Glacier lodge owner may buy Grouse Mountain

Glacier Park Inc. is negotiating a possible purchase of Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, GPI's president and general manager confirmed Tuesday.

"I can tell you that we are interested in owning it. It would very much complement the properties we own around the park," Cindy Ognjanov said from her office in Phoenix.

"There has been no definitive agreement and no sale," she said, adding that those involved with the negotiations are bound by nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. "Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to say much right now."

Glacier Park Inc. operates the major lodges in and near Glacier National Park, including Many Glacier Hotel, Lake McDonald Lodge and Glacier Park Lodge, plus the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Buzz Crutcher, co-owner of Grouse Mountain Lodge, said last week that his family and Tim Grattan "have been involved with Grouse Mountain Lodge since its beginning more than 26 years ago. I'm always looking for ways to improve Grouse Mountain Lodge, my employees' well-being and our guests' experience. Exploring relationships with other like-minded companies is an option we're considering at this time. Any other comment at this time would be premature."

Built on U.S. 93 in Whitefish adjacent to the Whitefish Lake Golf Club, Grouse Mountain has 145 guest rooms. Depending on the time of year, rooms rent from $109 in the fall to $205 in the peak summer season.

Viad, the parent company of Glacier Park Inc., also owns Brewster, a Canadian tourism company. In addition, Viad owns three companies that specialize in events and special marketing displays and campaigns.