Living & Working in Great Places
Glacier Park Inc. questions...
Hi..I was hired last week by Glacier Park to start in May. They said they were going to process my fiances application too. Curious as to whether anyone here has anything to say about working for this company...the park..the preparation, etc. (Since this is our first year) I am soooooooo excited....
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karen on -
Were you hired by the concessionaire or by the National Park Service? I am just curious because my husband and I are still applying to places. We have never worked at Glacier.
Karen
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Permalink Reply by Karen on -
I believe it would be the concessionaire, Glacier Park, Inc. They operate Glacier Park Lodge, among others. That is where I will be working. We are still waiting on word about Sid's job. Where have you all applied?
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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You would ask...:) We have applied with Aramark at Mesa Verde, and at Lake Powell. We applied with Happy Jack Lodge in Arizona, and at Ruby's Inn at Bryce Canyon. Also have applied with sevral campgrounds in Arizona. We are wanting to to to Arizona, Colorado, or Utah.
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Permalink Reply by Debby Nelson on -
I worked at Glacier Park Lodge and Many Glacier Hotel. Both have there pros and cons. GPL pros: housing for older employees is okay,managers more laid back, the summer i worked we were allowed to take 3 -4 days off in a row. Cons for GPL-lodge is not in the park so you need a car to get yourself to prime hiking. Pros for Many: LOCATION-hiking right out your door. Cons:We were expected to work a 40 hour work week so didn't get asmuch time to enjoy the wonderful location, housing for employees is terrible. No enforcement of quiet hours-loud drunk incredibly rude and self centered dorm mates and doors slamming constantly. I spent the last week of my employ in the campgrounds just to get sleep. Also dorms were filthy most of the time. You will feel trapped without a vehicle because you are very remote. Employee turnover was huge. By the time I got there 2nd week of August they had lost most of their older employees due to poor living conditions and the ones who remained were counting the hours till their contracts were up.
Working for GPI are alot of eastern Europeans. Seems they can't get AMerican kids cuz the pay is so bad. I say you get what you pay for and it certainly showed in housekeeping. Having worked at the front desk-believe me we got a huge amount of complaints.
Would I go Back? In a new york minute. The only thing I've come to realize is that it's hard to work in Glacier when you want to be hiking and enjoying the outdoors. This summer iI will return to play for a few weeks and maybe I'll look you up. BTW-a friend of mine just told me his son was hired to work for the GPL golf course. Where will you be working?
Working for GPI was an experience
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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Thanks for this reply. It is alot to take in. It is our first year so we are willing to take the chance and have it really suck. Can I say that? I will be working in Glacier Park Lodge as the Location Accountant, doing the payroll. You are right, the pay is terrible, but we thought and still hope the benefits of the sights will more than make up for it. We are going to be staying in the RV park since we will bring our own camper and we have an old dog. I believe the golf course is at the lodge where I will be working. Thanks Debbie... look me up when you get there. Karen
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Permalink Reply by Carolann on -
Hi, I too am working for Glacier Park this summer. I'm excited and scared. My post is at McDonald Lodge. Have you been to the park or McDonald? This will be my first visit to the park. Home for me is Louisiana. Where are you coming from?
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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Hi Nellie,
This is our first year of seasonal work and we both are starting at Glacier Lodge. I hope to visit McDonald during our stay. We are leaving the first week of May to dawdle through the states. We are coming from northern Wisconsin, just south of the Wisconsin/Michigan border. I have heard all good things about Glacier and I am excited about the beauty that the park holds. What position will you hold? Are you driving? Are you staying in the dorms? We will be bringing our camper and staying at the RV park just outside of Glacier Park. We don't know much else, which only adds to the excitement and anticipation of the summer.
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Permalink Reply by Joan Meyer on -
Hi Karen,
I haven't been to Glacier Park since 1995 so I can't comment on current conditions. I was stationed at Many Glacier and Debby is right- the employee dorms where terrible. I was lucky enough to have accommodations in the hotel. The area is beautiful! Hiking or even walks around swift current lake produced animal sightings. We did have a lot of turn over but I think that is inherent in any seasonal area. The position and lifestyle is what you make of it. By the way, my favorite location to visit was Macdonald Lodge.
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Permalink Reply by Carolann on
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Hi Karen and Joan,
The only thing I know about where I’ll be staying is the employee housing for McDonald. Position is front desk, which is somewhat scary after reading about Debby’s experience with the “huge amount of complaints.” And I’ll be flying in. At forty-something years old this is a very big step for me. I’m not sure what clothes to pack. I’m guessing what works here in Louisiana will not be warm enough in Glacier. But I also don’t know how much room I’ll have for clothes storage. I’m very excited to be taking this first step into the second half of life, but scared also. Any advice would be greatly welcomed. This will also be my first trip to Glacier. Please help a newbie!
Also please call me Carol.
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Permalink Reply by Debby Nelson on
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Do not have any expectations with regard to your job or living conditions-then you won't be too dissapointed. Lake's dorms aren't so great and expect at least one roommate hopefully around your age. Lake Mcdonald is supposed to get new dorms in the next year or twoMaybe if you get there early enough in the season you will have some choice about your room. Hints-1)take a room that is on the top floor-these may be hot (bring a fan) but you won't have noise from the upstairs 2)make sure it is away from the stairs and bathroom- these are very old and stairs are creaky 3) it would be nice to have a end room 4)don't pick a room that is above or next to the front door no matter how great the view is as employees tend to hang out and smoke here. I think they also have a few employee cabins too. Also let your location manager know if the 10 pm-7am quiet hours are being abused (mine however was afraid to enforce these rules-she wanted the kids to have fun). Security can also help with noise and rowdieness 5)Myadvise for handling complaints at the front desk: if people who have a legitimate complaint and aren't nasty but nice, bend over backwards to make it right. If they whine and are not nice, smile and pretend you will try to help them. The front desk staff has more power than guests realize. Let me know how your summer goes. Enjoy GNP. It is a magical and special place. I'm jealous (well sort of). My daughter will be a cook at the Park Cafe in St Mary's- best food in the park-make sure you take the shuttle over for a great meal. That's whats nice about your location-you'll have access to Apgar, Logan Pass Vis Center, any trailhead starting off GTTSR and St Mary's. I plan on spending 2-3 weeks hiking, camping and backpacking in the park so I will for sure stop in and look you up.
Ps you'll have plenty of room for clothes if you don't bring to much. Remember you will be wearing a uniform to work every day so you don't need much. Invest in good quality light weight long undies, a good waterproof rain jacket and pants too if you intend to hike. Light weight fleece 1/4 zips and vests are good for layering. And a good pair of hiking boots and a small to medium size camel back hydration day pack. Don't forget a knit hat and lt wt gloves. I'll be happy to answer any more questions you might have
Deb
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