Cozy confines hold a range of amenities
Full of established homes on calm, sidewalk-lined streets, Shelby is a slice of northwestern Montana tranquility. Yet residents aren’t far from commercial conveniences, thanks to the centrally located downtown district. The 53-bed Logan Health - Shelby is a draw for jobs, and outdoor attractions like Lake Shel-oole are also close. “Shelby has a little bit more amenities — a grocery store, restaurants,” says Riley Lind, a Realtor with eXp Realty for over three years. “And they also have the Logan Health hospital there. So I see people move there for work with Logan Health.”
Eateries, bars and shops are within quick reach
Main Street bisects Shelby and makes up the community’s downtown. The thoroughfare features rows of brick buildings, some with art deco-style signs out front. Locals can stroll along this stretch and stop in a place like Shelby WOK N ROLL for a bite to eat. “If you like Chinese cuisine, that’s a newer restaurant,” Lind says. Griddle has popular breakfast items, and Montana Club is a bar known in part for its ribeye steaks. There’s an Albertsons just off Main Street for groceries and other essentials, while Shelby Floral & Gift is one of the popular specialty shops.
Roosevelt Highway, just north of Main Street, offers more businesses, including Dash In. “They have good burgers, fries, shakes and ice cream,” Lind says. The Carousel Rest Area of Shelby is one of the area’s unique amenities, a restored 1936 carousel available for rides on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer. The rest area has a concession stand with ice cream, and the space can be booked for private events. Shelby’s free Marias Museum of History and Art houses over 10,000 items in exhibits focused on dinosaurs, railroads and more.
Marias Fair is a long-running summer tradition
A staple of every July, Shelby’s Marias Fair dates back more than 80 years. The three-day event includes a rodeo, a cornhole tournament, live music and a parade along Main Street. Main Street also hosts an annual holiday parade in early December.
Homes come with classic character
Options built across the early to mid-20th century dominate Shelby’s housing stock. Bungalows and ranch-style homes are common. However, no two neighboring homes are the same, on seemingly any of Shelby’s streets. Options offer variations in color and layout. However, most houses around the area share relatively affordable pricing — usually from $80,000 to $310,000 based on square footage and condition.
Shelby school events include concerts and Market Day
The Shelby School District carries a B-minus grade on Niche. Shelby Elementary, which also has a B-minus rating, showcases students' musical ability through spring concerts in May. Shelby’s B-minus-rated junior high has its own basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, track, volleyball and wrestling teams. The B-plus-rated Shelby High hosts an annual Market Day in the spring when students get to dip their toes in entrepreneurship by selling food and other items.
Fishing, camping and hiking are within reach
Shelby is home to Lake Shel-oole. The lake is a draw for fishing, and not just when the weather’s warm — anglers go ice fishing here, too. The campground by the lake is another attraction. The community also has multiple municipal parks, including Lincoln Park, where there’s a playground. James A. Johnson Park features a splash park open during the summer and an indoor pool. The sprawling Glacier National Park, roughly 80 miles west, has over 700 miles of trails. “It seems like a lot of people go on weekend trips there,” Lind says.
Transportation is possible by car, bus and train
Interstate 15 connects drivers to other Montana communities, like the similarly sized Conrad, 28 miles away, and the city of Great Falls, 85 miles away. Travelers can access direct flights to Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle from the Great Falls International Airport. I-15 takes people north to the Canadian border, too, only 35 miles away. Locals sometimes make the drive into Canada for day trips, Lind says. Northern Transit International offers bus service in the area. Shelby also has an Amtrak train station, and Chicago and Portland are popular destinations.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
