A popular free campground and boat launch area on the east side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir will be converted to a day-use only area this summer.

Known as the FK&L site, the area west of Emery Bay was to closed July 22 to accommodate several site improvements, the Forest Service said in a press release.

Site improvements will include parking area construction, access road improvement, surface aggregate improvement, installation of a cast-in-place concrete boat launch, picnic area tables with connected raised walking paths, and construction of an overflow and boat trailer parking area at Emery Bay campground to increase the usable turnaround area at the top of the existing boat ramp.

The project is expected to be completed by July 2027.

People camped at the site on Saturday said they weren’t happy about the closure, noting there are fewer free sites along the 54-mile-long reservoir.

On the east side, the closest free site is Devil’s Corkscrew, one family noted, but it’s more than 30 miles up a rough road to get there. 

On the west side, Flossy Creek is a free site, campers Joe and Sheila Elsass said, so they might start going there. But others said that site suffers from overcrowding and similar problems.

The FK&L site’s proximity to town proved to be problematic, Forest Service spokeswoman Kira Powell said. 

On May 29 a Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputy shot and killed Kenneth Ardagna, 57, after deputies responded to a call of an assault with a weapon at the site. That case remains under investigation by the Kalispell Police Department.

Powell also noted there have been numerous other law enforcement calls to the area and people often stay beyond the 16-day limit at the site.

Still, campers at the area last weekend said it was an enjoyable place to go for no cost.

Powell said it wasn't known if the site would become a fee area in the future.