melita island

As you sail across Flathead Lake, a few islands will probably stand out to you. One of the smaller islands you may spot just south of Wild Horse Island is Melita Island. This 64-acre island is now owned by the Boy Scouts of America. However, there is much more to the history of the island than its current use as a Boy Scout camp.  1800s: Melita Island’s first inhabitants Melita Island was inhabited long before the Boy Scouts arrived. It’s believed the Salish, Kootenai, and upper Pend d’Oreille tribes likely used Melita Island as a seasonal gathering place and a strategic location for accessing resources. It likely wasn’t until the 19th century that explorers even knew about the island!  1915: The Knights of Templar The Masonic Knights of Templar bought Melita Island in 1915. In the 1920s, they built the…