The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

John Fery painted many huge oil paintings for the Great Northern Railroad. His paintings are dramatic, exciting and in many cases breath taking. They are also very large! From 1910 until 1913 Fery was on the payroll of the railroad and was expected to paint a number of paintings each year.

Many of Fery's paintings can be seen in Glacier Park Lodge, Many Glacier Lodge and Lake McDonald Lodge.

The painting featured here is similar to one that hangs on one side of the huge inglenook fireplace at Lake McDonald Lodge. The painting is of Going-To-The-Sun Chalets with Going-To-The-Sun Mountain in the background. I have several copies of Fery paintings that I got from photos in my living room and this scene is one of my favorites.

Located on Sun Point on St. Mary Lake, Going-To-The-Sun Chalets were the most magnificent of all the Glacier Park hotels and chalets and the setting for them was more than awesome.

Unfortunately after World War II the Park Service told the Great Northern Railroad to build a motor camp (motel) where people could drive right up to their rooms. Rising Sun was reluctantly built by the Great Northern and Going-To-The-Sun Chalets were torn down. When I was a boy I remember visiting the deserted chalets one summer and I never forgot how beautiful they were. The next summer they were gone and all we have left are many photos and paintings to mark this wonderful spot.