In an earlier post, you might recall that we suggested holding the next Johnson Family Reunion (JFR) at Glacier National Park (GNP). There wasn't much response to this suggestion, but we did a bit of research anyway, since group lodging quickly fills far in advance at Glacier. We researched doing a cabin like in Wyoming where we all can stay or doing separate hotel rooms, and the group cabin turned out to be the cheapest. Here is a link to the cabin we found:
It does require a 4 night minimum stay which, after the Montana 7% bed tax, would bring the lodging total to $147 per person for a four night stay. (Rates go up slightly after Feb. 1st, 2008). We thought it might be convienient to hold the reunion around the 4th of July and know that the cabin has no current bookings for the month of July, 2009.
We're also researching a Bed and Breakfast that we hope to have more info on after talking to someone there. Here's the link to it:
Let us know who's interested. We're definitely planning on going to Glacier that summer, and think it would be a great place to hold a JFR. There aren't many places that compare to the beauty of Glacier as seen above, so how can you resist? If we plan on it now, it gives everyone
1 1/2 years to save money and plan for transportation. The good news is that it's conceivably within driving distance for most everyone. See below:
Idaho Falls: 434 mi – about 6 hours 48 mins
Salt Lake City: 646 mi – about 9 hours 38 mins
Springville: 693 mi – about 10 hours 23 mins
Arvada: 1,018 mi – about 14 hours 36 mins
Las Vegas: 1,064 mi – about 15 hours 28 mins
Las Vegas: 1,064 mi – about 15 hours 28 mins
Pittsburgh: 2,056 mi – about 1 day 8 hours
Share your thoughts! We're waiting...
7 comments:
Count me in!! Wherever the reunion is, I'll be there (within reason, of course!)! After looking at the calendar pictures, I want to do it again and again and again!! I like the idea of all staying together in the same cabin...that was fun. And GNP surely does look like a pretty place. Thanks for doing the research for us!!
It sounds good to us. We agree with Amy... we're ready to go again now. The calendars brought back so many memories of the good time we had last year. We definitely like the idea of staying together. That's what family reunions are all about. The scenery in GNP looks beautiful, and the ocst is very reasonalble compared to some of the places we looked into last year. Wherever it is we'll be there! Happy New Year Everybody!
GNP looks nice. So is the $147 per person for adults only or are chillins the same price? If they are, we might have to postpone this birth until the Fall of '09...
After my(our)original enthusiasm regarding GNP, and having done some calculations(which probably should have been made before our initial response), I have realized that we would be paying roughly 3 - 4 times what we payed last summer for Reunion Ranch. Although Lizzy is "L-O-A-D-E-D", most of us aren't, maybe we should look into more affordable options. Do they have anything like the cabins at Estes Park with a central meeting place, or there's always camping (that's a joke).
A couple clarifications are in order. First, to answer Todd and Valerie’s question, the $147 amount we posted was, in fact, a per-person amount and assumed we would have the same 18 from last summer’s reunion plus an additional Idaho Falls Johnson. Therefore, the amount applies to every man, woman, and child. There will be neither volume discounts nor discounts for children OR seniors (you hear that, grandma and grandpa?). :-)
Second, a mathematical clarification: our calculations indicate that the 2007 reunion cost $17 per person per night ($50 a person / 3 nights) whereas the proposal we posted costs $37 per person per night ($147 per person / 4 nights) for a ratio more like 2x the cost of the last reunion and NOT 3 to 4x the cost. Although if you can’t stand to spend an extra day with us, why didn’t you just say so? ;-)
We have already explored several lodging options over the past week. Unfortunately we haven’t found anything near Glacier that’s quite like the YMCA of the Rockies. Though we’ve never been to Glacier before (which is part of the rationale for going), the area seems to have a very rustic orientation that provides just the right balance for a reunion between activity and adventure on the one hand for those who’re so inclined and relaxation and visiting on the other hand.
We have discovered a couple value-hotel options that look like they would be less expensive than the cabin. For the lower price, however, the trade-offs include lower-quality accommodations, no kitchen facilities and the consequent potential for added costs of dining out, and the inability to be together as a group; though I’ll admit for some that may actually be a benefit. ;-)
If we agree we want to go to Glacier but not everyone wants to pay extra to stay together at a cabin, there are also smaller cabins to accommodate groups of more like 10 people. If only about half the group is willing to pay extra to stay together at a cabin, that group could possibly still stay together at one of the smaller cabins and the others could stay at hotels.
I think the first thing we need to decide is whether we agree upon Glacier in the first place. (You already know our strong opinion on the matter, but it's apparent we don't have a consensus on the matter yet...Keith, Janet, Maggie?). Once we decide that, we need to know who’s planning to come and their lodging preferences.
We took it upon ourselves to help investigate alternatives at Glacier because we’re planning to go that summer anyway and think it would make a great location for a family reunion. Keep in mind that part of the point of starting 18 months early is that, as Grandma knows well, the advance notice required to reserve many summer-reunion locations is LONG. Places in Glacier are already booked solid for this July 2008 and have indicated they’re usually booked at least a year in advance.
Finally, even at the higher prices we posted (2x higher than last reunion), it would still cost everyone reading this message (authors excluded) less than only $46/month (some much, much less) over the 18 months until the beginning of the reunion to save their total cost of lodging AND driving (assuming $3.20/gallon for gas and 30mpg mileage). That’s less than $1.50 / day for crying out loud!
How does everyone feel about Glacier? Is the $17 per night per person from last reunion going to be our ceiling? Are you willing to pay more? As much as $35-40 per person per night? Do you like the idea of having two different alternatives...one lower cost? We're going to post a couple other options we've found.
Let us know your thoughts.
Thanks,
Scott and Margie
Here are a few other options we have come across so far:
1.) Bad Rock Bed and Breakfast (go to www.badrock.com) rough estimate of around $127/per person for 3 nights. This includes breakfast which they describe as "Montana style, hearty, plentiful and delicious, from a collection of unique Bad Rock recipes", game room with pool/air hockey/dart, BBQ pits for grilling, horseshoes, community gathering room, is 20 mi. from Glacier, and near an indoor water park. We would be lodging in 4 separate cabins and one room in the main house.
2.) Abbott Valley Homestead (go to www.abbottvalley.com). About $90/per person for 3 nights. We would lodge in 3 separate cabins. There is a kitchen in at least one of the cabins. There are activities available, and I am awaiting a return call from the owners to get a better idea of what they are.
3.) Hotels run from $100-$250/per night. If people wanted to share rooms or just pay for their own, we can explore those options.
Karen says:
I just had a great idea! (At least I think it is) We could have a Family Reunion Fund or "FRF". All of the Johnson children, Dad and I, and Janet and Maggie (who have already agreed) could contribute $20.00 a month from now until the Reunion in July 2009. We would have enough to pay for the cabin and part of the food. You could have your own reunion fund or send it to Dad, every month or quarterly - whatever works for you. We might even want to keep it going to pay for future reunions. It will only work if everyone participates, so let us know what you think.
Karen
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