Historic Tamarack Lodge History

Built in 1907, our Lodge began its life of service to the community as Glacier National Park's visitor center at its original location behind the railway station at West Glacier (or Belton, as it was then known).  In 1949, with the formation of West Glacier and the decision to build a school in the area, the lodge was sold and purchased by the Rowles family who dismantled it log by log and moved it on logging trucks to its present location.  Prior to the arrival of the lodge, the only building on the property was a trapper's cabin located in the current position of the Griz cabin.  The lodge was rebuilt by its new owner and was the home of the Rowles family for many years who lived in one room of the lodge during the busy summer months and opened the lodge itself as a restaurant famous for its chicken dinners and tv (which in those days, even with static snow, was quite the attraction!).

The Lodge has always played host to travellers and passers by and provided locals with a meeting place and entertainment.  Through the years it has hosted many weddings, dances and social gatherings and was even once used as a roller skating rink!

Stories of black bears in the well house, escaped llamas and construction drama are also a charming part of its history and identity and we are always interested to hear the personal stories of past owners and our guests who now visit from all over the world.

The lodge continues to provide thousands of guests from all over the world a truly wonderful experience in keeping with the spirit of the Montana Mountains in which it resides.

We welcome your stories to add to our library and, as we learn more, we will continue to update this page for the benefit of generations of visitors to come.