Montana Ghost Towns
I love Ghost Towns. I mean they completely fascinate me. The older and the less well-kept the better. The buildings are amazing, the history behind why they are no longer habitated is entirely cool, and the cemetaries are my favorite. Yeah, guess I have a little bit of a morbid streak.
Interstingly, my children aren’t the most “outdoorsy” of kids, but they share my love of Ghost Towns in Montana. We are within an hour’s drive of Garnet Ghost Town and last May tried to take a little day trip up there. One thing to keep in mind: There is too much snow to go much of the year to Garnet. You might want to take this trip during June-August! We nearly got stuck in the snow/slush/mud and never did make it all the way to the town!
Many years since I’ve live in Montana (I moved back here in 1998), my parents have taken the kids to Bannack Days to enjoy a festival type atmosphere in Bannack Ghost Town. They can send and receive telegrams, eat ice cream, play in the river, ride horses, and many other fun activities. From their website:
Bannack Days, with historic displays, activities and events, is held the third weekend in July each year. The visitor center is open from mid-May through September. A group picnic site is available. National Historic Landmark. The park is 5,800 feet in elevation and is 1154 acres in size. There are 28 sites in the campground with vault toilets, grills/firerings, firewood, picnic tables, trash cans, drinking water and access to Grasshopper Creek for fishing. A golf course and three museums are located nearby in Dillon. Day use fees are $4.00 per vehicle and camping fee: all season. Flush toilets are located in the visitors center and escorted and unescorted tours are available.
Yeah…Flushing toilets! We in the big time now, kids! Anyway, my children have always thoroughly enjoyed this trip (as have I because I get to sit home alone!). I have visited Bannack during the off-season and really enjoyed it. The gift shop is cute and there is a lot to see there. Be sure to check it out if you’re ever in that neck of the woods!
Needless to say, there are many MANY ghost towns to see in Montana if you’re into that sort of thing. There is a partial listing HERE if you are looking for a town in a specific part of the state.
Have fun! and.. BOO!
ghost towns, Montana, Bannack, Bannack Days, Garnet, Garnet Ghost Town, Drummond, Bannack State Park
April 4th, 2007 at 10:22 am
[…] Family Trip Deals writes about Montana Ghost Towns: Many years since I’ve live in Montana (I moved back here in 1998), my parents have taken the kids to Bannack Days to enjoy a festival type atmosphere in Bannack Ghost Town. They can send and receive telegrams, eat ice cream, play in the river, ride horses, and many other fun activities. Posted in Announcements Link to this Entry Email This Entry […]
April 4th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Its so great to hear abount something in Montana, I grew up in St Regis, and used to explore the old silver mines. It takes me back. T think I’ll plan my next vacation for there.