Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Red Lodge, MT
Year Listed: 2001
Neighbor to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Red Lodge, Montana, (population 1,875) is close to the Wyoming border in Carbon County, named for the vast coal deposits underlying the area. At an elevation of 5,555 feet, Red Lodge is the home base for skiers at the nearby Red Lodge Mountain Ski Area and a delightful reason for people to head to the big sky country and soaring mountains of Montana. Red Lodge had its roots in the booming coal mining economy of the 1880s, when it was a vibrant, lively place, with 20 saloons and a growing population.
Following the Great Depression, locally produced bootleg liquor quickly became lucrative as well. From the 1920s to 1940s, one coal mine after another closed. Red Lodge's economy is now based on agriculture, recreation, and tourism that is enhanced by the town's preservation of its colorful past. In 1897, guests of The Pollard Hotel, the frontier town's first brick building built in 1893, witnessed the Sundance Kid rob the Red Lodge Bank across the street. The hotel's early visitors included Buffalo Bill Cody, Williams Jennings Bryan, Calamity Jane, and Frederic Remington. Today, the hotel is designated a Historic Hotel of America, with 39 guest rooms and a History Room for reading about the town's classic western past. Downtown Red Lodge offers antique shops, gift boutiques, outdoor outfitters, bed and breakfast inns, and guesthouses in preserved 19th century buildings. It has more restaurants per capita than any other community in Montana, ranging from casual fare to fine and elegant dining. July's annual Home of Champions Rodeo and Parade is the town's premier event, and other year-round special activities include music concerts, arts fairs, holiday festivals, and horse-drawn wagon rides.
In addition to the challenging runs in the Beartooth Mountain ski areas, the countless recreational opportunities in the Red Lodge area include cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping. Families can enjoy the beauty of the Beartooth Scenic Byway and the Beartooth Nature Center, which features a petting zoo, golf and tennis courts, Arts Guild, museum, and public library.
