Principle 6 - Involve Community

Base tourism on community resources, encouraging local, small businesses and civic groups to promote and provide distinctive, honest visitor experiences.

At the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center, we feel that one of the best ways to involve the community is to use as many local products and services as possible. As you walk through our building, you will notice it is chock-full of bits and pieces of Montana:

  • Our gift shop features locally produced products including handmade jewelry, pottery, frames, specialty food items, and photography
  • Premium ice creams in Luke n’ Dukes Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor – Wilcoxson’s, Sweet Peaks and Big Dipper – are all Montana made! 
  • Milk and heaving whipping cream in our milk shakes and lattes both come from Kalispell Creamery
  • Beverages we serve up include Montana Coffee Trader’s coffee products as well as Montana made wines, beers and spirits
  • Our Swan Mountain Activity Center provides information about all the great activity, lodging and food providers

It is not, however, limited to the things we sell. We also use local “mom and pop” shops for the printing of our brochures and menus, our electrical work, our plumbing work and a whole host of other repair and maintenance needs. In this way, we not only provide visitors with an authentic Montanan experience, but we also support the Montanans that make that experience possible!

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