Page 20 - Flathead Beacon // 12.24.14

20 | DECEMBER 24, 2014 Christmas Spirit on Display FLATHEADBEACON.COM Experiencing the Shimmer of
Christmas from an Historic Trolley
Montana Trolley Company sharing the spirit of the season with popular tours of the best Christmas light displays in Kalispell
BTy DILLON TABISH of the Beacon
he warm, colorful shimmer
of Christmas lights reminds Scott Davis of being a kid, sit- ting by the tree, enjoying the
holiday season with friends and family. These last few years, the lifelong Ka- lispell resident has whole-heartedly em- braced the nostalgia and helped bright- en the Christmas spirit in his hometown
with his fleet of historic replica trolleys. Since restoring his first classic car- rier three years ago, Davis and his team at Montana Trolley Co. have led riders on tours of Christmas lights throughout Kalispell. The trolley buses, resembling the streetcars of the late 19th century
and made to shine with oak, brass and steel, explore the neighborhoods with the best displays of dazzling decorations and glowing inflatables.
“It’s such a neat way to celebrate the season,” Davis said. “We have people who started out on the very first tours and they do them every year. They tell me it reminds them of the old Christ- mas. That’s what I like to hear.”
The hour-long tours have become very popular among riders and home- owners alike. This winter’s route has seen 20-30 more houses flashing with lights and Christmas displays, accord- ing to Davis. The tours have added an incentive for residents to join in the spirit of the season. Riders on each tour
are surveyed on the best displays, and at the end of the season Davis will re- ward those houses with gift certificates to downtown businesses. He was able to collect over $3,000 in gift cards from downtown, another sign of support and Christmas spirit.
It all began with a leap of faith a few years ago. Davis was driving to Missou- la when he passed by an old trolley that was for sale in Polson. Something about it stuck in his mind.
He came back and ended up buy- ing the beaten-up bus and spent seven months restoring it to its former glory. He named it Hazel, after his mother.
Built in 1980 in the South, Hazel fea- tured a motorhome-type frame made of
fine oak. At first, Davis thought maybe he could use it as a dining car-type car- rier that would travel around to local restaurants, offering riders a unique ser- vice and experience.
“We’ve always been a tourist indus- try here and trolleys are synonymous with bringing people to town and taking them back home,” he said.
“I had no expectations for this. When I bought that one trolley, I figured that maybe it would help keep my son- in-law busy. That’s it. But then I realized the demand.”
That first summer, his daughter, Dawn, booked 35 weddings for the trol- ley. Pretty soon the calls were pouring in for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette
Scott Davis, owner of Montana Trolley Co. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON