Glacier Park shatters previous visitation records, despite fires and closures

Apgar Village in Glacier National Park on Aug. 30, 2017. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon.

By Justin Franz, Flathead Beacon, October 2017

More than 3 million people have visited Glacier National Park in 2017 making it the busiest year in park history.

According to data released by the National Park Service on Tuesday, 3.3 million people had visited the park through September, a 12.9 percent increase during the same nine-month period in 2016. Last year, the park fell short of the 3 million mark by just 37,000 visitors.

Total visitation in Glacier Park was down in September compared to the same month last year due to the Sprague Fire, which closed a large swath of the west side of the park, including the popular Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Read the rest of the story…

Featured Property: Nhn Grave Creek Road, Eureka, MT 59917
MLS #21702880 Offered at $558,000

BEAUTIFUL 80+ acre property with Mountain views. This mostly level property has a great mix of grass & trees and is a ways off Highway 93. Call me, Brian Nicodemus, for more information at 406.250.7311.

From Seed to Center

Story and photo by Greg Lindstrom, Flathead Beacon

The Center for Native Plants (CNP) in Whitefish features more than 120 native flowers, shrubs and trees, and Andrew Beltz has watched most of them grow from seeds collected around the valley. “I know where I picked the seed from,” said Beltz. “It’s got a story.”

The CNP is a branch of Forestoration, Inc., the parent company run by partners Greg Gunderson, David Noftsinger and Beltz. Through Forestoration, the group offers natural resource consulting and contracting, covering everything from wildfire and riparian restoration to trail building and design. But the promotion of native plants is always near the forefront of their projects.

“As the valley begins to develop, land is cleared, plants are lost, habitat is lost,” said Beltz. “By bringing some of that into your backyard you’re kind of helping preserve that. It helps create a sense of place.”

Read the rest of the story…

OPEN ROAD: Episode Nineteen

Top of the Class

Watch Neil Chaput de Saintonge, inspired by Ansel Adams, snap shots of Montana’s greatest sights.

Kelley’s Market Trends: Third Quarter 2017 Report on the Flathead Real Estate Market

By JIM KELLEY

Interest rates are a key part of the market. Look through the graphs in Jim Kelley’s third quarter report.

To download the complete report…click here.

Whitefish Stage Organic Farms offers a 3500 bale straw bale maze, a  super bouncing pillow,  a barn jungle gym, a power jump bungee trampoline, barrel train ride, giant corn bins, tiny farm animals and much more! https://www.whitefishstage.farm/fall-harvest-event/

Going to the Sun Road is open in Glacier Park

Visitors can drive 2.0 miles from the west entrance to the foot of Lake McDonald, and 18.5 miles from the St. Mary entrance to Logan Pass.

  The section of the road between the foot of Lake McDonald and Logan Pass is closed due to a fire. On the west side, the road is closed between the Apgar Loop Road junction at the foot of Lake McDonald and Logan Pass due to fire danger.

To check the current road status, click here. This website is updated regularly with important travel information for visitors to Glacier National Park.

Kelley’s Market Trends: Residential 1 to 10 Acres

By JIM KELLEY; FLATHEAD BEACON; SEPT 20, 2017

In the first eight months of 2017, residential properties with one to ten acres of land made up 22.2 percent of the residential sales. This is nearly the same as it was in 2016. The average lot size for this class of residential property is 3.72 acres and the median size was 3 acres.

Read the whole story…click here.

Fall is here. There are plenty of things to do in Whitefish.

Fall just may be our finest season here in the northwest corner of Montana. Temperatures are cool and fall colors are brilliant. For a variety of activities, visit www.explorewhitefish.com.

Walk A Trail.
Paved bike and pedestrian trails meander throughout Whitefish. A segment of the trail runs along the river between various parks (and extends all the way to City Beach). www.whitefishlegacy.org

Take A Trail Ride.
The Bar W Guest Ranch has developed the most advanced and diverse equestrian program in the West. Take a riding lesson or a relaxing trail ride. www.thebarw.com

Take A Boat Ride.
Rent a boat, or other watercraft at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake Marina. A full service marina on Whitefish Lake that offers a gas dock to fill your boat or wave runner, a snack bar and a Tiki Bar. www.lodgeatwhitefishlake.com

Take In A Live Performance.
Alpine Theatre Project (ATP) has become one of the most respected professional theatres in the Northwest United States. ATP specializes in producing musicals, plays, and concerts throughout the year featuring talent from Broadway, film, and television. www.atpwhitefish.org

Oktoberfest is taking place in Depot Park!

Join us in beautiful Whitefish, Montana, for the second weekend of authentic German beer, food, music and fun – Montana style!

Second Weekend:

Wednesday, October 4:  6 pm to 8 pm (at the Firebrand Hotel)

Thursday, October 5: 5 pm to 11 pm

Friday, October 6: 5 pm to 11 pm

Saturday, October 7: 12 noon to 11 pm

The Great Northwest Oktoberfest takes place under the “Oktoberfest Bigtop” in Depot Park (unless otherwise noted in the schedule), located in the heart of downtown Whitefish, Montana. Depot Park is located on the corner of Spokane Ave. and Railroad St., in front of the historic Whitefish Train Depot.

Click here for the complete schedule:   http://www.whitefishoktoberfest.com/schedule/

Whitefish Mountain Resort Lands in Top 10 Ski Resort Readers’ Poll

BY BEACON STAFF // SEP 26, 2017

Whitefish Mountain Resort was named the 10th best ski resort in the West by SKI Magazine readers.

Photo by Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

SKI Magazine released its annual Resort Guide, which features top reader-ranked resorts and ski amenities, and once again Whitefish Mountain Resort has earned accolades.

Readers ranked Whitefish 10th behind Beaver Creek, Colorado. The local love marked the second best ranking in the Resort Guide. Whitefish Mountain Resort ranked ninth in 2015-16 and 11th in 2016-17.

Read the whole story…click here.

Measuring Montana’s Outdoor Economy

New report says outdoor recreation pumps $7.1 billion into state economy and supports 71,000 jobs

BY JUSTIN FRANZ // AUG 29, 2017 // FLATHEAD BEACON Photo by Greg Lindstrom

COLUMBIA FALLS — For more than a century, the mountains that surround the Flathead Valley have inspired legions, from artists trying to capture the beauty on canvas to teenagers sharing the scenery through the perfect Instagram filter. But a new report suggests Montana’s scenic wonders are worth a lot more than a pretty picture.

“Montana’s public lands aren’t just for creating memories or snapping pictures for Facebook,” Sen. Jon Tester declared last week at an outdoors round table at the Cedar Creek Lodge, which was followed by a rally for public lands. “These lands bring $7.1 billion to the state’s economy every year, support 71,000 jobs and bring numerous new businesses and entrepreneurs here.”

Tester was referencing data published in a report by Headwaters Economics for the nonprofit Business for Montana’s Outdoors. The report noted that some of Montana’s fastest-growing counties are also close to federally managed public lands. Between 2000 and 2015, five counties — Gallatin, Yellowstone, Missoula, Flathead and Lewis and Clark — were responsible for 75 percent of the state’s job growth.

READ MORE…click here.

 Housing Plan

Update set for Wednesday night, Sept. 13 at City Hall

Whitefish Chamber members and the public are invited to take part in an Open House & Workshop on Wednesday, September 13th at City Hall, to get a progress report on – and offer input to – the Whitefish Strategic Housing Plan.

Set for 5-7 p.m. next Wednesday evening at Whitefish City Hall, Open House attendees will hear about the goals and objectives established by the Housing Plan Task Force, and the programs, projects and tools that have been identified to help tackle the housing shortage.

They’ll also get an update on the work done to-date by the Task Force and its six subcommittees, and provide valuable input to the Task Force and consultants as they work to fine-tune the Plan prior to submitting it to the City Council in November.

For more information, call the Chamber 406.862.3505  or visit www.whitefishhousing.com.

Kelley’s Market Trends: Western Montana Home Prices

Over the last 12 years, Flathead County’s median home price has been on average the highest of six western Montana counties.

BY JIM KELLEY // SEP 6, 2017 // FLATHEAD BEACON

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This week let’s take another look at how Flathead County’s home price trend relates to other counties in Western Montana. At the peak of the market in 2007, Flathead County had the highest median home price of any of the surrounding counties. Flathead’s median was 13 percent higher than Missoula County, 4 percent higher than Lake County, 13 percent higher than Ravalli County, 35 percent higher than Lincoln County and 45 percent higher than Sanders County.

Over the last 12 years, Flathead County’s median home price has averaged 4.4 percent higher than Lake County, 44.8 percent higher than Lincoln County, 43.2 percent higher than Sanders County, 4.8 percent higher than Ravalli County and 1.6 percent higher than Missoula County.

In the first eight months of 2017, Flathead County’s median was the 14.6 percent higher than Lake County, 73.8 percent higher than Lincoln County, 50.9 percent higher than Sanders County, 3.8 percent higher than Ravalli County and 1.9 percent higher than Missoula County.

Of these six counties, Flathead County had a 7.8 percent increase in the median home price in 2017, which is higher than any of the surrounding counties. Lake County has had a 5.9 percent decline, Lincoln County has had a 12.3 percent decline, Sanders County had a 2.1 percent increase, Ravalli County has had a 6.6 percent increase, and Missoula County has had a 5.2 percent increase.

88 Parkway Avenue Unit A, Bigfork, MT 59911

MLS #21706598 Offered at $549,000

Festival Armadeus

Glacier Orchestra and Chorale presents Festival Amadeus, August 8-13, 2017. Mountains by Day; Music by Night. Celebrating our 10th anniversary!

Click here for more information.

A SWEET LITTLE TREASURE

EPISODE SIXTEEN: OPEN ROAD

Pan for a gem, create a masterpiece, indulge in every kind of candy, and create memories that will last a lifetime in Philipsburg, MT.

Open Road is a series of videos about Montana and Montanans. Travel along with these characters as they experience the endless possibilities waiting for them in Montana and be inspired to discover Montana for yourself.

Featured Property

25 Minnesota Avenue, Whitefish, MT 59937
MLS #21706528 Offered at $349,000

For more info, click here.

Summer on the Mountain

Summer is our second favorite season on the mountain. Activities include biking, zip line tours, alpine slide, aerial adventure park, spider monkey mountain for the kids, scenic lift rides and more.

Visit https://skiwhitefish.com/summer/ for more information.

There is so much fun to be had on the mountain! If you can’t find what you’re looking for here please don’t hesitate to call us at 877-SKI-FISH or 406-862-2900.

Amenities and activities are open daily June 17 – September 4, 2017. After Labor Day amenities and activities are open Friday – Sunday through September 24, 2017. Amenity and activity dates are conditions permitting and subject to change.

Save money by purchasing package deals for the whole family here: https://skiwhitefish.com/summer-tickets-passes/

A must-do for families at the summit is to visit the Summit Nature Center. Operated and staffed by the Flathead National Forest, families love to visit the Summit Nature Center to learn about our forest and its local flora and fauna. Interactive games and exhibits make it fun to discover how to identify plants, trees and animal tracks and scat. Children ages 7-12 are invited to become Junior Forest Rangers – it’s free, it’s fun and includes an official badge and certificate. There’s also a coloring station for the little ones.

Families are encouraged to borrow an Outdoor Adventure Pack from the Nature Center and explore the outdoors. The pack contains field guides and materials to help families learn together in a fun and informal setting. For more information call 406-862-1972. This line is answered mid-June through Labor Day.

Mapping Out a Montana Adventure

EPISODE FOURTEEN: OPEN ROAD

See how Cairn Cartographics is putting Montana on the map.

Featured Property

Grave Creek Road, Eureka, MT

MLS #21702880 Offered at $558,000

BEAUTIFUL 80+ acre property with mountain views. This mostly level property has a great mix of grass and trees and is a ways off Highway 93. Call Brian Nicodemus today at 406-250-7311 for more information.

Summer Camps

Get the kids outside with summer camps.

“Rockstars” is for kids ages 6-11. Cost is $225; camps run Monday through Thursday 9AM-3PM. This camp is all about learning the fundamentals of climbing, playing outside, learning about wilderness and nature, being a kid, and having fun!

“Stone Masters” is for kids ages 12 and up. Cost is $450; camps run June 19-22, July 10-13, and August 21-24. The first half of this camp will be day trips that will include outdoor climbing and whitewater rafting. The second half we will camp and climb at the beautiful Lake Koocanusa. Campers will leave camp knowing how to tie knots, belay, rappel, and basic wilderness skills.

Call 406.862.8955 or visit www.rockfishclimbing.com. Limited space, sign up soon!

Potter’s Field horsemanship curriculum is designed to give kids a working knowledge of horsemanship from the ground up, but they don’t stop there.  Through mounted games, arts and crafts, music and movement, and classroom discussions, they challenge kids to grow in their interpersonal skills with others and to become confident of their own God-given value and worth.

The camps run from May – September with special fall and holiday camp dates. These four-day camps are scheduled Monday through Thursday, from 11:00AM – 3:00PM and open to children from ages 5-15 years of age.

Call 406.862.9673 or visit www.pottersfield.org for more information.

The Magic Place

EPISODE EIGHT: OPEN ROAD
The Great Northern Powder Guides take you into the deep back country to find untouched powder.

April real estate market trends update for Flathead County

By Jim Kelley, Kelley Appraisal, April 2017

Each month, Jim Kelley analyzes the trends in real estate sales in Flathead County of Montana. Click on the link to read to entire report.
April Real Estate Market Trends in Flathead County – click here to read the whole report.

Where are the plows?

See where the plows are today on Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Also see plowing photos posted by the crews. Click here to go to nps.gov.

What Are Restrictive Covenants?

Read These Rules Before You Buy

BY CATHIE ERICSON for Realtor.com

IN THE MOMENT

EPISODE SEVEN: OPEN ROAD
Join the Absaroka Dogsled Treks team on a ride of a lifetime through the Montana backcountry.

Live Music Saturdays

Starting April 4, 2017

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM MDT

Firebrand Lounge, Second and Spokane in Whitefish

Halladay Quist is a country bluegrass singer songwriter with a streak of rock ‘n roll in her veins. She performs live in the Firebrand Lounge most Saturdays with the occasional guest musician stepping in.

To learn more about Halladay visit her website: https://www.halladayquist.com/Halladay

What Are HOA Fees?

BY LISA MANDELL for Realtor.com

First things first: HOA is an abbreviation for “homeowners association,” which applies to the owners of condos, townhouses, or freestanding homes in a planned community. The fee, which is usually charged monthly, goes to maintain the common areas of that community.

“Because multiple parties live in the same building or complex, all residents must be equally responsible for maintaining the common areas such as landscaping, elevators, swimming pools, clubhouses, parking garages, fitness rooms, sidewalks, security gates, roofing, and building exteriors,” says finance expert Amy Fontanelle. HOA fees also include insurance payments to cover those common areas.

Sure, homeowners already taking on a mortgage may hate coughing up more money for HOA dues. But they actually let you off the hook for a ton of home maintenance work. So before you start kvetching, consider all that HOA fees can do for you.

How much are HOA fees?

For a typical single-family home, HOA fees can cost homeowners around $200 to $300 per month, although they will be lower or much higher depending on the size of your unit and the amenities.

To give you an idea of the range of HOA fees, a 1,000-square-foot condo in Des Moines, IA, with no pool, spa, community room, or gym in the community has an HOA fee of $100 per month, which covers utilities, landscaping, and snow removal.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Hollywood’s fancy Sierra Towers condo building, which is filled to the brim with amenities like 24-hour concierge service and valet parking. They charge residents of a 3,400-square-foot condo about $4,000 per month in HOA fees. Suddenly that $250 monthly fee you’re considering feels a bit more reasonable, doesn’t it?

What is an HOA reserve fund?

HOA fees are usually divided into two parts: One portion goes toward monthly expenses, and the remaining money goes into a reserve fund, to save for long-term repairs and replacements such as roofs, plumbing, and exterior paint. Reserve funds also cover emergency expenses that arise when natural disasters, vandals, or just the unavoidable wear and tear strike.

What is an assessment?

Be aware that when your community is hit with extreme maintenance expenses—like a flood in the underground parking lot due to a broken water heater or a pipe bursting—homeowners insurance will cover some of it, but whatever’s left will have to be paid by your HOA.

Typically in these cases the HOA will tap the reserve fund, which may become depleted as a result. As a result, your HOA board may require you and your fellow homeowners in the community to pay a special assessment bill above and beyond your monthly HOA fee. Luckily, though, these assessments are typically temporary until the reserve is back up to a comfortable level.

What happens if I can’t pay the HOA fees?

Rest assured that most lending institutions take the HOA fee into consideration when they write up your mortgage. In other words, they evaluate your monthly income compared with your monthly expenses, and they won’t make a loan on the desired property unless they feel you can safely cover everything: your mortgage payment, taxes, and HOA fees.

But hey, life happens. If you lose your job or are unable to pay your HOA fees, you might be able to work something out with the HOA board. Be sure to talk to it before you miss even one payment. If you fall too far behind, the consequences could be the same as if you fail to make your mortgage payments. Bob Tankel, a Florida attorney specializing in HOA law, says you could be evicted or, in extreme instances, the board has the right to foreclose on your property.

The ins and outs of your HOA fees and what they cover in your new community will be spelled out in the covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Tankel suggests reading your CC&Rs carefully before you even buy your condo, and referring to it frequently once you move in so you’ll always know what to expect.