This
is the place - Polson, Lake County, Montana - situated in the beautiful Mission
Valley and Flathead Lake region. The town of 4000+ is found at the southern end
of Flathead Lake and can be reached by US Highway 93 from the north or south or
MT Highway 35 coming down from Bigfork. Polson is the county seat of Lake
County, which has a population of over 27,000. About two-thirds of the county
land lies within the Flathead Indian Reservation. Other towns in the area
include Ronan, Pablo, St. Ignatius, Big Arm, Dayton, and Elmo.
Flathead Lake is the largest natural
freshwater lake in the western United States. It is about 28 miles long and
ranges from 7 to 15 miles wide for a total area of approximately 200 square
miles.
It
is fed from the north by the Flathead and Swan Rivers and empties into the
Flathead River at Polson on the south end. Another of the lake's distinctions
is a history of reported sightings of the Flathead Lake Monster, perhaps not as
well known as the Loch Ness Monster but with a devoted fan base nonetheless.
About five miles down the river is Kerr Dam, a 501 feet long, 205 feet wide
hydroelectric plant with a generating capacity of 196 megawatts.
Points of interest for nature lovers include the Pablo National Wildlife
Refuge, Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and the National Bison Range. The
Bison Range is an 18,500 acre preserve with 350 to 500 head of American Bison.
The informative visitor center is the starting point for self-guided car tours
of the habitat.
The
Mission Valley area is a prime spot for year-round recreation, which makes it a
destination for tourists and vacationers. Flathead Lake and its opportunities
for fishing, swimming, and boating attract people to the area in the warm
summer months. There are several golf courses in the area and several museums.
In the winter, snow enthusiasts enjoy the proximity to Blacktail and Big
Mountain ski areas. Glacier National Park is approximately 80 miles to the
north.
There is definitely something to be said for living in an area where others
come to vacation. The natural beauty is unparalleled; even long-time residents
get a thrill when they crest Polson Hill and catch sight of the lake stretching
northward through the valley. More and more people are discovering the charms of
making northwest Montana their home... and that's where the professionals of
Lambros Real Estate's Polson office come in. We're here to help you find your
place in the "last best place".