Historic 1939 railroad lodge and caboose cabins in Essex, currently closed and awaiting its next chapter.
The Izaak Walton Inn stands alongside the active Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks in the remote mountain hamlet of Essex, Montana, positioned between the southern boundary of Glacier National Park and the Great Bear Wilderness. Originally constructed in 1939 by the Addison Miller Company for the Great Northern Railway, the Tudor-style lodge was built to house the railroad crews who kept the line over Marias Pass clear of heavy winter snows. Named in honor of the seventeenth-century English writer and angler, the three-story timber and stone landmark eventually transitioned into a legendary mountain resort, serving as a basecamp for railfans, backcountry hikers, and cross-country skiers.
The property is famously celebrated for its unique lodging options, which include converted classic cabooses and a retired EMD F45 diesel locomotive transformed into luxury cabins. These train cars sit on the edge of the forest, offering guests the chance to sleep in a piece of American rail history while watching freight trains and Amtrak's Empire Builder rumble past on the adjacent main line. For decades, winter transformed the inn into a premier cross-country skiing destination, with over thirty kilometers of meticulously groomed trails radiating directly from the lodge doors. In the warmer months, these same trails provided direct access into the dense pine forests of the Flathead National Forest.
In December 2022, the historic property was purchased for 13.5 million dollars by Washington-based outdoor hospitality brand LOGE Camps, who initiated a major renovation to modernize the infrastructure, update the guest rooms, and revamp the dining and bar spaces. Under the name LOGE Glacier, the property reopened in late 2024 with updated heating systems, remodeled interiors, and a refreshed menu, though the changes drew mixed reactions from long-time patrons who missed the traditional, unpretentious atmosphere. However, the inn's modern era was short-lived: in early 2026, LOGE Camps faced severe financial distress and bankruptcy, leading to the sudden closure of the historic inn in March 2026. The entire 90-acre property was subsequently listed for sale for 18 million dollars, leaving this iconic piece of Montana rail heritage waiting for its next chapter, while the adjacent Amtrak platform continues to serve travelers on the Empire Builder route.
The inn is currently closed, but Amtrak's Empire Builder still stops at the adjacent Essex platform daily.
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