Hi DUers from Montana. I will be in Helena in early August,

[japple]

attending a reunion of my late father's WWII army unit. I have been to 3 other reunions there and the times I've enjoyed the most were touring the area: Gates of the Mountains, Elkhorn, a lovely day in Missoula with a drive up to Seeley Lake. We will have an extra day this year and I'm looking for suggestions for things to do/places to go within a 2 hr. drive. If any DUers live in Helena, I'd be happy for a meet-up!

[meadowlark5]

1. We used to live in Helena in the early 90s

And one of the places we thought was really kitschy was a place called Frontier Town. I'm not sure if it was truly an old mining town turned into a tourist spot or if it was built that way. It's on McDonald Pass and there is a restaurant built into the side of the mountain, if I remember correctly. I remember having walk up a rock, cave like stairway to get to the restaurant. There is a bar in the lower level like cave that used to serve some kick ass soups!

Here's a link to the place. We hope to visit again one day - this time with out kids.
http://www.helenahistory.org/frontier_town.htm

[japple]

2. It appears that this is now a private residence and closed to the

public.

It looks like the kind of place I would like to have seen, tho. Thanks!

[grasswire]

3. Frontier Town, unfortunately, did not remain in the family..

...of the man who built it single handedly. The daughter has a facebook page and surely would like to get it back. It was something special.

[meadowlark5]

5. I just went to the FB page

That is so sad. That was a really interesting place. We used to take out of town relatives to Frontier Town. In the lower level log bar, there was this little diorama of old time Helena. There were these little figurine miners sitting around a pot of simmering mulligatawny with a sign that said, "take a smell of our mulligatawny". Anyone who approached and took the bait would get a squirt of water The bartender would be watching and he/she would hit a little button that sent a squirt of water from the pot. We did that to many of our visiting guests Of course we knew about it because we were victims of the prank.

Lots of good memories of that place

[Delmette]

4. Lewis and Clark Caverans

If you are ready for an uphill hike and have a jacket for the year round 60 degrees. Google it! Bozeman is just a 90 minute drive and the Museum of the Rockies.
I would be happy to meet up at a local Restaurant on Last Chance Gulch.

[grasswire]

6. oh yeah

Good idea.

Another great place is Nevada City. I don't know if that's under two hours, though. And old restored gold mining town.

The best place to eat on the Gulch used to be the On Broadway on 6th. Is Big Dorothy's still there? (I think it's called Last Chance Saloon now, but when it was a brothel, it was Big Dorothy's.

[Delmette]

7. It's the Windbag Saloon now.

I know a good story about Dorothy's family.
On Broadway is still there.

[japple]

8. Sounds great. Hope you don't mind spending time with a couple of

old ladies! Isn't there a local brewery? I think I remember having some last time we were there. Will be staying at the Super 8 and all of the reunion events will be held at the Red Lion and Ft. Harrison. Will send you a PM when we get settled in. Will be there Wednesday, Aug. 6-Sunday, Aug. 10.

[Delmette]

9. Perfect!

That will make three old ladies.
There is also the Brewhouse and the Lewis and Clark Brewey connected to Millers Crossing.

[japple]

10. Great! This is the first time I've ever had a meet-up with another DUer,

though I know there are some closer to home. Thanks, see you soon.