Nestled on the west side of Gunsight Mountain, in the western end of Glacier National Park, sits a Montana treasure known as the Sperry Chalet. Perched atop an alpine ledge and overlooking Lake McDonald and the Whitefish Range, there are well-worn trails and picturesque vistas to take in on your way to the chalet. The Sperry Chalet was built in 1913 by the Great Northern Railroad and is surrounded by craggy peaks and cascading waterfalls. The stone and wood building was built, primarily, with materials that were found on and around the property. It was completed and opened for reservations in 1914.

On August 10, 2017, a lightning strike started the Sprague fire in Glacier National Park. The fire would eventually consume over 16000 acres. In its path was the historic Sperry Chalet. The path of the fire was along the landmark Gunsight Trail, which is the main access trail to get to the chalet. It would be more than two months until the fire was contained.

After the Sprague Fire swept through the area, all that was standing of the Sperry Chalet was the stone shell. The walls were stabilized, in the hope that it would withstand the winter. In the spring of 2018, work began to recreate the 105-year-old chalet. Two crews would alternate weekly, hiking 7 miles to the building site. Materials were either flown in by helicopter or delivered by pack mule trains.

Great care has been taken to rebuild as close to the original as possible. Marks Lumber is proud to be a part of this historic endeavor. We provided timbers and planed lumber to help the chalet continue to be crafted with local building materials and authentic Montana goods.

In the fall of 2019, the Sperry Chalet was completed. Currently, they are preparing to open for the new year. They will be taking reservations starting in January 2020. Click here to find out more.

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