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japple

(9,773 posts)
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 05:41 PM Jul 2014

Hi DUers from Montana. I will be in Helena in early August,

attending a reunion of my late father's WWII army unit. I have been to 3 other reunions there and the times I've enjoyed the most were touring the area: Gates of the Mountains, Elkhorn, a lovely day in Missoula with a drive up to Seeley Lake. We will have an extra day this year and I'm looking for suggestions for things to do/places to go within a 2 hr. drive. If any DUers live in Helena, I'd be happy for a meet-up!

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Hi DUers from Montana. I will be in Helena in early August, (Original Post) japple Jul 2014 OP
We used to live in Helena in the early 90s meadowlark5 Jul 2014 #1
It appears that this is now a private residence and closed to the japple Jul 2014 #2
Frontier Town, unfortunately, did not remain in the family.. grasswire Jul 2014 #3
I just went to the FB page meadowlark5 Jul 2014 #5
Lewis and Clark Caverans Delmette Jul 2014 #4
oh yeah grasswire Jul 2014 #6
It's the Windbag Saloon now. Delmette Jul 2014 #7
Sounds great. Hope you don't mind spending time with a couple of japple Jul 2014 #8
Perfect! Delmette Jul 2014 #9
Great! This is the first time I've ever had a meet-up with another DUer, japple Jul 2014 #10

meadowlark5

(2,795 posts)
1. We used to live in Helena in the early 90s
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 07:06 PM
Jul 2014

And one of the places we thought was really kitschy was a place called Frontier Town. I'm not sure if it was truly an old mining town turned into a tourist spot or if it was built that way. It's on McDonald Pass and there is a restaurant built into the side of the mountain, if I remember correctly. I remember having walk up a rock, cave like stairway to get to the restaurant. There is a bar in the lower level like cave that used to serve some kick ass soups!

Here's a link to the place. We hope to visit again one day - this time with out kids.
http://www.helenahistory.org/frontier_town.htm

japple

(9,773 posts)
2. It appears that this is now a private residence and closed to the
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 08:31 PM
Jul 2014

public.

It looks like the kind of place I would like to have seen, tho. Thanks!

grasswire

(50,130 posts)
3. Frontier Town, unfortunately, did not remain in the family..
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 08:41 PM
Jul 2014

...of the man who built it single handedly. The daughter has a facebook page and surely would like to get it back. It was something special.

meadowlark5

(2,795 posts)
5. I just went to the FB page
Sun Jul 27, 2014, 11:29 AM
Jul 2014

That is so sad. That was a really interesting place. We used to take out of town relatives to Frontier Town. In the lower level log bar, there was this little diorama of old time Helena. There were these little figurine miners sitting around a pot of simmering mulligatawny with a sign that said, "take a smell of our mulligatawny". Anyone who approached and took the bait would get a squirt of water The bartender would be watching and he/she would hit a little button that sent a squirt of water from the pot. We did that to many of our visiting guests Of course we knew about it because we were victims of the prank.

Lots of good memories of that place

Delmette

(522 posts)
4. Lewis and Clark Caverans
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 11:54 PM
Jul 2014

If you are ready for an uphill hike and have a jacket for the year round 60 degrees. Google it! Bozeman is just a 90 minute drive and the Museum of the Rockies.
I would be happy to meet up at a local Restaurant on Last Chance Gulch.

grasswire

(50,130 posts)
6. oh yeah
Sun Jul 27, 2014, 12:19 PM
Jul 2014

Good idea.

Another great place is Nevada City. I don't know if that's under two hours, though. And old restored gold mining town.

The best place to eat on the Gulch used to be the On Broadway on 6th. Is Big Dorothy's still there? (I think it's called Last Chance Saloon now, but when it was a brothel, it was Big Dorothy's.

japple

(9,773 posts)
8. Sounds great. Hope you don't mind spending time with a couple of
Sun Jul 27, 2014, 07:42 PM
Jul 2014

old ladies! Isn't there a local brewery? I think I remember having some last time we were there. Will be staying at the Super 8 and all of the reunion events will be held at the Red Lion and Ft. Harrison. Will send you a PM when we get settled in. Will be there Wednesday, Aug. 6-Sunday, Aug. 10.

Delmette

(522 posts)
9. Perfect!
Sun Jul 27, 2014, 07:50 PM
Jul 2014

That will make three old ladies.
There is also the Brewhouse and the Lewis and Clark Brewey connected to Millers Crossing.

japple

(9,773 posts)
10. Great! This is the first time I've ever had a meet-up with another DUer,
Sun Jul 27, 2014, 08:16 PM
Jul 2014

though I know there are some closer to home. Thanks, see you soon.

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