New Marina Cay owners have big plans for resort

The new owners of a Bigfork landmark — Marina Cay Resort — have big plans to improve the property and restore the community feel of the resort.

Robert and Beth Carette of Cut Bank took over ownership of Marina Cay in January and have been strategizing ever since about how to bring the community back to the resort.

The Carettes had been guests at the resort several times before and saw firsthand the private nature of the business. The last owners, who purchased the property four years ago, didn’t live nearby and the previous owners had elected to make the marina a private property. 

“It was somewhat disastrous for the business model,” Robert Carette said. “And the community, rightly so, had their issues with that. In the past this place was teeming, there were people everywhere.”

After assuming ownership, the Carettes began making changes right away — updating the offices, tiki bar and docks. But most importantly, Robert said, was relocating the owner’s office next to the front door and desk, bringing the interaction with visitors right to the management. The Carettes have even moved into a two-bedroom unit on the property.

The Carettes have a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry. Robert currently serves as the chairman of the Glacier Country regional tourism board, a seven-county tourism commission. In October, he was also elected to serve on the board of the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association. 

During their time in Cut Bank, Robert, originally from California, worked as a banker for the local Wells Fargo branch.

Beth, a Montana native, was a teacher for 15 years. They purchased and operated the East Glacier Motel and Cabins while continuing their careers in Cut Bank.

Beth said getting to know the visitors from around the world who came to see Glacier National Park was pivotal to their next business venture.

“We came here as a family, and when you meet people from this environment, everyone is just happy,” she said. 

In Cut Bank, Robert Carette became friends with members of the ELK LLC — LLew Jones and Kevin Wheeler — both from the nearby towns of Conrad and Valier, respectively. Jones, Wheeler and Ed Buttrey of Great Falls bought Marina Cay’s commercial assets in 2012 from Bay Club Inc.

Bay Club Inc. is a family corporation that continues to have a small ownership interest in Marina Cay. Though the corporation isn’t involved in the day-to-day operations of the resort, Bay Club is still involved in any expansion decisions, Carette said. 

Dan Averill was the original developer of Marina Cay. He began developing the resort in the early 1980s, and by 1995 Marina Cay encompassed five condominium buildings. The Marina Cay Homeowners Association operates those buildings.

Bay Club developed Marina Cay Estates a number of years ago, and those high-end condos are operated by a separate homeowners association.

It was an offhand comment Carette made after ELK LLC’s purchase of the Bigfork property that led to his acquisition in January

"I love that place,” Carette told the former owners. “If you ever decide to sell it, would you please let me know?"

Two and a half years later, he was laying out a purchase that would take a year and a half to close. The buyout was slow and quiet, he said, the way he wanted it.

An unusually warm spring and hot summer has kept the Marina Cay staff busy since the annual Spartan Race in May. The marina has partnered with local services such as Able Fishing Charters and Dock of the Bay boat rentals. These collaborations, Carette said, have been instrumental in keeping the workload from punishing his employees. 

Carette feels lucky to have some experience returning from previous years. General Manager Rebecca King, Front-of-House Manager Spencer Ryan and Kitchen Manager Brook Robison have all returned from last season, giving Carette an edge in his new operation.

“We’ve got a lot of our staff returning from last year, which is unusual for a seasonal business,” Carette said. “[These are] people from last year that were key players in somewhat of a tumultuous year for the business. So staffing wise, we’ve been very fortunate.”

In order to develop more appeal to the local populous, the Carettes wanted to showcase local music. One of the marina’s first acts, Jameson and the Sordid Seeds, brought fans from their hometown of Whitefish. 

“That was one of the ideas Local bands bring a local following, and that’s who we want to help discover this place,” Beth said. “So that’s one little step we want to make. We could have spread ourselves thin, but it was our chef who said let’s do one thing, let’s do it well and then just keep building from there.”

Robison said he’s looking forward to the new ownership that’s given him the freedom to create a new menu. He has ditched the steak dinner for a healthy plate of crab legs. His favorite new items on the menu are the clams or the gyro.

“It's great comfort food,” Robison said. 

Marina Cay recently opened its food services to the public seven days a week, including a new breakfast buffet from 7 to 10 a.m.

For more information on musical acts to come, visit www.marinacay.com or call 837-5861.