California couple John and Stacy Ambler are in the midst of a legal fight to keep their home after building it without permission in Glacier National Park in Montana.

Newsweek contacted the Amblers’ legal team, the Flathead Conservation District’s legal team, and the Friends of Montana’s Streams and Rivers for comment via email.

Why It Matters

National parks in the United States are under constant pressure from environmental damages. While the Ambler house is small, allowing it to remain could have major ramifications for how construction in national parks is handled in the future.

The case could also set a precedent for how these kinds of disputes are handled.

What To Know

The Amblers built their home on the McDonald Creek, in Flathead County, Montana, but they quickly faced opposition over environmental issues.

“Glacier National Park did not ‘allow’ the construction on this private property,” the Flathead Conservation District said in a January 2024 court filing. “Glacier National Park has no regulations related to construction on private property. There are rigorous rules related to construction within Glacier National Park (and all federal lands), none of which were complied with by the plaintiffs…The plaintiffs obtained no valid permit, contract or agreement with the United States.”

The Amblers are now facing a federal lawsuit after suing the Flathead Conservation District, arguing that private inholding properties inside the national park are immune from state law as they are a federal jurisdiction.

According to Cowboy State Daily, the Amblers’ home is located in an area where there are no floodplain designations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) because it wasn’t mapped. Due to this, the county is limited to regulate floodplain development.

The Amblers’ new neighbors, who were annoyed at the loophole that they used to try and continue building the home, organized the Friends of Montana’s Streams and Rivers (FMSR), which campaigns to protect the integrity of the park’s streams.

The Cowboy State Daily reported that the house can be seen from a nearby bridge, where neighbors keep tabs on the property as they continue to organize against it.

What People Are Saying

Rob Farris-Olsen, an attorney representing Friends of Montana’s Streams and Rivers, said in a statement to the Cowboy State Daily: “It’s frustrating. There’s no continuity of regulation between downstream and upstream. For Wyoming, there’s not a lot of inholdings within Yellowstone. And the ceding of the Grand Tetons to the feds, that was very different than Glacier. I’m not really sure how much of an effect this will have on future Wyoming cases. However, it creates this regulatory void for a lot of inholdings because there’s no building permits necessarily.”

What Happens Next

The case remains ongoing in federal court. If the Amblers are successful, the court could grant them immunity from state law, allowing them to keep the house.

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An incredible video of an elk herd in Montana is captivating the internet.

Montana is one of the most beautiful states in America. In fact, I’d argue it’s the most beautiful state in America with only Maine (you can read about my working class trip to Maine here) being able to also compete for the top stop.

It has incredible mountains, snow and plenty of wild animals roaming around. The last one is why we’re here today.

Montana elk herd goes viral.

KTVQ News shared a video a woman filmed from her kitchen window near Bozeman of a massive elk herd roaming around.

Generally speaking, we like to see big elk get smoked, but this one is a nice change of pace. It’s a great reminder of the beauty of nature.

You can watch the stunning footage below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

That’s a very cool video, and it’s proof you don’t always have to be shooting something out in nature in order to see something great.

Do we enjoy awesome hunting kills at OutKick Outdoors? Without a doubt, but there is plenty of room for lots of different content.

For those of you who might not know, I used to live in Bozeman and got to see some really cool stuff in Montana during my time there. If you haven’t ever visited, then I suggest you pencil it in. It’s an awesome state.

What did you think of the video? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

COLUMBUS — On Saturday, The Columbus Radio Club met for its weekly gathering at the local firehouse.

“The radio bands we have access to (are) a precious resource, much like the rivers and lakes here in Montana, they’re for everybody,” said Gil Leonard (callsign: NG7IL), a club co-founder.

The club was founded about a year ago when Leonard and his friend, Nancy Wolters (callsign: AA7VE), decided to meet in Columbus after communicating over the airwaves.

“A couple of the guys (ask over the radio), ‘What are you baking today?’” said Wolters. “I’ve never met them. I’ll probably never, ever, see them face to face … That’s part of the beauty of it.”

On Saturday, Leonard gave his first presentation as a club representative at the Stillwater County Library, discussing radio technology.

“Besides advancing the radio art through experimentation, it’s all about goodwill,” said Leonard. “It doesn’t matter if they’re in another continent, or just across state lines, or in your own hometown.”

He was inspired to reach out to the library after he heard a frustrated 7-year-old had returned books on amateur radio technology.

“I kind of wonder if maybe that young man didn’t try to eat an elephant all in one bite,” said Leonard.

He said he plans to offer classes for both adults and children at different paces, tailored to their needs, through the library—provided there is enough interest from the community.