Isaac Walton Inn, Montana

[Everydaymatters]

Their website is gorgeous. It looks like a train buff's type of place. The staff stands on the porch and waves at all the trains. Looks like one of those nice, quaint places I'd like to visit.

Anyone been there?

 

[AlanB]

Their website is gorgeous. It looks like a train buff's type of place. The staff stands on the porch and waves at all the trains. Looks like one of those nice, quaint places I'd like to visit.
Anyone been there?

I've seen it from the EB, but never set foot inside. And it's not just the staff that waves, all guests are encouraged to wave at the EB if they are on the porch or the grounds in front of the Inn.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I didn't know the guests were also waving. I used to be the outdoors type until my lung started giving me trouble. I wish I could go there and do the hiking like I used to. It looks like a very welcoming, quaint, inviting place to stay.

 

[yarrow]

i have eaten there. it is a wonderful place. quite expensive for a family. winter before last we took the eb to belton(west glacier,mt)and stayed in a cabin of the belton chalet, the original gn glacier park hotel. a trip to remember. the winter rates were very reasonable(much more so than izzak walton)and all the trains we could wish for right outside our window. plus cross country skiing.

 

[Chuck]

It was formerly an employee hotel for the Great Northern employees before it was taken over by the present owners, who fixed it up and did a great job. The accomodations are fairly spartan, but it is what it is. There is a little pool table and bar in the basement, and the small restaurant on the first floor. There are lots of hummingbirds in the summer time. In the winter the cross country skiers take over the area and there are miles of groomed trails.

Across the tracks there are 4 cabooses that can be rented out. There is now a chain link fence on that side of the track, and the pedestrian bridge is fairly new. Guess the BNSF figured it was slightly hazardous to have hotel guests cross the track at grade level.

Essex is a long way from anywhere, but it is a great place to go to get away. I do not believe there is cell phone coverage there yet. It is also accessible by Amtrak, the only place I know of like that except maybe the Grand Canyon, where Williams Junction is a limo ride away from the Fray Marcos hotel and the Grand Canyon Railway station.

 

[RailFanLNK]

Hey EDM, I too have tripped across that place on the internet and will be staying there when I take the EB. I don't know if I'm going to have enough funds next year, but my next major Amtrak trip will be the CZ to Chicago and then the EB to SEA and back to CHI or drive from Lincoln NE to Fargo ND and then take the EB to SEA and back. I plan on staying there. Looks like the perfect place to unwind!

 

[Chuck]

Forgot to mention that there are rental cars available at the Inn, although they were not the unlimited mileage type when I last stayed there (Whitefish has better rental car deals). You can use it as a jumping off spot for day trips up to the Park, or there are a lot of nifty railfan locations that are close enough not to exceed your daily mileage limitations.

About a month ago I dropped by for lunch but did not get to stay this time. There were two of the restored red park tourmobiles parked out front of the lodge. Don't know if they regularly go by or if this was just for a special event (there was a wedding going on).

Summer is obviously the best time for train watching. Boy those days sure to get short fast in northern Montana. The only time you will see Train 7 still in daylight is in the middle of the summer, and even then the shadows of the mountains start to make photography interesting.

 

[railfangns]

I have stayed at the izaak walton several times including the railfan weekend they call essexpress in

early may.It is my favorite place to stay when i am on vacation.True there are no radios,tv sets or phones

in the guest rooms and i dont believe cell phone service can be expected there due to the mountains all

around essex.Waving at the trains is fun i love to sit or stand on the porch and wave at the BNSF trains and

amtraks empire builder as they pass by.The engineer on the builder usually blows the horn and waves

back to us.The food is delicious perhaps a bit pricy but sitting by the windows and watching the trains pass

makes it worth the price. They have pay phones near the doors and you can buy a paper outside from a

rack.If you want a peaceful relaxing place to have a vacation then the izaak walton inn is for you.Try the

essexpress weekend if you love trains.sometimes on saturday we catch the builder in essex and ride it

over to havre mt or shelby mt spend some time there then catch the builder or the inn picks us up in their

vans.Easy place to walk anywhere outside the inn i love to walk down to the main road and enjoy the

views.The inn is always neat and clean and the little gift shop is fun to explore.

 

[RailFanLNK]

I was just on Trip Advisor and there was great compliments about the Inn. Sounds like a gem to me.

 

[AmtrakFan]

It was formerly an employee hotel for the Great Northern employees before it was taken over by the present owners, who fixed it up and did a great job. The accomodations are fairly spartan, but it is what it is. There is a little pool table and bar in the basement, and the small restaurant on the first floor. There are lots of hummingbirds in the summer time. In the winter the cross country skiers take over the area and there are miles of groomed trails.
Across the tracks there are 4 cabooses that can be rented out. There is now a chain link fence on that side of the track, and the pedestrian bridge is fairly new. Guess the BNSF figured it was slightly hazardous to have hotel guests cross the track at grade level.

Essex is a long way from anywhere, but it is a great place to go to get away. I do not believe there is cell phone coverage there yet. It is also accessible by Amtrak, the only place I know of like that except maybe the Grand Canyon, where Williams Junction is a limo ride away from the Fray Marcos hotel and the Grand Canyon Railway station.

Yes BNSF use to let you be able to cross, I remember when we were last there in 2000, my Dad got several Photos of Trains right next to the walkway area. It is a great place to go especially if you don't want anyone one bothering you on your Cell Phone.

 

[mimi]

Their website is gorgeous. It looks like a train buff's type of place. The staff stands on the porch and waves at all the trains. Looks like one of those nice, quaint places I'd like to visit.
Anyone been there?

I have stayed there. It was July and very pretty. Some of the surrounding park roads were still closed because the snow had not left. I love the sound of train engines, which one can hear all night. Great food also. I would love to go by Amtrak next visit.

 

[wisEBfan]

Their website is gorgeous. It looks like a train buff's type of place. The staff stands on the porch and waves at all the trains. Looks like one of those nice, quaint places I'd like to visit.
Anyone been there?

I've stayed there several times, and highly recommend it. It is rustic, but in very good condition. Staff is very helpful. The food was excellent. It is open all year round, and you can visit in the off-season at a reduced rate. The gift shop has lots of items to browse, and there are many railroad photos downstairs to look at. The rental cars are in good shape, and for an extra $15 (I think that was the amount), you can get greatly extended mileage so you could drive all around Glacier National Park without any kind of mileage charge beyond the $15. I've posted a few vidoeos on YouTube from my stays there, most of which include at least some shots of the interior if you are interested in seeing the inside. They can be accessed by just searching for "Izaak Walton Inn" when on the YouTube site. One thing that has changed: the breakfast buffet which used to be included with the room has now been discontinued. But it has been replaced by a 50% off discount on breakfast, so it is still a good deal. Here is an example of a video which shows some of the interior.

 

[Shawn]

Was there on Thursday! Would love to stay there for a couple days...

Just had time to explore the grounds and grab lunch. Watched BNSF trying to rerail a locomotive right out front that took out a switch.

Very cool place!

 

[Hanno]

Their website is gorgeous. It looks like a train buff's type of place. The staff stands on the porch and waves at all the trains. Looks like one of those nice, quaint places I'd like to visit.
Anyone been there?

I've stayed there several times, and highly recommend it. It is rustic, but in very good condition. Staff is very helpful. The food was excellent. It is open all year round, and you can visit in the off-season at a reduced rate. The gift shop has lots of items to browse, and there are many railroad photos downstairs to look at. The rental cars are in good shape, and for an extra $15 (I think that was the amount), you can get greatly extended mileage so you could drive all around Glacier National Park without any kind of mileage charge beyond the $15. I've posted a few vidoeos on YouTube from my stays there, most of which include at least some shots of the interior if you are interested in seeing the inside. They can be accessed by just searching for "Izaak Walton Inn" when on the YouTube site. One thing that has changed: the breakfast buffet which used to be included with the room has now been discontinued. But it has been replaced by a 50% off discount on breakfast, so it is still a good deal. Here is an example of a video which shows some of the interior.

Thanks for sharing the videos. Makes me want to take the next train west (then again just about anything does)!

 

[DaveKCMO]

we stayed there two years ago as a stopover on the EB headed east. great food and a bike rentals are available (why avoid the natural beauty cooped up in a car?). they had very slow wi-fi, but the lack of phones and tv was refreshing. there's a jukebox and pool table in the basement.