From Christmas light tours to marriage proposals, Montana Trolley Co. plans to continue business as usual under new ownership this winter.  

Jodie Cross purchased the business this month and said her daughters, Tamina and Kaylee, will primarily run the trolley rental company.  

It was a good opportunity to keep the iconic trolleys around for another generation to enjoy, according to operations manager Kaylee Cross. 

 “I remember growing up and seeing them around. I want my daughter to be able to experience them and to keep that tradition alive,” she said.  

The fleet has been rolling around the Flathead Valley for 13 years — providing a fun way to ride during celebrations like weddings and birthdays, historical tours and its popular Christmas lights tours.  

The future of the business has been in flux over the past few years, according to previous owner Scott Davis, who has been in the market to sell.  

After losing three trolleys to a fire in September, it became clear that he’d have to lower his selling price.  

“Jodie has been looking at buying it for a couple of years now ... I told her ‘I'm going to give you a fire sale.’ She got a sweet deal, I broke even ... but the good part is the trolleys are still running and here in the valley. That's what makes me feel good about the whole thing,” Davis said.  

The trolleys have been a labor of love for Davis and his family, who have helped him run the business over the last decade. Each car is named for a family member — the first being named Hazel after Davis's mother.  

Part of his initial desire to start the company was to provide a way for his son-in-law to continue working after a car accident, which made it hard for him to stand for long periods of time.  

But it wasn’t long before everyone was asking about the trolleys, and soon, their side gig became a big business.  

“People were calling all the time, so we decided we needed three trolleys. Go out, buy some more — then we’re up to four, five, six trolleys. So, that’s how we got started, and now it's kind of doing the same for another family,” Davis said.  

In the same way the company was created to provide steady work for Davis's son-in-law, Jodie Cross said she is hopeful the business can set up her daughters for long-term success.  

She spoke about the cost of childcare, which can be difficult to find for working parents. 

“I didn't want to see my daughter struggling that way. This gives her the opportunity to be a mom and raise my granddaughter around the trolleys, while also running a business. And hopefully pass it down to her daughter one day,” Jodie Cross said.  

The trolleys are up and running for the Christmas light tours just in time for the holiday season. The fleet had to undergo several repairs before they were up to Department of Transportation standards — including new brakes, repairs on electrical panels and power steering, according to Jodie Cross.  

The trolleys are getting repaired at Harlow's in Kalispell by the same mechanic as in previous years, she added.  

Fixing electrical issues to be able to display their iconic Christmas lights was also of great importance, as the season is typically the busiest for the trolley company. This year, the tours leave from the Flathead County Fairgrounds four times a night, every night, from 5:30 to 9:15 p.m.  

Kaylee Cross said they are keeping the same route as in previous years but will be revisiting how to improve it for the next holiday season, which could include a friendly contest or simply educating local homeowners about the light displays of years past.  

They are starting to think outside of the box when it comes to new opportunities to use the trolleys.  

“This week, we are taking a couple of our trolleys down to an assisted living facility and we're going to take some of the residents on a two-hour trolley tour,” Kaylee Cross said. “It’s funny, when they originally mentioned the tours, they had 12 people sign up. But after they said it would be on the trolleys, we have around 30 people signed up to come now.”  

Most of the trolley’s former drivers have stayed with the company and are continuing to drive this holiday season, she added.  

There are still several more improvements to be made to the trolleys, including new wood paneling on the outside and refinished seats on the inside. The Cross family has a lot of ideas in store for 2026, including a speed dating night around Valentine’s Day.  

“We’re not sure where or how yet, but we’d love to get the trolleys loaded up with six girls and six guys, have them drive somewhere and stop for food or drinks, then at a certain point have everyone swap ... You may not end up with a date, but you’ll definitely meet some new people,” Jodie Cross said. 

Kaylee Cross said they are thankful for the expertise of the drivers, as well as Davis and his family, who they reach out to on a regular basis to ask for advice.  

Davis said he’s touched the new owners decided to keep his original names for the trolleys, even going as far to put them on their new license plates. 

It’s a blessing to see the trolleys continue to run and bring joy to others, he added. 

“The old owner is passing the torch ... and I thank the whole valley and the community for supporting the trolleys,” he said.  

The Crosses are taking feedback on the trolley tours, including new ideas for 2026 and other potential improvements. They can be reached at 406-752-1523 through call or text.  

“I would say from Google reviews to social media—please help us build it. We've heard from a lot of people how they use the trolleys as their Christmas tradition, we hope to keep it going and build on that,” Jodie Cross said.  

Montana Trolley Co.’s Christmas Light Tours will run daily through Jan. 2. To see a full calendar of upcoming tours, visit their website at montanatrolleyco.com/. 

Taylor Inman may be reached at 758-4440 or [email protected].