Deer Lodge’s landscape is still a magnet
Situated amid multiple mountain ranges, Deer Lodge is an area whose natural setting has always been a draw. The presence of gold attracted people to this region of southwest Montana in the mid-19th century, and Deer Lodge is the second-oldest community in the state. Even though it’s now vistas and recreation over mining, nature remains high on the list of reasons some buyers want to be here. Gail Duncan, longtime resident and local Realtor with Uncommon Ground with almost 10 years of experience, says people come for "our mountains and our outdoor living. Peace and quiet,” she says. “It’s a beautiful little area.”
From hiking to water sports, the region offers a lot of recreation
Duncan says one of Deer Lodge’s biggest attractions is the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. This 1,600-acre expanse was once the site of a 10-million-acre cattle empire that supplied food to miners. The land still houses some cattle, but also has 10 miles of trails. Arrowstone Park features a pond with a pier for fishing. “We have excellent fishing all through the Deer Lodge Valley, which is another attraction,” Duncan says. Surrounded by the Flint Creek, Garnet and Anaconda mountain ranges, Deer Lodge offers proximity to skiing opportunities in the winter. The Discovery Ski Area, about 50 miles away, has more than 60 trails. “Skiing in the winter months is a big deal — skiing and snowmobiling,” Duncan says.
Variety of area homes are a snapshot of Deer Lodge’s evolution
Shadowed by mountain views, Deer Lodge’s quiet residential blocks encompass an eclectic mix of houses. The area still has homes built in the 1800s, and more that date to the early 20th century. Many of them are bungalow-style. However, buyers can also find new ranch-style houses in spots. Job opportunities at major employers like the Montana State Prison and the Deer Lodge Medical Center are motivations for this development. “Just about anybody can find anything they want, from historic to brand new. From modest to luxury,” Duncan says. “There’s every kind of home available right here, which makes it unique. And not horribly priced because we’re a small community.” Most of Deer Lodge’s homes sell for $130,000 to $430,000. There are also some manufactured homes in the area, ranging from about $75,000 to $100,000.
Tri-County Fair and Territorial Days are summertime traditions
The Tri-County Fair is a long-running area event in August, representing Deer Lodge County, Granite County and Powell County. Deer Lodge hosts the fair, which began more than 80 years ago and includes rodeos, a horse show, a chili cook-off, a parade and more. “It’s a big event for a lot of people,” Duncan says. June’s Territorial Days has been another standby for over 30 years. Territorial Days includes a car show, a parade and live music.
Main Street features diverse menus and museums
Main Street is Deer Lodge’s commercial and cultural center. It’s home to a variety of restaurants, bars and bakeries. ”You can get any type of food that you want,” Duncan says. Broken Arrow Steakhouse and Casino is one of the stalwarts, open since 1980 hard to miss with its bold neon sign. “They have excellent steaks,” Duncan says. Boomerang Bakery, a couple doors down, is a draw for its doughnuts and apple fritters. Cell Block Tavern, next to a former prison, is a bar with popular pulled pork tacos. Safeway and Valley Food are grocery options on Main Street. Steele’s Furniture and Territorial Antiques & Uniques are among the specialty shops here.
The Rialto Theater, across from Steele’s Furniture, dates to 1921 and still screens new movies. Main Street also has multiple museums. The defunct prison next to Cell Block Tavern is now the Old Montana Prison & Auto Museum Complex. The complex details the history of the prison, which was built in 1893, and the auto museum houses a collection of more than 200 classic cars. The Powell County Museum preserves some of the area’s 19th-century artifacts, while Yesterday’s Playthings is a collection of antique toys.
Deer Lodge schools highlight the arts
Deer Lodge School District No. 1 has a C grade on Niche. The C-rated O.D. Speer includes kindergarten to second grade, and its students have the opportunity to perform in a Christmas program at the Rialto Theatre in December. Granville Stuart covers grades 3 to 6 and is unrated. The C-rated E.F. DuVall Junior High includes grades 7 and 8. Students at both can participate in an annual spring concert at the Rialto. Powell County High earns a B-minus rating, and its art department hosts an art show in the spring.
Interstate 90 is a link to multiple cities
Part of Interstate 90 runs through Deer Lodge. Three of Montana’s six largest cities are within 85 miles of Deer Lodge, and I-90 is a way to get to all. Missoula is just over 80 miles away. Butte is about a 40-mile trip. Helena is 55 miles away using a combination of I-90 and U.S. Highway 12. Bert Mooney Airport in Butte offers direct flights to Denver and Salt Lake City.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
