Glacier Park Inc. purchases West Glacier, Apgar land, businesses

The company that ran Glacier National Park's visitor services for over three decades has purchased more than 200 acres and several businesses in West Glacier and Apgar from the family that has owned the property for nearly 70 years.

Glacier Park Inc. president Cindy Ognjanov tells the Hungry Horse News that details of Tuesday's sale will be made public in future corporate filings. The 150 people employed by the Lundgren family will keep their jobs, she said.

GPI bought 199 acres in West Glacier, along with the West Glacier Motel and Cabins, West Glacier Restaurant and Bar, West Glacier Mercantile, West Glacier Gift Shop, staff housing and other guest services. The company also purchased 3.8 acres in Apgar, along with the Apgar Village Lodge, Cedar Tree Gift Shop and staff housing.

Operating partners Bill Lundgren, Rob Lundgren and Kathy Lundgren confirmed the sale of the West Glacier Mercantile Co.

The sale gives GPI property on both sides of the park, where it had the concessions contract and ran the red bus fleet for the past 32 years.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts was awarded a 16-year concessionaire contract in Glacier that began in January.

GPI also owns and operates St. Mary Lodge & Resort, Glacier Park Lodge, Motel Lake McDonald and Prince of Wales Hotel, located in and around Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks. It also owns the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish.

"This addition perfectly complements our existing operations in and around Glacier National Park," Ognjanov said in a statement.

She said GPI looks forward to carrying on the traditions the Lundgren family established in West Glacier.