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Flathead Lake has slightly more than 185 miles of shoreline with
a variety of private properties, state parks, marinas and orchards.
For the traveler to the area, finding a place to stay somewhere
along these miles of shoreline could prove difficult as there are
limited lodging options available right on the lake. That is what
makes the Best Western KwaTaqNuk resort in Polson such a unique and
special destination.
 Visitors
on their way from the Three Rivers region to Glacier National Park,
or the other way around, can stop for a night or two along the lake
and enjoy the mountain views and quiet lakeside accommodations. As a
potential weekend getaway, it’s just far enough from home, but won’t
cost a fortune in gas to travel there. For the business traveler,
the Best Western KwaTaqNuk’s central location is especially helpful
for anyone trying to get together with people scattered from the
Bitterroot to Whitefish.
The Best Western KwaTaqNuk resort was built 14 years ago and is
owned and operated by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes.
The hotel is a member of the Best Western chain, which gives it
access to their computer reservation system. The Best Western
KwaTaqNuk is simply the nicest place of its kind on Flathead Lake
because no other resort offers their combination of marina, dining,
casino, and rooms. The fact that the hotel is only steps from the
lakeshore makes it the perfect place for a few days of relaxation or
a business retreat.
 The
resort features two beautiful pools, one indoors and another
outdoors, which offer a spectacular view of the lake and the Mission
Mountains in the distance. The marina has boat slips, fuel and other
marine supplies available to guests. The Best Western KwaTaqNuk
Princess, the resort’s tour boat, operates three times daily during
the summer months. The tours will delight passengers who don’t have
a boat of their own, but still wish to experience the largest
freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.
The Native American influence can be felt throughout the resort
as special attention has been given to historical tribal
information. There are many photographs of native Chiefs, elders,
and families depicting a lifestyle that no longer exists in Montana.
A diorama showing every month with a Salish and Kootenai description
for the seasons is located in the lower lobby and helps to educate
people who are not familiar with these local tribes.
A stay at the Best Western KwaTaqNuk would not be complete
without a visit to Jocko’s restaurant. With plenty of seating
looking east over the lake, it adds just the right atmosphere to
breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A selection of menu items includes
seafood, pastas, and certified Angus beef. The adjoining smoke free
lounge provides a surprising selection of wines and full bar service
as well. The Best Western KwaTaqNuk has chosen to voluntarily comply
with the new Montana no smoking law, making the entire resort,
smoke free.
 Sales
director, Mary Driscoll, explains the Best Western KwaTaqNuk’s
ability to handle individual guests, wedding parties, or large scale
conferences. “We can accommodate a small group of up to twelve
people in our presidential conference room, or host over four
hundred people, theater style, in the combined banquet rooms.”
Because the Best Western KwaTaqNuk is a complete conference center
offering full catering services, it has quickly become a central
location for hosting all manner of large and small regional events.
The resort has also established itself as a summer destination on
Flathead Lake. Polson’s population balloons from around 4000 full
time residents to roughly 10,000 during the summer. The challenge is
to make people aware of the wonderful recreational opportunities
around Polson in the non-summer months. The Best Western KwaTaqNuk
would like to see the tourist season change from this “summer only”
focus. “We are 40 minutes from Blacktail Ski Resort and only an hour
from Big Mountain,” Driscoll explains. To attract people not
interested in outdoor recreation, the resort is planning a 7000
square foot addition that will house a new casino with a non-smoking
lower level, which will hopefully be a draw for the Best Western
KwaTaqNuk year round. Polson is so accessible to the Three Rivers
Region that it’s perfectly suited for weekend getaways or business
retreats. The staff at the Best Western KwaTaqNuk is warm, friendly,
and eager to make a stay on the lake a pleasant one. For everyone
who lives in and around Missoula, the short trip north to the shores
of Flathead Lake might not be the destination of choice, but, upon
closer inspection, it may be the perfect one.
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