Park Saddle Horse Company (Mont.)

The Park Saddle Horse Company was founded June 1, 1915, by Wilbur N. Noffsinger, a Kalispell, Montana, lawyer and banker, and Hans Walchli, his law partner, to provide a saddle horse concession in Glacier National Park. Prior to the formation of this company, and continuing into the first year of its existence, the U.S. National Park Service had licensed individual horse operators with little coordination of services or standardized prices.

On February 26, 1916, at the request of National Park Superintendent R.B. Marshall, Noffsinger called a meeting of all horse concessioners operating in Glacier. Noffsinger offered to increase the capitalization of the Park Saddle Horse Company and admit into the company the smaller operators, each receiving stock equal to the horses and equipment contributed. Although several of the independents resisted absorption, enough joined that capitalization was doubled from $25,000 to $50,000. The National Park Service signed an exclusive contract with the expanded Park Saddle Horse Company to provide horses, equipment, guides, and cooks for camping parties. The company was also granted the privileges of grazing horses and of building stables, tent camps, and lodges at various locations in the park.

From 1916 until W.N. Noffsinger's death on February 1, 1924, the Park Saddle Horse Company gradually expanded its services. Noffsinger's will divided his estate (which included 227 shares of the Park Saddle Horse Company as well as other companies and property) equally among his widow Lulu S. Noffsinger and his two children George W. Noffsinger and Leila M. Dieringer (later Buttleson). The heirs formed the W.N. Noffsinger Company and G.W. Noffsinger administered the estate's holdings. In 1944 a lengthy legal battle began between Noffsinger and his sister for control of W.N. Noffsinger Company. Under George Noffsinger's leadership the Park Saddle Horse Company's operation initiated the famous Northern Circle, a five-day horse pack trip into remote northern areas of Glacier Park, staying one night each at specially constructed permanent tent camps and chalets. At the height of its success the Park Saddle Horse Company owned 1000 horses and served nearly 10,000 tourists each year. However, the completion of the Going-to-the Sun road over Logan Pass in 1933 changed the nature of Glacier Park. Before the completion of this road the only way of seeing the most spectacular areas of the park was by horseback. Once tourists were able to get into the heart of the mountains in their cars, the attraction of horseback travel declined.

By 1940 the Park Saddle Horse Company was serving an average of 5000 customers a year. In 1942 the National Park Service decided to shut down all park concessions for the duration of the war. Unable to support his large horse herd for an undetermined period, Noffsinger sold the company's horses. In 1945 the company asked the Park Service to cancel the concession, thus ending the company's long association with Glacier Park.

George W. Noffsinger died on December 11, 1947.

In addition to the Park Saddle Horse Company, the Noffsinger family was also involved in stock raising. One firm owned by W.N. Noffsinger was the Big Draw Land and Stock Company founded in 1915 in Kalispell. The company originally raised cattle, but in 1922 the Angus McDonald sheep herd was purchased and the Big Draw Sheep Company was founded by W.N. Noffsinger, G.W. Noffsinger, and Ernest White. Both companies operated from the Bow and Arrow Ranch in Flathead County.

From the guide to the Park Saddle Horse Company Records, 1915-1947, (Montana Historical Society Archives)