January 4, 2010

 Happy Centennial Year, Glacier!

On December 31, 2009, the Belton Chalet brought in the new year, as well as the centennial of the Belton and of Glacier National Park. The historic chalet was the first of many chalets built by the Great Northern Railway. The Belton was completed in 1910 and opened to the public a mere two months after the park was designated. The New Year’s Eve evening began with a grand welcome by the Chalet’s staff in unique attire. Dressed to the nines in their historic ’swiss-like’ uniforms, guests were catered to with a luggage valet. Once arriving to your room, guests found champagne flutes with a bottle of bubbly awaiting.

The evening’s schedule was crafted as the following:

• Dinner marked with guest specific reservation time- in the Chalet Dining Room
• 6:00 pm-8:30 pm: Hors d’oeuvres in the Terrace Room
• 6:30 pm-9:30 pm: String Crossings in the Terrace Room
• 8:30 pm-10:30 pm: Old Time Photos in the Lobby
• 9:00 pm-10:30 pm: Dessert in the Terrace Room
• 9:30 pm-12:30 pm: Old Slouch Hat (band) in the Terrace Room
• 12:00 am: Champagne Toast in commemorative Centennial Flutes
• New Year’s Day Breakfast in the Chalet Dining Room

The evening proved to be memorable for all attendees. From top hats to historic hiking packs the guests followed suit in dressing the part. A delicious dinner in the Chalet Dining Room followed the String Crossings band in the Terrace Room. A traditional wave to the train that passed the Belton near 8 pm was something that everyone ran to the porch for– and no one could hold back dancing once the Old Slouch Hat band began strumming their strings. The night concluded with a clinking of commemorative centennial flutes as a toast to 100 years of the Belton Chalet and Glacier National Park.

Check out the pictures from this centennial commemorative kick-off event!

For more information about Glacier’s Centennial and our full calendar of activities, please visit: www.glaciercentennial.org