Flathead County Sells Glacier Rail Park Parcels to Retire Debt

Flathead County Economic Development Authority aims to retire $5.7 million debt by selling remaining Glacier Rail Park parcels.

The authority is exiting property ownership at the 44-acre Glacier Rail Park in northeast Kalispell to focus on debt repayment and new initiatives. This marks a strategic shift from development to financial consolidation.

The board approved the sale of its two remaining parcels on May 20, following a May 4 public hearing with no attendees. Ownership of a 10.91-acre lot leased to CHS Mountain West Co-Op will transfer to the city of Kalispell. Glacier Rail Park, established eight years ago with federal and local investments, was designed to relocate rail-dependent businesses from downtown. Ex-Guard, encouraged by the authority in 2024, purchased lots and began manufacturing in April, leveraging existing city services. The Parkline Trail, a 1.6-mile repurposed railway corridor completed in 2022, connects key local roads and parks.

The authority plans to free resources for an as-yet-undetermined next project.

Montana businesses might view this transition as a signal of maturing industrial infrastructure in Flathead County. The shift away from property ownership could refocus economic development efforts on broader regional strategies, potentially influencing how similar rural areas balance asset management with growth ambitions.

Flathead County’s economic development arm aims to cap off Glacier Rail Park project
By HANNAH SHIELDS