Past and present blend perfectly in Kalispell, the hub of Montana’s
Flathead Valley, located at the junction of U.S. 93 and U.S.
2. Kalispell, the county seat of Flathead County, is Montana’s
seventh largest city and the largest town for 110 miles. Greater
Kalispell’s population in 2005 was an estimated 34,000
people, with over 82,000 in the county.
Founded in 1891, Kalispell is now a bustling small city and
home to much history, culture, commercial activity and outdoor
recreation. Old west charm, breathtaking scenery, bustling businesses,
a welcoming community, a casual lifestyle, and exceptional outdoor
recreation opportunities, it is no wonder that Kalispell was
named "The Best Mountain Town in America" by Mountain
Sports and Living magazine.
Art and culture is everywhere in Kalispell. Huckleberry, a 2000
pound carved bear, greets visitors at the corner of Main and
Center Streets, and murals grace historic buildings. There are
studios, galleries, art festivals, and cultural events all over
town. As the cultural center of the Flathead Valley, Kalispell
is home to the Conrad Mansion Museum, the Museum at Central School,
and the Hockaday Museum of Art. Kalispell hosts the Glacier Jazz
Stampede each October, and the city sponsors a Picnic in the
Park summer concert series in Depot Park. The Glacier Symphony
and Chorale performs in Kalispell and throughout the Flathead
Valley.
For shopping and services, Kalispell has it all with everything
from a quaint historic downtown district with unique local shops,
cafes, and fine dining, to major national retailers, banks and
services throughout town.
Kalispell is centrally located to the Flathead Valley's many
recreation attractions:
- 31 miles from Glacier National Park
- 22 miles from Hungry Horse Dam
- 17 miles from Whitefish and 23 miles from Whitefish Mountain Resort
- 9 miles north of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater
lake west of the Mississippi
But, there is no need to go far to experience nature. Plenty
of open space and recreation opportunities can be found in the
city’s more than 20 parks. The 38-acre Woodland Park, a
year round family favorite with a rose garden, rustic log gazebos,
log pavilion, picnic areas, two miles of walking trails, water
park, swimming pool, skate board park, and a large pond that
freezes for winter skating. Lawrence Park, which is on the road
to the 27-hole Buffalo Hill Golf course where the town’s
founder Charles Conrad once grazed his herd of buffalo, offers
walking trails, picnic areas, open playing fields, and playgrounds.
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce |
