Cowboy sign moved to new home

The Corral West Ranchwear cowboy that could be seen galloping alongside the former Gateway West Mall sign on U.S. 2 West in Kalispell has found a new home at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Fairgrounds maintenance worker Chip Bondurant hauled the “ole’ cowboy” to the fairgrounds Sept. 12.

The mechanical moving sign had been a familiar site in the Flathead Valley for many years. Corral West opened its doors in 1983. The store closed in 2008 two months after celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“The Gateway Community Center is pleased to be able to keep this longtime icon in our community,” said Sherry Stevens, executive director of United Way.

“We love to keep the heritage in the community and the fairgrounds is a great spot for him,” fairgrounds manager Mark Campbell said. “The first thing we want to do is get the sign restored and we’ll be working on that over the winter. We’re grateful for the gift and will certainly come up with a good way to put him on display.”