According to Where to Retire Magazine, (circulation of 200,000), the Flathead Valley was recently featured as an ideal
location for retirement. Its mountain
and lake setting, recreational opportunities, international airport, medical
services and cultural opportunities draw retirees. The magazine stated that
nearly 700,000 American relocate to new towns after
retirement.
Bruce Solberg, Bigfork resident
says, “I think that this is a fabulous opportunity. I think they nailed it; it
is a fabulous place to retire. Some don’t realize how fortunate we are to live
in this part of Montana.” Read the full article…
Flathead top retirement destination
By Matt Naber Bigfork Eagle |
Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2012 7:00 am
Flathead Valley was featured in
Where to Retire magazine yesterday as a top retirement destination in the
country. Every two months the magazine
features four new ideal locations for retirees and Flathead Valley was chosen
because of its mountain and lake setting for recreation combined with medical
facilities, art galleries, museums, shops, and other cultural amenities.“When you look at the great places
to retire, we got lakes, mountains, skiing, world-class restaurants, and lots
of shops and beautiful towns to be around,” Francois Zanni, president of the
Lakeside and Somers Chamber of Commerce, said. “When people retire we also have
the Kalispell regional hospital and north valley hospital. With such great
doctors and facilities, that makes it a big plus for retirees.”
According to Where to Retire, 700,000 Americans relocate to new towns after
retirement. For the last 20 years this magazine has featured different
locations throughout the country that suit the needs of retirees.
Their circulation base is now
roughly 200,000 nationwide.Mary Lu Abbott, editor of Where to
Retire magazine, said the valley catches people’s attention as a vacation
destination and then “woos them back” for retirement. “With each new neighbor that joins
us, they have extended family too, bringing economic growth and more opportunity
for our businesses to thrive,” Bruce Solberg, president of the Bigfork Chamber
of Commerce, said.
Flathead Valley is featured in their
September/October edition along with southern Delaware’s 25-mile stretch of
beaches, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Boca Raton, Florida.“With its beautiful setting and
proximity to Glacier National Park and other parks, the Flathead has attracted
vacationers for years, and now retirees are finding it’s a perfect place for
retirement too,” Abbott said. “Those who’ve coped with congested city life in
their careers especially are drawn to the open spaces and outdoor splendor of
the valley.”
The author of the feature on
Flathead Valley is Jean Arthur, a resident of Bozeman and frequent visitor to
the valley. Carlee Mausner, advertising coordinator for Where to Retire
magazine said Bigfork, Whitefish, Polson, and Kalispell are some of the towns
mentioned in the feature. Throughout the feature, retirees and
semi-retired residents of the valley discuss what they like about life in the valley
and why they came here.
“Glacier International Airport makes
it convenient when coming in and out,” Zanni said. “Besides, it is a beautiful
area and we have the amenities to make it a great place to spend the rest of
your days.”
Solberg said he remembers Bigfork
being in the running for similar recognition as a good place to retire a few
years ago.He also said Bigfork has been looked
at prior to this but has never reached the top mention.
Zanni said Blacktail Mountain Ski
Area had some national recognition in the past for the amount of snow it gets.
He also said the valley has received national recognition before, but for being
“the gloomiest” due to the amount of cloud cover the valley gets each year. Zanni said this type of national
recognition will help build the small towns in the valley by supporting the
local shops and businesses during the summer tourist season and during the
winter skiing season as well.
“I think that this is a fabulous
opportunity,” Solberg said. “I think they nailed it, it is a fabulous place to
retire. Some don’t realize how fortunate we are to live in this part of
Montana.”
