BUTTE, HELENA, AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA - Montana and Wyoming - page 323

• Size and season: Think about size. Do you want to be among just a handful of
guests, or would you like to be among a much larger group of people? And
when would you most like to go—summer, spring, or fall?
• Activities: Are you exclusively interested in horseback riding, or do you want
other options as well—fishing, golf, activities for kids? Sightseeing and day
trips away from the ranch?
• Accommodations: You'll need to decide whether you want to immerse yourself
in ranch life and cowboy style (a working ranch or some dude ranches), wheth-
er you just want to casually play cowboy or cowgirl for a week (a dude ranch),
or whether you want some serious luxury with a little bit of Western flavor
tossed in for good measure (a ranch resort). Accommodations can range from
lodge rooms to individual cabins, and amenities vary dramatically, from no cell
service or TV to full-on wireless Internet, massages, and luxury accommoda-
tions.
GARNET GHOST TOWN
About 40 miles outside Deer Lodge, off I-90 at the head of First Chance Creek, you can
explore the tucked-away mining ghost town of Garnet. Named after the semiprecious stone
mined in the area, Garnet is an unspoiled, well-restored authentic Montana ghost town.
Founded in 1895, there are about 30 buildings on-site along with a visitors center to wel-
come guests. It is open all year, but the road is closed to wheeled vehicles January-April,
making it a popular cross-country ski trip. In its heyday, around 1898, the town had a pop-
ulation of 1,000, with a school, hotels, saloons, and even a Chinese laundry. By 1950 the
town was virtually abandoned. In the summer, visitors can take guided tours, walk in and
out of the buildings, and even rent cabins to stay overnight. If you are interested in ghost
sightings, Kelly's Saloon reportedly has spectral sounds of laughter, music, and voices even
in the dead of winter.
Accommodations
All the accommodations in Deer Lodge fall in the budget-motel category. The most cent-
rally located (across from the Old Prison Museum) is the Budget Inn (809 Main St., 406/
846-2810, www.budgetinndeerlodge.com , $50-75). The motel rooms in this clean mom-
and-pop establishment are equipped with microwaves, fridges, and a high-speed Internet
connection. The Western Big Sky Inn (210 N. Main St., 406/846-2590 or 866/244-7590,
www.westernbigskyinn.com , $55-85) is at the other end of town, nicely located for a trip