[2] The hotel was also originally envisioned as a potential official southern gateway to Glacier National Park, hence its size, but World War II intervened and that plan never materialized.

[3][4] Today, the inn is served by Essex station, the only request stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder route.

The Tudor Revival-style inn is named after Sir Izaak Walton, the English writer and fisherman.

[7] However, many intermittent workers were forced to seek shelter in wall tents, abandoned railroad cars and other improvised structures, even during the winter.

In December 2022, the inn was purchased for US$13.5 million by Washington-based hospitality company LOGE Camps (pronounced "lodge"), who updated the rooms and cafe.