Glacier Park Lodge casino future uncertain

September 8

In Monana, the Blackfeet Indian Tribe is very happy with the trial run of a casino at a hotel that is right next to Glacier National Park. On the other hand, the hotel management does not seem to think the casino will make it much past next year.

It seems the casino did not draw much business and it clashes with the image of a vacation at the neighboring park, the chairman of the hotel company said Tuesday.

Joseph Fassler, the chairman of Glacier Natinal Park Inc., says that he didn't really have the image of the park in mind when he agreed to the casino.

The tribe installed 30 Rocket Bingo machines, resembling slot machines, for the 2004 summer tourist season at the lodge. Fassler, whose company also operates hotels and services within the park as a concessionaire, said he agreed to make space available for lease out of a desire to help the Blackfeet reservation economically.