Justin Burt

Big Fork Area Guide

Bigfork is located in the spectacular mountains of northwestern Montana and hugs a sparkling blue bay where the swift waters of the Swan River flow into Flathead Lake. This provides both residents and visitors alike with a scenic playground for fishing, boating and all varieties of water recreation. Bigfork is a charming community known as the art center of the Flathead Valley and offers more than 50 eclectic shops, 25 restaurants and 13 art galleries. World class art galleries, fine restaurants, a 27-hole golf course, live theatre and unique shops can all be found within a quaint Western setting. Bigfork was chosen as "One of the 50 Great Towns of the West" and designated as "One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns of the Nation," and was listed in National Geographic’s Guide to Small Town Escapes, Bigfork offers gourmet restaurants, fun shops, local character, beautiful natural surroundings, and a host of outdoor activities.

The town of Bigfork is a picturesque and charming place, with spectacular views of Swan Mountains that drop dramatically into the lake’s shores. The scenic Swan River Nature Trail provides easy hiking and biking just a few blocks from downtown making it a perfect starting point for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. As for golf enthusiasts, Eagle Bend is the only golf course to be rated #1 in Montana by Golf Digest for six consecutive years. Golf Digest also rates Eagle Bend in the top 50 in the United States.

Bigfork History

(The following information on Bigfork’s history has been directly sourced from: http://www.bigfork.org/bigfork-profile.html. To learn more, please click on the link provided in blue.)

The Blackfeet Indians crossed the Continental Divide to camp along the shores of Flathead Lake and Swan River each spring, and later the European settlers discovered the site as they crept west in search of new frontiers and new dreams.

It was less than 100 years ago that the town was platted by Everit Sliter in 1901 and officially became Bigfork, possibly because of its location where the Swan River, a "big fork" of the Flathead River system, rushes into the sprawling 195 square mile lake.

Sliter was instrumental in the development of the community, serving as postmaster, running the town's first hotel and general store and planting one of the first orchards. Bigfork Bay was a harbor for lake steamers that once navigated the Flathead.

The construction of the first dam, power plant and road by Bigfork Power and Light in the early 1900s along Swan River brought construction laborers, and heavy logging prior to World War I, securing the establishment of the little village of Bigfork.

There were a few small surges in growth throughout the years but the biggest changes occurred in the 1980s and 1990s when Montana became chic as it was heralded as the "The Last Best Place."

Eagle Bend Golf Course raised the profile of Bigfork, receiving design assistance and visits from golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

The area became a new home for returning Montanans who had gone elsewhere to build careers and for new residents from all walks of life seeking recreational second homes or permanent refuge from the crowded, harried urban life.

Today Bigfork's year round resident population is approximately 1,400.

Bigfork Events

(The following list of Bigfork events has been directly sourced from: http://www.bigfork.org/bigfork-event-calendar.php?monthID=9. To learn more about a particular event, please visit that event’s individual site.)

Bigfork Car Show
Come to Bigfork to experience our second annual car show. There is a $10 registration fee before August 1 and a $15 registration after that. All participants and all makes and models are welcome. Trophies will be awarded in many catagories and there will drawings throughout the day.

Bigfork Summer Playhouse
The Bigfork Summer Playhouse will be celebrating it's 48th season of the finest live professional repertory theatre in the Northwest.  BSP now has wonderful living facilities for the company members, Costume, prop and scenery storage, a full sized scene, paint and costume shop, an extra rehearsal space and a 400 seat theatre in which to perform.

Bigfork Whitewater Festival

The Bigfork Whitewater Festival involves international kayak racing on the 'Wild Mile' of the Swan River that runs through Bigfork. At the height of spring runoff, the 'Wild Mile' is considered a Class V whitewater. The event draws over 200 competitors along with several thousand spectators. There are festivities running throughout the weekend.

For more information on events in the area visit the events calendar by clicking here http://www.bigfork.org/bigfork-event-calendar.php?monthID=9

Bigfork Attractions

(The following list of attractions found in Bigfork has been directly sourced from: http://www.bigfork.org/bigfork-things-to-do.html. To learn more about a particular attraction, please visit that attraction’s individual site.)

Eagle Bend Golf
Eagle Bend Golf Clubis a 27-hole championship course located on the north shore of Flathead Lake. Eagle Bend is Montana’s only golf course to be rated #1 by Golf Digest for six consecutive years and in the top 50 in the United States. William Hull designed and built the original 18 holes. In 1995 “Nicklaus Design” designed and built the “Nicklaus Nine” which lives up to the Nicklaus reputation, with challenging golf and gorgeous views of Flathead Lake, the Swan Mountains and Glacier National Park. A combination of a full service restaurant and lounge, sculpted fairways, excellent greens, an outstanding practice facility and magnificent views, provide a unrivaled golf experience.

Bigfork Museum of Art & History
The Bigfork Museum of Art & History was founded in 1983 the roots of the organization trace back to 1977 when a group of forward-thinking individuals saw the need to foster the arts and established a community center in the small hamlet of Bigfork. The group purchased and renovated a gas station and proceeded to turn it into the Bigfork Art & Cultural Center which is now the Bigfork Museum of Art & History. 

We are a non-profit organization bringing exhibitions, programs and educational opportunities for all ages.  The Main Gallery is on a rotating schedule of Art and History featuring Montana artists and the historic Bigfork area.

The upper galleries are home to our historic exhibitions, featuring 100 years of Bigfork history in photographs and special exhibitions of Bigfork life,  Flathead Lake and the flora and fauna of the area. 

The Museum has a gift shop filled with Montana made products. This web site features some of those items. For current and previous exhibitions please scroll the menu bar to see our exciting variety of exhibitions.

For more information on attractions in the area click here

For more information on Bigfork, MT visit the chamber of commerce website by clicking here