Whitefish ranked no. 3 Ski Mountain

October 29, 2019 at 3:04 pm | Daily Inter lake

SKI Magazine has named Whitefish Mountain Resort as the “No. 3 overall” ski resort in North America — the popular Whitefish resort’s highest ranking yet by the news outlet.

This is the ski resort’s third appearance in the magazine’s Top 10 listings.

SKI Magazine’s Resort Guide is the longest-running ski resort survey in the industry. Readers are asked to rank the North American resorts they have visited in the last two years in a variety of categories; the survey provides an additional opportunity for readers to speak to each resort’s greatest strengths through comments.

Overall ranking, according to a press release, is determined by a combination of reader’s scores across 21 different categories.

Whitefish earned 12 Top 10 rankings, including No. 1 in Local Flavor, No. 2 in Value and No. 4 for Service, Scenery, Charm, Apres and Overall Satisfaction. The resort also ranks No. 15 for Travel Ease, No. 20 for Terrain and No. 22 for Snow.

“We are deeply honored to be named among the top resorts in the West in SKI Magazine’s 2020 Resort Guide; it is our mission to provide a memorable experience that is affordable, personal and fun. This year’s ranking is indeed a sign that skiers appreciate finding a ski area that values character, and makes guests feel relaxed so they can be themselves,” Whitefish Mountain Resort Chief Executive Officer Dan Graves said in a prepared statement.

“This ranking illustrates our commitment to providing a high level of hospitality while maintaining the community’s unique and colorful qualities that set us apart, without charging a premium for it. Whitefish’s warm and welcoming personality extends beyond the resort to all the businesses throughout the community that take care of our visitors and go above and beyond to make them feel welcome.”

Whitefish Mountain Resort is scheduled to open for the 2019-20 season on Dec. 6.

For more information on Whitefish Resort visit www.skiwhitefish.com

Montana gets big economic boost from tourism

Summer 2019, KULR Channel 8 TV

Three-and-a-half billion dollars.

That’s how much tourists spent in Montana in 2018. That’s a big boost in spending and it’s benefiting businesses all across the Treasure State.

Newly-released numbers from the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research shows the number of people visiting Montana from out-of-state remained relatively the same.

But, they’re spending more during their travels. In fact, they are spending 10-percent more than in 2017. Associate Director Jeremy Sage says, people are choosing to spend their extra money on experiences, like guided rafting trips, rather than souvenirs, and those experiences tend to cost more.

Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks are a big draw for visitors, he says. Without those iconic parks bringing recognition to Montana, our economy would not be bolstered nearly as much.

And the numbers prove it.

In Glacier National Park, people spent one-point-two billion dollars, supporting one-point-five billion dollars in economic activity.

The one-point-one billion dollars spent in Yellowstone National Park supported one-point-four billion dollars in economic activity.

If you break down the numbers by county, Gallatin County received more than 814-million dollars in tourist spending, followed by Flathead County at 614-million dollars, Missoula County 307-million, and Yellowstone County 270-million dollars.

RE/MAX Rocky Mountain agent Kerrie Cardon has beautiful properties for sale.

Explore: Sweet Pickin’s Pumpkin Patch

BY FLATHEAD BEACON STAFF // SEP 24, 2019

Autumn is here, bringing with it all the hallmark traditions the valley cherishes, including a trip to Sweet Pickin’s Pumpkin Patch, now at its new location at 1990 Holt Stage.

The farm is a fall wonderland, boasting not only a pumpkin patch, but also plenty of family-friendly activities. These include a barrel car ride, side-by-side cow train ride, a tractor tour, a pedal cart racetrack, and a tricycle maze.

The huge jumping pillow for kids is also a favorite.

To help fuel all the fun, there’s fresh kettle corn, hand-dipped caramel apples, giant cookies, hot chocolate, shaved ice, barbecue, and an espresso stand to give the adults that extra kick they need to keep up with the kids.

Sweet Pickin’s is open every day through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The daily rate per person is $9; a season pass is $25; children 2 and under get in free. For more information, visit www.sweetpickinspumpkinpatch.com or call 406-752-2359.

Real Estate Market Trends:

Flathead County land sales, past five years, by quarter

BY FLATHEAD BEACON // RICHARD DEWS // JUL 17, 2019

Last year’s second quarter land sales quantities were almost off the chart in the second quarter. 2018 was a banner year, as only the fourth quarter showed a drop from 2017 numbers, since there are different valuation to take in real estate, here you can find the 3 Valuation Approaches Explained: https://spaceselectors.com/top-three-commercial-real-estate-valuation-approaches/.

Thus far, 2019 numbers show a pull-back from 2018 quarterly sales. 2018 had the best numbers of the prior four years (Q1, Q2 and Q3). We will know in a few days whether 2019 numbers indicate a consistent curtailment over 2018, or if the market catches up to (or overtakes) any prior upward trends. Matching with real estate marketing trends is important. There are batch sms for real estate investors that can be utlized in this respect to keep up to date with sellers and buyers in a positive and technology based way that is becoming more necessary within the market.

Richard Dews is CEO of Glacier Flathead Real Estate, a Flathead-based real estate software and services company.

RE/MAX Rocky Mountain agent Brian Nicodemus has beautiful properties for sale.