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Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts Assumes Management of Montana�s
The Resort at Glacier; 117 Room Destination Resort At The Gates Of Glacier
National Park To Officially Re-Open May 26 Under New Operator
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (May 4, 2006) � Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts has been named the new hospitality management company for The Resort at Glacier, Montana. The resort will officially re-open for the 2006 season on May 26, under the helm of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, and will remain open for the season through October.  As the new operator, the company will be responsible for overseeing all lodging, food and beverage, retail, grocery and gas for the resort destination. The resort is situated at Glacier National Park�s east entrance, on the National Historic Landmark road, Going to the Sun Road. 

�The company�s extensive track record of success in hotel and hospitality management, as well as its strong ties with national park destinations, make it an ideal choice to strategically position The Resort at Glacier as the premier lodging destination for Glacier National Park,� says the property�s owner, Sally Black Welder.

The Resort at Glacier is a perfect fit with Delaware North�s management portfolio of unique destinations and historic properties,� stated Kevin Kelly, president of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts. �We were selected because of our respected reputation for providing high quality hospitality services in some of the most beautiful natural areas in North America. The implementation of our environmental stewardship program, GreenPath®, is key when managing a property this close to a national park which is considered one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states. We look forward to this exciting opportunity to operate one of Montana�s most unique vacation experiences.� 
 

History

The Resort at Glacier got its start back in the 1920s when the proprietors, Hugh and Margaret Black, met for the first time in Glacier National Park. Hugh had moved to the area from Michigan and found work as a seasonal ranger, fighting forest fires and helping with early park development. Margaret James came to Glacier in 1928 as the Executive Secretary for the Park Company, which was then owned by the Great Northern Railroad. This beautiful lady met the dashing and handsome ranger, and a budding romance quickly developed.
The couple married in 1932 and together started St. Mary Lodge and Resort (the original name). He obtained a lease on the property with $1,000 and a month's paycheck, and immediately began building one-room cabins as fast as he possibly could. They even went so far as to rent the cabins at noon while the carpenters were still working on them, hoping to have them ready for guests that evening. Meanwhile, Margaret played a major role in the operation of their first restaurant, The Curly Bear Café, while also taking care of all the bookwork for the rapidly growing operation.    

Development continued, then almost shut down completely when World War II gas shortages all but stopped visitor traffic in the park. To make ends meet, Hugh supplemented the resort's income by running cattle and cutting ice from frozen lakes for the Great Northern Railroad. This ice was used on hot summer days to keep products cool, prior to the advent of the refrigerated car.    

The Lodge resumed growth, and was remodeled in 1975 with the addition of a lounge area and gift shop. In 1989, the restaurant was expanded and remodeled to what you see today. A number of impressive renovations have taken place since then, including the addition of dozens of luxury rooms, suites and cottages, a lobby expansion and more. In all, the resort has certainly earned its reputation as "superior to the other facilities in and around any of the National Parks" as noted by The New York Times.    

The Resort at Glacier is located within the Blackfeet Indian Nation, which is comprised of approximately 7,500 members. The Tribe has inhabited the areas now known as the State of Montana and the province of Alberta for hundreds of years.

In addition to its GreenPath® environmental program, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts plans on using the company�s noted culinary expertise to broaden dining offerings to build upon The Resort at Glacier�s reputation as one of the best dining experiences in the region.  Delaware North Companies associate, Walter Kochansky has been named general manager.

Glacier National Park has nearly 2 million visitors annually with a mix of families, couples, eco-travelers and adventure seekers. The resort offers a variety of accommodations to choose from, including five distinct lodges, cabins and luxury cottages. Striving to enhance the guest experience, all Resort at Glacier employees will receive extensive training through Delaware North�s GuestPathsm program. 

About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts   
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies, is a leading hospitality provider with significant experience in hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations. The company's portfolio includes some of the unique properties in North America, including Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Sequoia and Yellowstone national parks; Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa near Vancouver, British Columbia; Old Town San Diego State Historic Park; Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds; Niagara Falls State Park; Jones Beach State Park; the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia and Denver; The Lodge & Conference Center at Geneva State Park, Ohio; and The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel.  

About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world�s leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International, TD Banknorth Garden and American Park �n Swap. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues approaching $2 billion annually and 40,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.

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Contact:

Judy Lucas
 716-858-5215
 [email protected]

888-778-6279
www.TheResortAtGlacier.com

Also See: HREC Investment Advisors Announces Listing For Sale of St. Mary Lodge and Resort, Including 86 Acres of Land Adjacent to Glacier National Park,  St. Mary, Montana / June 2005
Eden Roc Miami Beach, A Renaissance Resort And Spa, Completes $17 million Renovation / Jan 2003


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