Hungry Horse Dam Visitor Center opens for new season

HUNGRY HORSE — The Visitor Center at Hungry Horse Dam in Montana will open Saturday, May 23 for the 2009 summer tourist season with an updated virtual dam tour, according to Facility Manager, Dennis Philmon.

In addition to the digital virtual tour, on opening day U.S. Forest Service personnel will be on hand to answer any questions about recreation on lands in and around the reservoir.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to take part in a guided tour on top of the dam itself where Bureau of Reclamation guides point out special features with the 564 foot-high concrete structure.

Hungry Horse Dam is located off Highway 2 in Hungry Horse. (Directional signs lead drivers to the Visitor Center).

Guided tours are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week. The Visitor Center is expected to remain open until September 7. Parking is allowed only in designated areas. Parking is not permitted on top of the dam roadway.

The Visitor Center and the guided tour program are free of charge.

Hungry Horse Dam, completed in 1953, is on the south fork of the Flathead River. It is a multipurpose facility that produces hydroelectricity, manages flood control efforts, and is a popular location for recreation.

For additional information call 387-5241.