Justin Burt

White Fish Area Guide

The city of Whitefish is located at the foot of Whitefish Mountain, which was formerly known as Big Mountain, and is the travel destination spot for skiers in the United States. Visitors have the option to stay in Whitefish or take the short trip up the brand new paved road to the summit with ski-in/ski-out accommodations right on the mountainside. Whitefish itself has so much to offer that it takes more than one day just to truly experience it all.

Whitefish offers shuttle services from your lodging up to the mountain and back again, making it possible to enjoy skiing on your own time. With dozens of shops, cafes and bars to choose from within walking distance of each other, visitors are able to walk the streets and mingle with other visitors and locals alike. The hometown atmosphere is contagious and soon you will be smiling and greeting everyone you meet on the streets. The service and hospitality of the local businesses is top notch and will keep you coming back year after year.

Whitefish History

(The following information on Whitefish’s history has been directly sourced from http://www.bigskyfishing.com/Montana-Info/whitefish_history.shtmfor your convenience.)

Whitefish, MT, began rather late in life as far as towns go. While people had been living around the area of Whitefish prior to the arrival of the railroad, primarily doing logging, no official town existed. However, in 1901, it was announced that the Great Northern Railway would build through what is now Whitefish and establish a new division point. Following this announcement, over the next 3 years, clearing for a new town site was done and materials for the construction of the site flowed in. In 1904, the Great Northern Railway officially arrived in Whitefish – marking the official date of the birth of Whitefish.

Whitefish was initially called “Stumptown”, and for good reason. Before the arrival of the railroad and people, the area around Whitefish was heavily wooded (and really still is today). To make room for a town site, a huge number of trees had to be cut down, all of which left stumps behind. These stumps created problems almost immediately in the form of creating traffic problems and making it a pain for new additional construction – as all these stumps had to be painfully removed.

Happily, the name “Stumptown” never really stuck – with the official name becoming Whitefish in a few years. Whitefish, as it dated to the arrival of the Great Northern Railroad, was not surprisingly a railroad town. The first buildings were all built around the railroad – and for much of the next 40 years – the railroad would be one of the towns’ biggest employers. Additional industry in and around Whitefish consisted mainly of logging – done up in the thickly forested mountains and hills that lie just outside of town.

Following the arrival of the railroad, Whitefish grew quite quickly. The influx of railroad workers, loggers and trappers combined to give Whitefish a solid foundation (unlike many of the boom/bust mining towns that died off once the gold ran out). Yet, despite its beautiful location at the base of a big mountain and having a beautiful lake a long stones throw away from downtown, Whitefish for most of the 20th century remained a pretty quiet place. While employment with the railroad declined a bit over the years, new industries to cater to tourists helped keep Whitefish relatively healthy economically.

Then, beginning in the 1980’s – and accelerating in the 1990’s and continuing today – Whitefish began to get recognized for its spectacular setting. The towns close proximity to Glacier National Park, the ski area that lied just out of town and a general boom in “trophy home” construction that happened throughout Montana in the 1990’s, greatly fueled the town’s growth.

Whitefish Parks & Recreation

Whitefish is glad to be home to an excellent parks and recreation department that works hard to support all Whitefish citizens in their parks and recreational needs. By offering numerous well-kept parks and exceptional recreational activities, Whitefish Parks and Recreation’s department offers something for everyone.

For the Whitefish Parks & Recreation Department website click here

Whitefish Events

(The following information on Whitefish’s annual and semi-annual events has been directly sourced from: http://www.whitefishchamber.org/whitefish_event_calendar.php. Please visit the link to learn more.)

Annual Glacier Classic Arts & Craft Fair & Majestic Valley Arena
Date: November 14, 2009 - November 15, 2009

Come and enjoy over 100 vendors from around the Pacific Northwest! You will find anything from jewelry, western wear, photography, fine art, pottery and wonderful foods to sample and purchase. Get your Christmas shopping done early!!

Oktoberfish
Oktoberfish, is the 2nd Annual Fundraising Event for Stumptown Art Studio,the local non-profit community art center. Tamarack Brewing Company of Lakeside brings the Biergarten to you and entertainment for the night is provided by Big Fish Radio. Tickets are $50 per person. This includes a souvenir bierstein or wineglass, complimentary beer and wine tasting, and “dinner by the bite” provided by area restaurants. There will be wine for sale by the case, raffle prizes and a Silent Art Auction. Event will be held outdoors on Karrow Avenue in Whitefish

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

Whitefish Attractions

(The following information on Whitefish’s attractions has been directly sourced from: http://www.explorewhitefish.com/adventure_in_whitefish.php. Please visit them on the web for more information.)

Gallery Nights Art Walk
Enjoy refreshments, appetizers, and experience the art of Whitefish. First Thursdays May through October.

Stumptown Art Studio
We are a non-profit art center offering paint-your-own-pottery, art classes, art supplies, as well as unique one of a kind gifts.

Whitefish Mountain Resort
We are a family-friendly winter destination for skiers and snowboarders. In the summer, the mountain offers world-class mountain biking, hiking, and fun-filled activities.

For more information on attractions in Whitefish click here

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

For the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce website click here

For the Whitefish Convention & Visitors Bureau website click here