GLACIER NATIONAL PARK – Winter may be moving fast in Glacier National Park, but construction crews working on the reconstruction of Sperry Chalet are moving faster.
They’ve been able to get a roof on the chalet, a critical goal for this year’s work.
Contractors and suppliers have been hard at work since mid-summer, hoping to get the first phase of the reconstruction complete before the season ends. That’s involved numerous deliveries of building materials and supplies, both by air and ground.
The progress was nearly dealt a setback when snow hit this week, but contractors have been able to finish getting the roof structure onto the chalet, which will make it more weatherproof against winter storms. It will also help protect the walls which were still standing after last year’s fire.
“It’s really amazing when you think that just 3½ months ago the construction season began in earnest. To think about going from what was the ruin of the Sperry Chalet dormitory to a structure with a roof on it for the winter, it’s really quite remarkable what the construction team and everybody involved has been able to do,” said Glacier National Park Conservancy Executive Director Doug Mitchell.
The fund drive to pay for the reconstruction now tops $1.3 million toward the project’s $2.8 million goal. Whistling Andy Distillery is reporting this week sales from it’s “Spirit of Sperry” vodka has generated $30,000 toward that goal.
