Apgar Visitor Center is Relocated

Date: May 13, 2014
Contact: Denise Germann, 406 888 5838

The Glacier National Park Apgar Visitor Center operation is relocating to the existing Apgar Transit Center facility, and will begin daily operations Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

The new location will be identified as the Apgar Visitor Center and will provide visitor information services, pick-up and drop-off services for the park’s shuttle system and concession-operated tour and transportation services, retail sales managed by the Glacier National Park Conservancy and restroom facilities. The building is recognized as LEED Gold Certified.  The new location of the Apgar Visitor Center is located at the t-intersection approximately one mile north of the West Entrance Station on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The Glacier National Park Conservancy is assisting with the relocation. Superintendent Jeff Mow said, “The Conservancy has been instrumental in working with their donors to provide engineering and design expertise, materials and labor to retrofit the facility to serve as the Apgar Visitor Center.” Mow said he was impressed with the assistance from several local and regional businesses and appreciates the Conservancy’s leadership with this project.”

The small building that housed the visitor center in Apgar Village will have public restroom facilities available, but the main building will be closed. An analysis to determine the future use of that facility will begin later this year.
 
The park’s general management plan (1999) identified the construction of a West-side Discovery Center and Museum, but a lack of funding prevented such a facility. In 2007, the Apgar Transit Center was constructed to serve as a transit staging area and facilitate visitor access and orientation along the Going-to-the-Sun Road during road rehabilitation. It has been the park’s intention to relocate the existing west-side visitor center operations from Apgar Village to this area. To accommodate increased visitor use at the site, the parking area is being expanded, per an environmental assessment completed in 2012.

The park hosts three visitor centers, Apgar, St. Mary and Logan Pass. The opening and closing dates and times are as follows:

Apgar Visitor Center 

May 17 – June 13 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 
June 14 – September 1 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. 
September 2- October 5 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.  
October 6 – Spring 2015 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday/Sunday Only
  
Logan Pass Visitor Center  

As snow and road conditions allow – September 1 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
September 2 – September 21  9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  
St. Mary Visitor Center  

May 24 – June 28  8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
June 29 – August 16 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
August 17 – October 5 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.