Lake McDonald Lodge sees a $3 million makeover

The Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park has always been a grand place. But after a six-month long, $3 million renovation, the guest rooms and cabins have never looked better or been more comfortable as the lodge opened last weekend.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts in cooperation and oversight from the Park Service paid for the renovations as part of its long-term contract to run the lodges in Glacier, Xanterra general manager Marc Ducharme explained during a tour last week.

The rooms were stripped down to bare studs and rooms were completely renovated, including electrical, plumbing, heating systems paint and furnishings. The project was 60 percent planning, 40 percent production, said John and Mark Casalegno, of Hammerquist and Casalegno, general contractors for the project.

The firm spent a full month planning the project before a hammer was ever swung.

Since Xanterra won the Park concessions contract in 2014, the firm has done several projects for the company, including its headquarters in Columbia Falls, a new garage for the red bus fleet and several park properties. When all is said and done, Xanterra will have upgraded and renovated every property it operates in Glacier, Ducharme said.

Crews were working last week on the rooms at the Rising Sun Motor Inn and cabins. The Village Inn was upgraded last year to a ‘60s motif.

As renovation of the Many Glacier Hotel is underway, Xanterra’s portion of that project will be to upgrade and refurnish the rooms there as well.

The Casalegnos credited the subcontractors for the work.

“We took a lot of pride in this project,” Mark said. “It (Glacier) is our park. They went the extra mile.”

Project manager was Lori Westphal.

Bigfork interior designer Jane Starr worked with the Park Service and Xanterra on selecting the decor, choosing rustic furniture built by Fireside Lodge Furniture Co. of Minnesota.

Step into a room and it’s like stepping back into the early ‘20s and ‘30s, save for the modern shower stall in the bathroom.

 Except for a new roof a few years ago, the last time the 102 -year-old lodge saw renovations was in 1989.