Great Northern Resort — Hotel in West Glacier

AS WEDDING VENUE: We chose Great Northern Lodge because we wanted to partner up with a local small business that would work with us and not try to pull a fast one. We were on a budget and the groom is a Montanan so we wanted to get married there.

Cathi was wonderful and super helpful up to the wedding day. She even worked with us on our budget by doing ticketed/cash bar. The wedding day and after communication really broke down. One issue was totally our fault and we did not dispute this at all, this has to do with the lawn. We happily paid the $400 that the landscaper quoted for that. Some of the other problems were a combination of our coordinators(I have a review for them too) and Cathi and some just Cathi.

My husband and I stayed 2 extra days after the wedding. One of the issues was a small amount of petals left in the aisle (you can see the photo, would have taken 5-10min to pickup ) one small box accidentally got left at site and rock that got acrylic paint on it (water and scrubbing would have come off in under 2 min). These could have been easily remedied by US in 30 minutes. One quick comment, but it was much easier to charge us $500. There was a communication breakdown on the wedding day between Cathi, caterer and our coordinator(who was supposed to manage this part) about disposal of trash. Cathi spoke to the caterer, but NEVER spoke to the coordinator (who Cathi knew was responsible to coordinate this to happen) or us, it might be easier to charge another $500. The bar ran out of our beers that we requested, we weren’t able to drink our own drinks at our own wedding. She also charged us an extra $360.00 for things not in the contract, which she later paid us back for, but that was sneaky. She also agreed to count the tickets, but she did not count them and charged us for the full amount.

It was the lack of communication to us or the coordinator of her frustration to try to remedy the issues. Things got real ugly afterwards, due to bottling the issues and blowing up with fees instead of talking to us or the coordinators. Complaining about making the tickets, even though she said “ Will you be creating your own “tickets”? Or will you need them to be created? I love doing fun stuff like that, so if you need, I’m happy to help!”. She made comments about our family and friends not being generous tippers and laid out the amount of tips she got from the night. That’s pretty unprofessional.

She made a very direct comment where she supposed things about our personal finance, playing down the $1000.00 of fees saying “The amount is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things.” Comparing it to a flight or a business class flight. One thousand dollars is a lot of money! And who flies business class?

This is all very unfortunate. We thought we were working with a small local business that would work with us and be fair with the issues, but it’s easier and more profitable to bottle it up and throw fees at the problem. Really unfortunate. :( :(

Response: If it was for the lawn that we paid separately $400 for that your landscaper quoted then what was the extra $500 we paid for? You said it was for floral, box and rock...

I was married here July 13th, 2019. Everything from beginning to end was so perfect. We planned everything from across the country and all of our guests were from out of state. We had all of the cabins rented and several of the lodge rooms rented. Cathi was SO accommodating from the second we started planning in June 2018. When we were worried about the fires, she offered us to change our wedding date with no penalty and totally understood. Cathi recommended our wedding band which ended up being the TOTAL highlight of our wedding. The weather was GORGEOUS. The lodge rooms are so big and spacious and I can't imagine how anyone could complain about not having a TV in the room! Who has time for that when you stay here?! We were able to lounge outside & there was a great drinking spigot out back which all of us used every morning. The proximity to the park cannot be beat. My husband and I stayed for 9 days while our wedding party stayed from Wednesday-Monday. On Sunday night the entire canyon lost power for a couple hours but honestly it added to the outdoor fun! We had a fire outside of the cabins and sat there talking and having the best time. We scheduled white water rafting with GN on Thursday and everyone had THE BEST TIME EVER, we immediately wanted to do it over again. The guides were amazing and catered to us as the bride and groom. The caboose is a wonderful place to grab a snack, they provided our brunch on Sunday which was lovely. The live music and grilled food on Friday evening was PERFECT, all of our guests sat outside and enjoyed the music, sliders, and drinks! The wedding site is unbelievable and our wedding photos and video are out of this world. Cathi allowed my husband to use all of the materials on the property to build our altar and it was such an amazing, unique, and special touch to our wedding day (even if all the flowers my husband hand picked and put up there died before we got married, just something to laugh about now!). Cathi is so laid back and easy. GN provided the bar/alcohol/staff and I can't tell you how much this added to our wedding day. Our bartender was so amazing and all our guests had so much fun with him. The only thing I regret is that I can't relive the day over and over and over. This was our second stay here, we stayed August 2018 to tour the wedding venue and hike in the park. We stayed in the cabins this time. I personally prefer the lodge rooms but the cabins are so adorable and cute and quaint. None of our guests complained about anything in the accommodations. All of our bridesmaids were able to get ready in the lodge and the groomsmen got ready in a cabin. It just couldn't of gone more perfectly. Cathi & everyone else at Great Northern, THANK YOU SO MUCH. We can't wait to come back. This will hands down forever be the best day...

My family had an incredible white water rafting experience in Columbia Falls , and it wouldn't have been the same without our fantastic guide, Kala! Not only was she from the same area as us, but her warm and friendly personality made us feel like we were rafting with a close friend.

Right from the start, Kala took the time to get to know us, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and excitement. Her passion for her home river and the sport of rafting was contagious, and it added an extra layer of enthusiasm to the entire adventure.

The safety check conducted by Kala was thorough and informative. She patiently explained all the essential safety guidelines, ensuring that we understood what to do in various situations. This attention to safety gave us the confidence to fully immerse ourselves in the thrilling experience ahead.

As we navigated through the rapids, two particular sections, "Jaws" and "Broken Bones," really stood out. Thanks to Kala's expert guidance, we successfully conquered these adrenaline-pumping challenges, and the rush of conquering them together as a team was unforgettable. Kala's knowledge of the river and her ability to guide us skillfully made the entire trip exhilarating yet safe.

The rafting company provided top-notch equipment, including helmets, vests, and paddles. It was evident that they prioritize the safety and comfort of their guests. The gear was in excellent condition, which added to the overall confidence we had in the rafting tour.

What made this experience truly exceptional was Kala's genuine connection with us. She shared interesting stories and facts about the area and its rich history, making the trip not just about rafting but also about appreciating the natural beauty of Middle Flathead River. It was evident that she truly loves what she does, and her passion enhanced every moment of the adventure.

Conquering the thrilling rapids of "Jaws" and "Broken Bones" together was a true bonding experience, and we felt safe and well-equipped with the provided helmets, vests, and paddles.

If you're looking for an unforgettable white water rafting adventure in Montana, we highly recommend choosing Kala as your guide. Her local knowledge, passion for rafting, and genuine connection with guests create an experience that will stay with you long after the ride is over. Thank you, Kala, and the entire rafting team, for an adventure of a lifetime! We can't wait to come back for more thrilling...