Conrad is a small town packed with character
In Conrad, a drive down Main Street is an immersion into much of what this small Montana community offers. Locals can step back in time with a meal at a vintage drive-in, see a show at a theater that dates to 1917 or stop at a café with award-winning coffee. Conrad is quiet yet eclectic. It’s only about 60 miles from the Canadian border and Great Falls, Montana’s third-largest city. Still, home prices are within reach for many, which Realtor Riley Lind says is one of the biggest draws to the area. “The affordability and the relatively close location to Great Falls, where you’re still able to have amenities there,” Lind says, who’s with eXp Realty and has more than three years of industry experience.
Lined with restaurants and more, Main Street is a main attraction
Conrad’s downtown exists along Main Street, a classic two-lane road running through the community. Some of the area’s well-established brick buildings date to the early 20th century, and they house a mix of restaurants, stores and offices. Folklore Coffee offers a menu of sandwiches, soups, pastries and coffee. Owner Andy Pollard’s brews have won multiple Golden Bean medals, considered the biggest coffee roasting competition in the world. Olson’s Drug is a locally owned pharmacy with an ice cream bar inside. There’s a Stokes for groceries, and Healthy Dragon has health foods, including organic and gluten-free items. Locals can also shop for clothing at The N' Thing and Closet Consignments Boutique. About a half-mile north, Main Drive In opened in 1956 and is still a hot spot for milkshakes and cheesy fries. The restaurant is open seasonally, from March to September.
The Orpheum Theatre is another fixture of the area, located off Main Street next to Olson’s Drug. The facility was built in 1917 and renovated in the early 2000s. People can stop in for movie screenings on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. The city of Great Falls is an option for more amenities, including big-box retailers like Sam’s Club, Scheels and Target.
Whoop-Up takes over town every June
The biggest event in Conrad is Whoop-Up Trail Days, a four-day celebration in early June. The Whoop-Up Rodeo is the signature activity, but Whoop-Up also includes a pair of parades, a fun run and the Rhubarb Festival, which features items made with the rhubarb plant.
Conrad’s housing offers some entry-level price points
Many of Conrad’s homes are bungalows and ranch styles built in the early to mid-20th century. They line the serene, primarily residential blocks on either side of Main Street. Lots are often one-tenth of an acre and larger. Lind says that it seems most of the area’s houses are in need of updates, given their age. However, buyers can get their foot in the door for $100,000 to $400,000.
Conrad schools include multiple special events
The Conrad Public Schools system has a B grade on Niche. The B-rated Meadowlark School covers kindergarten through third grade. Students at Meadowlark participate in a March Madness reading competition and vote for their favorite books. Utterback School carries a B-plus rating, includes grades 4 through 6 and raises money for the Pondera Food Bank through its annual coin war. The B-rated Conrad High organizes a student showcase with a poetry slam, spring concert and art gallery.
Community green spaces and Glacier National Park offer outdoor recreation
City Park and Legion Park are adjacent spots with open field space and shade trees. Legion Park, as well as Kiwanis and Abel parks, also include playgrounds. Pondera Golf Club offers a nine-hole circuit in Conrad that's open to the public. Glacier National Park is less than 90 miles away for those eyeing an outdoor getaway. “A lot of people go to Glacier,” Lind says. “You can pick huckleberries there, hike a lot of different trails and see the glaciers.”
Interstate 15 opens access to the rest of the region
Conrad’s Main Street becomes Interstate 15 Business Loop. It connects to Interstate 15, which runs south to Great Falls and north to the Canadian Border. The Great Falls International Airport operates direct flights to Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle. Northern Transit International offers a bus service in the area. Locals don’t have to head elsewhere for a hospital, as Logan Health-Conrad is less than a mile west of downtown with a 24/7 emergency room.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
