The Great Falls International Airport launched a new tourism website on Friday and their major tourism campaign launches for the year in Chicago this week.

The new website, www.genuinemontana.com, is target to out-of-state visitors and hits the highlights of what Central Montana has to offer, said John Faulkner, airport director.

“It shows our region in a different light,” Faulkner said.

The site includes information on hiking, camping, fishing, paddling, hunting, biking, winter activities and more. It also includes information on area museums, shopping, dining and attractions like Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Faulkner said the site links to area attractions as well as the Great Falls Montana Tourism site.

Visitors to the site first see a photo of a paddleboarder on Two Medicine Lake with the mountains of Glacier National Park in the background.

The big idea is that “you want to put yourself on that paddleboard,” Faulkner said.

The airport and local tourism agency have been marketing in Chicago in recent years.

That’s helped add more flights to the Windy City from Great Falls, including direct flights, which help connect Great Falls to the east coast.

Daily non-stop flight to Chicago starts June 7 in Great Falls

Over the last two years, the leading origin of clicks to the Genuine Montana site was Chicago, Faulkner said.

The new site is “intended to be a full, robust index of things to do in our region,” Faulkner said.

TSA Pre-check Enrollment Event

In April, the Great Falls airport is hosting a TSA Pre-check local enrollment event.

The pre-check program is an expedited screening program that enables identified low-risk air travelers to go through a quicker screening process. Pre-check travelers don’t have to remove shoes, small liquids, laptops, light outerwear or belts.

Pre-check is available at more than 200 airports nationwide.

Locals can enroll in the program April 16-20 at the Great Falls airport. Monday through Thursday the event is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday it’s available 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 4 p.m. upstairs next to the grizzly bear.

Applicants are encouraged to pre-enroll ahead of time here. Choose “pre-enroll” then “apply now” and fill out steps 1-4. In step four, type location as Great Falls, MT and choose Great Falls International Airport. Select next at the bottom of the screen and select an appointment time.

To complete the application process, bring proof of identity and U.S. citizen documentation, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate and driver license.

The application process is completed on site where TSA captures fingerprints for a background check and collects the $85 application for five years of service. 

The fee can be paid by credit card, money order, company check or certified/cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.