A Montana company has landed a $4.74 million contract to finish reconstruction of the Sperry Chalet, which was burned practically to the ground by the Sprague wildfire in 2017 but whose resurrection quickly became embraced by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

Sperry was destroyed in a matter of hours during the evening of August 31 by flames from a forest fire that left behind only the blackened stone skeleton of one of the park system's most unique lodgings. The Glacier Conservancy responded quickly to see the rock walls stabilized before winter arrived, while Zinke and the National Park Service committed to rebuilding the backcountry way station.

Last summer Dick Anderson Construction won a $4 million contract to begin the initial stages of rebuilding the chalet. The effort included foundation work to stabilize and level the interior structure, with the ultimate goal of supporting a roof. After the foundation was constructed, the main work include seismic stabilization through the construction of the interior walls, floors, and roof framing.

The construction company also won the bid to complete construction of the lodge, whose history dates to 1913-14, when workers raised the two-story Sperry Chalet near the lip of a cirque with a panoramic view into the heart of Glacier National Park. The chalet was one of nine that the Greater Northern Railway built in the national park.

Park Service staff at Glacier expect that work this year will begin in early July and continue through September, weather permitting. The second and final phase of the project will include masonry repairs, the permanent roof, and all other interior finishes to complete the building and ready it for visitor use. It’s anticipated that the chalet will be ready for public overnight stays in 2020.

Rebuilding of the Sperry Chalet on its original site was made possible because of the quick response and financial support of the Glacier National Park Conservancy in the amount of $396,148 to date. Immediately after the fire, the Conservancy raised significant funds for a “Phase Zero” emergency stabilization and preservation of the chalet’s stone masonry walls before winter set in. The Conservancy then provided subsequent philanthropic funding for Phase 1 construction and monitoring overflights to check on the status of the half-completed chalet as it weathered the winter. The Conservancy will contribute an additional $236,400 towards Phase 2.

“I am incredibly pleased to announce the second and final phase of the Sperry Chalet rebuilding project,” said Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow. “We look forward to working with Dick Anderson again. They provided exceptional service to the National Park Service and the public last year.”

“We stand at the threshold of an historic accomplishment,” said Doug Mitchell, Glacier National Park Conservancy executive director. “This remarkable achievement shows the power of a public private partnership where all of us are pulling together to write the next chapter of Sperry Chalet and Glacier National Park history.”

Belton Chalets, Inc. will operate the Sperry Chalet Dining Room again this summer, serving work crews and the public. Lunch and a la carte services will be available 11 am - 5 pm. Breakfast and dinner will be available to the public via reservation with Belton Chalets, Inc. by calling (888) 345-2649. Park concessioner Swan Mountain Outfitters will offer horseback rides to the Sperry area on weekends.

The NPS is rebuilding the Sperry Chalet Dormitory at its original site within the original stone masonry walls. The design rehabilitates the chalet dormitory reflecting its period of significance (1914-1949). The visitor experience will be very similar to what it has been for decades by using as much of the remaining historic fabric, and replicating historic finishes where practicable.