Kalispell Convention and Visitors Bureau moves to temporary space

The Kalispell Convention and Visitors Bureau found a temporary new home last week, moving into the Main Street lobby of the Flathead Beacon.

The visitors center will operate out of the Beacon’s downtown office through Labor Day, according to Kalispell Chamber of Commerce President Lorraine Clarno.

The chamber-operated visitors center moved from its previous location — Kalispell’s historic Depot Park building — with Clarno citing activity by homeless people in the park as disrupting employees and visitors. The new location is one block south of the park.

Clarno said she called all downtown businesses who are chamber members to look for a temporary home while the chamber searches for new office space.

“Our board thinks it’s very important to stay downtown,” Clarno said. “The Kalispell Grand Hotel and the Beacon responded and had space.”

Although the chamber had initially planned on utilizing space in the hotel, lobby renovation work left the Beacon as the organization’s remaining choice.

Tristan Scott, managing editor of the Beacon, said the online news outlet was happy to help the visitors center stay downtown.

“We felt like as a good neighbor we would step up and help out,” he said. “We had the Main Street space and capacity so we thought it’d work out.”

Scott described the arrangement as a “handshake deal,” and said so far it has been a “good neighborly fit.”

The visitors center contains guides, maps and information about local attractions.

“It’s good for visitors and tourists, but also locals on how to use the Glacier vehicle reservation system or find alternatives [on days they can’t get into the park],” said Clarno.

The chamber’s board will be considering new office locations at their June 27 meeting, and the group hopes to relocate by the end of the year, according to Clarno.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.