Justin Burt

Kalispell Area Guide

At the heart of the magnificent Rocky Mountains lies Kalispell, the largest city of Northwest Montana with a population of approximately 22,000. This area lies a mere half-hour drive away from Glacier National Park and only fifteen minutes from Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Kalispell is a progressive, thriving community with a diverse economy that is small-business oriented and growing. Kalispell is the very essence of Montana’s second-fastest growing county, Flathead County, and is encompassed by 2.3 million acres of the federally protected Flathead National Forest. Kalispell is the county seat of Flathead County and its name means “flat land above the lake” in Salish. In 2004, Kalispell was named the most diverse, balanced economy in the Rocky Mountain West in the Colorado College State of the Rockies Report.

Kalispell History

Kalispell was founded in 1891 by James J. Hill as the direct result of the westward expansion of the Great Northern Railroad. The first railroad car pulled into Main Street, downtown Kalispell on New Year’s Day 1892 and marked the city’s true beginning. A massive celebration took place with the train car’s arrival and a silver stake made of melted down silver coins was nailed into the center of the tie to mark the beginning. The railroad brought many tourists, pioneers and businessmen to Kalispell and added a burst of growth the city would never have known otherwise. As years went by, Kalispell became a booming industrial city with farmers, sawmills, flour mills and trade. Even today, the City of Kalispell continues to grow in population and stature. Kalispell is also home to the nation’s second oldest helicopter ambulance service in the nation.

Kalispell Parks and Recreation

The Kalispell City Parks and Recreation Department provides leisure recreation opportunities and facilities, maintains parks and green spaces in an effort to enrich the lives of citizens and visitors. The Parks and Recreations of Kalispell gives the community the chance to build relationships and have fun together while increasing everyone’s quality of life.

For the Parks and Recreation website click here

Kalispell Events

Kalispell is home to many exciting events that are sure to keep you and your family busy all year long! Come check out Dayton Day or the Annual Christmas celebration for fun-filled memories here in Kalispell!

Dayton Day
Put on by the Mission Mountain Winery, Dayton Day at the Winery is a free event held Saturday, September 12 th from 10am to 5pm. Dayton Day is all about learning the pleasurable synergies created by pairing certain foods with wine. The event festivities include Bazaars, Parades, Sailboat rides, Barbecues and wine tasting, along with demonstrations of how to pair cheese and wine. To learn more about Dayton Day, please visit the event site on the web: http://www.missionmountainwinery.com.

Annual Christmas at the Mansion Craft and Gift Bazaar
The Annual Christmas and Mansion Craft and Gift Bazaar is a one of a kind event. Visitors can enjoy the beautifully decorated Victorian-ear Conrad Mansion Museum and the opportunity to purchase some of the finest handmade crafts in Western Montana. To find out more about this unique event, please go online and visit their website at: http://www.conradmansion.com.

For a complete list of events in Kalispell visit the events calendar by clicking here

Kalispell Attractions

Kalispell offers great attractions for everyone in the family. Whether you choose to visit the Hockaday Museum of Art of the Conrad Mansion, you’ll be making memories here in Kalispell that you won’t want to forget!

Hockaday Museum of Art
Originally built as Kalispell's first public library with funding by Andrew Carnegie, this handsome turn-of-the century building has been home to the Hockaday Museum of Art since 1969. After its conversion to an art gallery, the building was renamed the Hockaday Museum of Art to reflect its new primary focus on the art and culture of Montana and the artists of Glacier National Park. Besides its permanent collection by Montana artists, the Hockaday rotates exhibits of works by nationally renowned and emerging artists. Permanent exhibits include "Crown of the Continent: Glacier National Park," spotlighting significant works by photographers and painters, along with collectibles and vintage maps featuring the rich art and history of the park.

Throughout the year the museum offers classes and workshops for children and adults, along with outreach and artists-in-residence programs. Children can also enjoy hands-on activities in the Discovery Gallery. The Off the Wall Gallery offers a great selection of unique gifts, from pottery to jewelry, Montana art and history books, cards, T-shirts and artwork by the artists of the Flathead Valley. The Hockaday also hosts Northwest Montana's largest and longest-running art fair, Arts in the Park, every year on the fourth weekend in July in Depot Park. The three-day juried art show attracts more than 100 artists from 12 states and Canada, along with wonderful food fare and great live entertainment.

Conrad Mansion
On the National Register of Historic Places, the Conrad Mansion stands as one of the most outstanding examples of luxurious living and period architecture in the Pacific Northwest. The 26 room, 13,000-square foot Norman-style mansion was completed in 1895. The mansion's eight sandstone fireplaces, leaded, bottle and Tiffany-style stained glass windows, and bedrooms, with imported marble lavatories, sleigh beds and canopied four-posters, appear today as they did when the Conrad family resided there. The house also features a dumbwaiter, built-in fire hoses, electronic call box communication system and Italian onyx drinking fountains. The Great Hall, with its massive native stone fireplace and golden oak staircase, frames a sweeping view of the hall from above. Here the Conrads' legendary two-story Christmas tree towered, ablaze with hundreds of beeswax candles. The beautiful scene is re-created each October during "Christmas at the Mansion," a three-day social event and Victorian holiday bazaar.

For a complete list of attractions in Kalispell click here

For more information on Kalispell MT visit the official website by clicking here

For the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce website click here