huckleberries ripen, you can almost count on seeing grizzly bears on the slopes of the mountain across