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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