Glacier Country

1kalispellarea.gifTRAVEL_MT2004-12-22T11:43:04266YVISITOR INFORMATIONhttp://glacier.visitmt.comGlacier Country10002740<DIV class="cityaspfont"><ul class= "fotocolumn"><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Flathead_Lake_View_Proctor.jpg" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE>Flathead LakePhoto courtesy: Lonie Stimac</li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/proctor_church.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE>Old ChurchPhoto courtesy: MTOT</li></ul> The Kootenais moved to the area between Lake Mary Ronan and Flathead Lake in 1869, prompting the federal government to open a commissary near what later became Proctor. The Kootenai referred to the area as Fish Trap. Clarenece E. Proctor arrived in the area in 1883 and established a ranch and store. Originally called Dayton, the town prospered, but in 1910, with the opening of the Flathead Indian Reservation to non-Indian homesteaders, the residents realized a location on Flathead Lake would be better for business and moved the town 2 miles to the lakeshore. With it went the name of the town. Residents of the old town petitioned and received approval to open a new post office and rename their town Proctor, after its most prominent citizen.(Copyright 2009, Montana Historical Society: Montana Place Names from Alzada to Zortman, Montana Historical Society Research Center Staff)<a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3071">Big Arm Bay</a>, of <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=11891">Flathead Lake</a> is a popular jump-off point to <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3074">Wild Horse Island</a>. Big Arm's long pebble beach is popular with sunbathers and swimmers. Camping under a stand of mature ponderosa pine and juniper is a major attraction.<a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3077">Lake Mary Ronan State Park</a> offers camping, swimming, fishing, and boating with boating ramp. Just seven miles west of Flathead Lake off the beaten path and shaded by Douglas-fir and western larch, this park provides a quiet opportunity to pick huckleberries, hunt mushrooms, and spot interesting birds. Trails lead into the surrounding area which abounds in wildflowers and wildlife.<map name="nearbycities"><area shape="rect" alt="Eureka, Montana" coords="12,6,78,19" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=109"><area shape="rect" alt="Fortine, Montana" coords="24,24,70,39" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=125"><area shape="rect" alt="Trego, Montana" coords="7,45,40,62" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=331"><area shape="rect" alt="Stryker, Montana" coords="48,46,93,61" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=318"><area shape="rect" alt="Olney, Montana" coords="58,62,98,73" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=244"><area shape="rect" alt="Babb, Montana" coords="194,24,225,38" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=13"><area shape="rect" alt="St. Mary, Montana" coords="204,38,249,53" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=374"><area shape="rect" alt="East Glacier, Montana" coords="223,89,248,137" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=99"><area shape="rect" alt="Apgar, Montana" coords="127,60,165,72" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=9"><area shape="rect" alt="Essex, Montana" coords="173,133,200,151" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=107"><area shape="rect" alt="West Glacier, Montana" coords="133,73,206,87" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=375"><area shape="rect" alt="Polson, Montana" coords="58,221,104,243" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=260"><area shape="rect" alt="Hot Springs, Montana" coords="19,211,56,231" href=219213PROCTORGLACIER92Camp Tuffit119739Lake Mary Ronan Lodge & Resort Restaurant120236Relax at Lake Mary Ronan120927Perch Assault-Lake Mary Ronan120930Snappy's Lake Mary Ronan Derby1MT59929, 59914