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A Working
ranch
in the
shadows of
Montana's
Beartooth
Mountains.

General Information & Local Attractions

About Bridger, Montana

Time Zone: Mountain
Elevation: 3648 feet
Daylight Savings Time:

Saturday March 7th (starts) – clocks moved forward one (1) hour
Sunday November 1st (ends) – clocks moved back one (1) hour

Drinking Age for Alcohol:
21 yrs old (it is recommended for all persons under 35 to carry ID)

Average Mean Temperatures/Precipitation:

Mileage Distances from Bridger, MT:

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Bear Creek Saloon Pig Races - Bear Creek, MT

Located on the highway between Bridger and Red Lodge, Bear Creek is home to the Bear Creek Saloon Pig Races. These unique races feature four pigs racing the track at the Bear Creek Saloon starting at 7:00 pm on Thursday through Sunday nights. The races start after the Memorial Day weekend in May and run up to Labor Day.

Billings Livestock Commission, Billings, MT

The Billings Livestock Commission is operated the last weekend of every month and sponsors the sale of horses and tack. Each month a different theme is offered with the viewing and trial of the horses between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon (Saturday) and the auction taking place from 12:00 noon Saturday through Sunday.  Admission is free with refreshments available at the auction. Booths are also setup offering various ranch tack equipment.

The following is the schedule for 2009:

March 28th to 29th – Outfitters, guide, guest and trail horses
April 25th to 26th – Rope horses
May 23rd to 24th – Remuda ranch horse competition
June 27th to 28th – Team penning and Buckskins
July 25th to 26th – Cutting horses
August 22nd to 29th – Barrel horses and Ponies
September 25th to 27th – Rope horses
October 23rd to 25th – Performance horses
November 28th to 29th – Performance horses

Cody, WY

• 28th Annual Plains Indian Pow Wow (June 20th to 28th)

Located in the Robbie Powwow Garden adjacent to the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum, this Pow Wow features dancers, drum groups and artisans from across the Northern Plains. Fabulous special event to attend when coupled with the Cody Nite Rodeo.

• Buffalo Bill Historical Museum

The Historical Museum has 5 museums under one roof. The Buffalo Bill Museum celebrates the life and legend of Buffalo Bill himself. The Whitney Gallery of Western Art displays art from the western lifestyle. The native American culture, art and heritage is all celebrated in the Plains Indian Museum. The last two areas of the museum are the Cody Firearms Museum and the Draper Museum of Natural History which displays the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and their interaction with humans and nature. Give yourself enough time to properly explore the full site.

• Cody Nite Rodeo

The Cody Nite Rodeo starts June 1st and runs through August 31st. Located at Stampede Park in Cody, this is fun entertainment for the whole family. Offering the full range of rodeo events, bareback, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing and of course the fan favorite of bull riding. For the kids, there is also the calf scramble which is one of the highlights of the night. Doors open at 7:00 pm with the rodeo starting at 8:00 pm each night. Rodeo tickets are $17.00 per person.

• X Treme Bulls Rodeo – Cody, WY (July 5th)

Annually the PRCA schedules Cody for one of their nationwide stops in the X Treme Bulls Tour. Featuring the leading bull riders on the PRCA circuit, this event is ALL bull riding and has the standard long go with the top riders coming back for a short go and eventual winner of the Cody stop. Great world class rodeo action.

• Harry Jackson Art Studios

A colorful figure from the Al Capone mafia days, Harry Jackson has become one of the west’s most respected artists. His gallery located Cody is divided into four (4) distinct gallery areas; early, stampede and rangeburial, grand and drawings. There is also a gift show upon entering and exiting the galley. Well worth the side trip in Cody.

• Irma’s Buffalo Bill Restaurant and Saloon

Fancy enough for royalty, the Irma is home to cowboys and cowgirls wanting a great meal with great atmosphere. Offering their famous roast beef or a full buffet dinner, the Irma is a stop well worth it. If you’re not interested in eating, slide into the Silver Saddle Saloon and have drink while enjoying the ambience. If it’s action you want, enjoy the gunfight that takes place outside the front of the Irma at 6:00 pm Monday through Saturday. This is a stop you won’t regret.

• Wild West Balloon Festival – Cody, WY (September 1st & 2nd)

Nothing compares to balloonists from across the country coming together in this venue and watching the balloon competitions in beautiful Cody. WY.

Cooke City, MT

Cooke City is an old mining town which today boosts about 100 hardy soles as full time residents and acts as the northeast gateway into Yellowstone Park. This small mountain offers many distractions well worth the time to explore. From the Blain Gallery to general stores like Silver Gate General Store, Sun Dog Trading Company, Yellowstone Trading Post and Top of the World. It offers varied stops for refueling; Bearclaw Bakery, Beartooth Café, Bistro Café, Miner’s Saloon and the Soda Butte Saloon. This is a standard stop during our Yellowstone off-ranch excursion (using the Beartooth Highway as our route) and is also offered in the Cooke City/Red Lodge shopping day. On this excursion we take the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway on the way to Cooke City and the Beartooth Highway on the way back to the ranch.

Crow Agency – Hardin, MT

• Battle of Little Bighorn Re-enactment (June 27th to 28th)

Located in Hardin, MT at the Crown Agency, this re-enactment shows the Indian version of the Battle of Little Bighorn. This is a special treat and is always part of the off-ranch activities for June.

• Crow Fair – Indian Pow Wow (August 14th to 16th)

Referred to as the Teepee Capitol of the World, the Crow Fair has more than 1,400 teepees, 5,000 tents and 100’s of RV’s stretch for a few miles along the Little Bighorn River. This annual Pow Wow is the largest in the western states is definitely worth the day. Featuring native dancers, crafts and food, this is an all-day affair. There is also an Indian rodeo each day at the Crow Agency rodeo grounds.

Frannie’s Tack Shop – Frannie, WY

Located some 28 miles south of the ranch on Route #310, Frannie’s has long been the area “toy shop” for all things western tack. If you ride and like to see the latest “toys”,
Frannie’s is a MUST stop on the trip. We make this stop during our Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Trip.

Fromberg, MT

• Cowboy Bar – a great little watering hole that features a rodeo museum of Montana cowboys. Always a great stop sometime during the week to wet your whistle and listen to stories of the old days.
• Marg’s Leather Goods – Anyone wanting a pair of chaps or chinks, here is the place to come. Marg has made the chinks being used by Elaine and Lonnie along with a bunch of guests over the years. You can be custom measured and choose your leathers. Great value and quick delivery. Let us know if you want to stop by.

Little Bighorn Battlefield, Crow Agency, MT

Operated by the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, the Little Bighorn Battlefield celebrates the last armed conflict with the Northern Plains Indians and their efforts to maintain their way of life. Often referred to as Custer’s Last Stand, this depicts the Lakota and Cheyenne warrior’s successful efforts to defeat Custer in one of the most memorable battles in the history of the Indian Wars.

The operating hours of the Battlefield are 8:00 am to 9:00 pm from Memorial Day through to July 31st, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm from August 1st through Labor Day and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm from Labor Day through the end of October.

 When visiting the Battlefield you can drive the entire battlefield with descriptions of the various areas and walking trails to better get a feel for the area. There is also a museum at the entrance for your enjoyment and gift shop.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield is part of our off-ranch offering and when taken on this trip we include a stop at the Indian Trading Post on the Crow Agency. You have the opportunity to browse the gift shop and book store at the trading post while also enjoying a lunch of Indian Tacos. 

Meeteetse, WY

• Kirwin Ghost Town

Gold was discovered in Kirwin in 1885 and by 1894 the Shoshone Mining Company had set up operations in this mining town 37 miles from Meeteetse, WY. Originally there were 200 people settlers in Kirwin with boarding houses, a sawmill, a post office, a hotel and stores and houses. However, there was no cemetery, saloon or brothels. The gold and silver was low grade and a mine explosion killed one miner in 1905. In 1907 there was a massive snowstorm dropping between 50 and 100 feet of snow over 8 days on Kirwin causing an avalanche to descend on the tiny mountain town. The avalanche killed three people and by the time they had cleared the roads, the residents of Kirwin left with only what they could carry. This left dishes on the table and linens on the beds. Today, many remnants from the past remain allowing you to catch a glimpse of the past.Kirwin is located at almost 9,000 feet and since it crosses the Wood River in several places it can be accessed by four wheel drive only in July through September. Due to the drive and location, allow yourself a full day to explore this region. This is a great addition to also visiting the old western town of Meeteetse on your way to or from Kirwin.

• Meeteetse - Old Western Town

This old western town has wooden sidewalks and many quaint shops including antiques, pottery, chocolates and local crafts. There are also a number of watering holes that are well worth the stop; Outlaw Parlor and Cowboy Bar, Elkhorn Bar & Grill and Lucille’s Café. We include a brief stop in Meeteetse on our way back from the Thermopolis Mineral Spa off-ranch activity.
Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range

• Barry’s Landing

On the road through the Wild Horse Range we stop off at Barry’s Landing boat launch area and park. This stop offers a great view of the gorge from below and is our stop for lunch during the Wild Horse Range off-ranch activity.

• Caroline Lockhart Ranch

Caroline Lockhart purchased the ranch in 1926 consisting of 160 acres. Slowly over time Caroline increased her holdings through purchase, lease and homesteading to a total of 6,034 acres. Today you can tour the ranch area showing the various buildings including her original cabin, corrals, stables, storage sheds and bunkhouses.Caroline moved to Cody, WY in 1952 with failing health and poor eyesight.  In 1955 she sold the ranch to Isaac Tippett who later passed it along to his son Ivan. In 1980 the National Park Service acquired the property and has been slowly bringing the various building back to their original condition. This ranch affords you an opportunity to glimpse into the past in architecture and the way of life.

• Devil’s Lookout

Offering breathtaking views, Devil’s Lookout stands 1000’ above the gorge and looks down into the confluence of the Bighorn and Devil Canyons.

• Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center

This center is open to the public and is a complete education on the Pryor Mountain Mustangs and their preservation. With educational sites and a gift shop, this a must see while on the way to or from the Wild Horse Range.

• Pryor Mountain Wild Mustangs

You can reach the Wild Horse Range either through Lovell, WY or Bridger, MT. If you travel through Lovell, you open up other travel opportunities of the Wild Mustang Center and the other attractions through the mountain drive. The horses are from Colonial Spanish American heritage and the herd is usually between 120 and 180 horses. These mustangs have been roaming these mountain ranges for over 200 years and cannot be genetically duplicated. Lonesome Spur has taken part in the Adoption Program of these great horses and “Laredo” is an example of the great breeding coming from the heRoad Travelling the mountain roads will allow you to see these magnificent horses in their natural environment. This off-ranch activity is always a highlight of anyone’s vacation to Montana.  

Red Lodge, MT

This mountain town is located 28 miles west of the ranch and offers a wide variety of meals, evening entertainment and various special events (rodeo, parades, festivals, etc). A description of some of special treats offered in Red Lodge follow:

• Red Lodge Rodeo of Champions (July 2nd to 4th)

Always a guest favorite, you are invited to ride in the Red Lodge parade prior to the rodeo. The parade takes place in the late morning prior to the rodeo each day and the ranch usually rides on July 3Road The rodeo takes place each afternoon and is one of three “Gateway Rodeos” to Yellowstone Park. Each year cowboys from all over the country come to rodeo at Cody, Livingston and Red Lodge (Gateway Rodeos). You will see airplanes land bringing the cowboys from Cody, WY, participate at Red Lodge and immediately fly off to Livingston for their 3rd rodeo in the same day. Each year this rodeo attracts the leading cowboys in all events.

• Montana State Old Time Fiddle Contest (July 24th to 26th)

This will be the 41st annual Old Time Fiddle Contest and brings fiddlers from all across the region. All age groups are assembled for some of the most amazing fiddling you will ever hear. Well worth a visit during your stay.

• Red Lodge Annual Labor Day Arts Festival (September 5th to 7th)

Attracting over 80 booths displaying and selling bead work, pottery, paintings, sculptures, photography and more are located at the Carbon County Arts Guild in red Lodge. There will also be live entertainment featuring fiddlers, folk musicians and belly dancers with food booths and concession stands available. Free admission and the festival is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Thermopolis Mineral Spa, Thermopolis, WY

The Thermopolis Mineral Spa is the largest mineral hot springs in the country. The Star Pool has indoor and outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs. The hot tubs have three different temperatures for your pleasure. There is also a dry sauna and steam room for your enjoyment. What a perfect way to sooth your aching muscles after a couple of hard days of riding. The Mineral Spa is coupled with Cody for a great off-day experience of pampering yourself and turning up the excitement at the Cody Nite Rodeo.

Yellowstone Park, WY

Covering 2,219,791 acres, Yellowstone Park offers guests an experience not easily matched anywhere in the world.Starting at Cooke City, the northeast entrance of the Park, you can pass by The Thunderer (10,554 feet) on your way to Tower Junction and the Roosevelt Lodge. One the way south to Canyon Junction you will pass through Dunraven Pass to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone featuring the Upper and Lower Falls. Then head west and south through Norris Junction and Madison to Old Faithful. This will take you through Geyser Basin, Lower Geyser Basin and Firehole Falls. At Old Faithful stop by the magnificent hotel and gift center and take in the world famous Old Faithful. Heading back east through Craig Pass (8,261 feet), around Yellowstone Lake (North America’s highest altitude lake) on the way to Fishing Bridge. Fishermen used to catch trout off this bridge in the famous spawning area cutthroat. It has since been closed to bridge fishing, but now folks walk the bridge and observe the spawning trout below. From Fishing Bridge you travel east through the East Entrance and on to Cody, WY.
Throughout your journey through the Park you will have the opportunity to see grizzly and black bears, wolves, mountain lions, elk,, bison, pronghorn, moose and bighorn sheep. You will also see a wide range of birds including bald eagles. This is a full day excursion and offered through our off-ranch acivities.