Columbia Falls could see new welcome signs by spring

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

It's been more than 10 years since the Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has had its sights set on new signage that welcomes visitors to Columbia Falls — the uptown area in particular. It's more than a vision now, as the signage could become reality as early as the next tourist season.

Years ago, there was a large archway over Nucleus Avenue, just off U.S. Highway 2. But that is long gone, and plans are for something much smaller, but still quite visible from Highway 2.

"We need signage to help small businesses to compete with larger box stores," new Chamber President Lyle Mitchell said last week.

Along with many other local business people, Mitchell believes uptown Columbia Falls can be marketed along with the fact that the town is the "Gateway to Glacier National Park." The entrance is just a 20-minute drive from Columbia Falls.

"It can be an alternate entry way into the Park," Mitchell said. "It enhances real estate opportunities… It can spur people to discover and explore the uptown area."

THE CURRENT plan is to have signage in three locations. The largest and most dramatic addition to town would be a structure that is just under 13 feet high and about 15 feet wide. The signage would have a reverse L-shaped base made of a reddish-tan native stone called "Chief Cliff," similar to the stone used outside the Citizens Bank building on Nucleus Avenue (see drawing). The actual signage would be about 12 1/2 feet from beam to beam.

The sign above the reader board would have an outline of Tea Kettle on the left and Columbia Mountain on the right, with Great Northern in the background and the Flathead River running through the gap.

Just above the rock foundation would be an electronic reader board, with a display of from 28 to 39 inches high and just less than 8 feet wide, depending on the final design. Plans are for either two or three rows of electronic signage, either in full color or amber lights.

"We would like to make it a full-color display with high resolution," Mitchell said. "We want to do it in good taste."

The goal is to keep the signage low profile, but still easily readable by passing motorists.

CAROL PIKE, THE Chamber's executive director, has been involved in the Chamber since 1988. She said going through uptown Columbia Falls is a good choice for travelers.

"We would like to advertise the fact that it is truly an alternative route to Glacier Park," Pike said. "We feel that a sign would really help."

Pike said that the North Fork of the Flathead River has abundant public access, and going through the uptown area will get you there.

"You can go all the way to Canada," Pike added, or go to Big Creek and on into Glacier.

LOCATION OF THE monument/signage would be in the triangle-shaped land between the Glacier Bank drive-up and Highway 2, city-owned property where three large trees now stand. Mitchell said the tree closest to the highway might have to be removed, but other trees will be planted, according to preliminary plans. That triangle has been graciously maintained by Glacier Bank, according to Mitchell, who said there is already power to the site.

Two similar monuments would be placed on entrances to Columbia Falls on Highway 2 — from the west just before Hilltop Road, and just before the Flathead River bridge coming in from the east. Those two signs would not have electronic reader boards.

Local landscape architect Bruce Lutz of Sitescape Associates has been working with Mitchell and others on the design — including the First Best Place Task Force, a prime time player in the project.

What's the cost of these three new monuments/signs? Mitchell said it should be between $80,000 and $90,000, based on today's costs.

WHO'S GOING TO pay for the signage in the three locations?

"They will be financed through a lease-purchase agreement," Mitchell explains. "The Chamber makes the payment for five years, then gets ownership. We're still waiting for the costs to come in."

Can the Chamber afford such signage? That's very likely, based on the current plan.

Mitchell said current plans are for 12 to 15 "subscribers" to pay a marketing fee for signage on the reader board.

"Their information [collectively] would be displayed on the board 25 percent of the time," Mitchell said.

During 75 percent of the time, community events, promotion of Glacier and other messages would be displayed. The information would be remotely updated by computer — using a wireless system.

"We've always wanted a first-class sign where we could advertise some of those things," Pike said.

"We have lots of [Chamber] members who have seasonal businesses," Mitchell said, and the signage gives them a format to market their products and/or services.

"When we get it paid for it will become a cash flow for the Chamber," Mitchell said, possibly allowing the Chamber to have an actual office in Columbia Falls. The Chamber basically is operated out of Executive Director Carol Pike's home. There is a small information building near Marantette Park, but it's only manned during the tourist season.

THE CHAMBER WAS looking into getting money to go toward the proposed signage through a grant program, but Mitchell said that plan got "derailed a little bit." Mitchell added that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has some grant programs for small communities for signage, and support for the project could be possible by going that route.

All the components of the monuments/signs would be provided locally, except for the electronic reader board for the larger signage.

According to Mitchell, "blending part of the cost" with volunteer labor and materials will help made the three monuments/signs a reality — just in time for the 2008 tourist season.