Flathead forest to sell property in Hungry Horse

The Flathead National Forest has a green light to sell 92 acres, including the Hungry Horse Ranger Station and outbuildings, with proceeds going toward construction of a new ranger station.

The sale, recently approved by Regional Forester Abigail Kimbell, will be carried out in the next few months in an online auction through the federal General Services Administration, Hungry Horse District Ranger Jimmy DeHerrera said.

"Now we're poised to move forward with it," DeHerrera said of the sale, which has been planned for the last couple years.

Revenue from the sale will go toward construction of a new ranger station to house the offices of the Hungry Horse, Glacier View and Spotted Bear ranger districts.

The new station will be built on national forest land southeast of the current station on U.S. 2 in Hungry Horse.

The sale will include 92.2 acres on the fringes of Hungry Horse, the ranger station and six outbuildings. A sewer system that serves the administrative site will be abandoned and a new system will be installed.

With the sale to be advertised this spring, construction of the new ranger station may get under way this fall, DeHerrera said.

"More than likely, it will be a year from now," he said.

Designs for the new building are still being developed.

"We're anticipating having to lease our current office from the new owner for a short period of time," DeHerrera said.

The value of the land and buildings to be sold have not been estimated, DeHerrera said, and it's unclear if a minimum bid will be set by the government.

"I don't know if we'll set a minimum bid," he said. "There's been a lot of interest in this parcel already, so we're expecting it will be pretty competitive."

The new ranger station is not expected to be occupied until 2007.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com