The Sprague Fire, seen here Thursday night in a photo from Apgar in Glacier National Park, has claimed the historic Sperry Chalet/NPS

Sperry Chalet, viewed along with the Granite Park Chalet as the last vestiges of the "chalet era" at Glacier National Park, has been lost to the flames of the Sprague Fire.

The chalet, which dates to 1913 when the Great Northern Railway worked to promote Glacier as a destination for travelers, burned around 6 p.m. Thursday.

"We are saddened to inform you that Sperry Chalet has been lost," read a post on the chalet's website. "The hotel building was rapidly engulfed by fire. We are grateful for the efforts made by the National Park Service and the exceptional team of firefighters. Unfortunately this fire could not be contained. All firefighters and persons associated with the chalets are safe. It is still too early to know the full extent of the damage. The fires are not out and the crews are still fighting the fire in the Sperry area. The Sprague Fire is likely to continue burning until Glacier Park sees a turn toward wet winter weather."

The chalet, located just southeast of Lake McDonald and to the west of Gunsight Mountain, closed for the rest of the season on August 15 because of the wildfire sparked by lightning on August 10. With the fire moving in the chalet's direction, firefighters worked to protect the historic lodge.

"Those firefighters had an extensive hose lay, sprinkler, and pump system installed to protect all of the structures associated with the chalet," the Park Service said Thursday evening. "The high winds experienced this afternoon pushed the fire to the east. The firefighters, supported by three helicopters, made a valiant stand to save the structure but were unsuccessful in saving the main Sperry Chalet. The firefighters remain on site, are safe, and are currently actively engaged in protecting the remaining structures."

Glacier officials could not immediately be reached Friday to say whether they would rebuild the chalet.

The Sperry Chalet and its sister, the Granite Park Chalet, were built by the railroad to promote train travel to the national park. The two, opened long before the Going-to-the-Sun Road provided access across the park, were accessible by foot or horseback. 

"Originally, they were part of the eight-chalet system that tourists visited as they linked their trip from chalet to chalet," notes Bridget Moylan in her book, Glacier's Grandest, A Pictorial History of the Hotels and Chalets of Glacier National Park. "In the early days, where then was no transmountain road through the park, the railroad established tent camps between the chalet stops to bridge the long distances. The unique feature of the Sperry and Granite Park chalets, which sets them apart from the other chalets, is their construction of stone quarried from the building site. Their solid construction is one reason the buildings have withstood years of severe Glacier winters."