Garnet, Montana. Named after the semi-precious stone found in these mountains just east of Missoula. Situated at an elevation of about 6000 ft., though you’d never know it if you take the old Stagecoach road (that I took) up from the valley I-90 was cut through. It feels MUCH higher. A truly mountainous, alpine environment that had snow falling until mid-June this year! (See the video & photos to gain a sense of the Old Stagecoach Road.)
Origins of Garnet Ghost Town
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Founded in 1895 by Dr. Armistead Mitchell, and originally named Mitchell. Mitchell and his fellow prospectors were after GOLD. Technology had finally advanced to where gold could be extracted from the quartz that is abundant in the upper part of this mountain range.
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Garnet is near the top of the range and as such was finally accessed years after the gold rush began (downstream) at the Bear Creek in the early 1860’s. As early strikes near the valley began to “go cold”, miners worked their way to higher elevations and as a result Garnet was born!
Garnet – a unique mining town
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The towns founders wanted to create a more family atmosphere than other mining towns of their day. Nearly 1000 people moved in. A visitor around 1900 would have found a regular stagecoach to get you there (though it was a rough and steep road.) Once you arrived, there were four stores, 7 hotels, three livery stables, 2 barber shops, a union hall, a butcher shop, a candy store, a drugstore, a doctor’s office, an assay office, 13 saloons, and a school with 41 students at its peak.
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About 20 mines operated at its peak and a residential “neighborhood” was built above the commercial “zone.”
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Garnet – a typical “boom-bust” curve
Founded in 1895, by 1900, the “writing” was already “on the wall” as many of the veins (of quartz and gold) were depleted. By 1905, many mines were abandoned and Garnet’s population shrunk to about 150. Garnet suffered a crushing blow as a fire in 1912 destroyed many of the commercial buildings. Flowing water was not available to put the fires out. What remains today is a remnant of what was there prior to the 1912 fire.
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When World War I broke out, more residents left to take defense related work.
Frank Davey Remained in Garnet
Frank Davey was an entrepreneur. He ran a general store (starting in 1898), the Garnet stage line and a hotel. Both remained intact after the 1912 fire – and are still standing today! Thanks to the Bureau of Land Management (since 1972), the town has been preserved and “shored up” to ensure that what remains does not collapse. The commercial buildings are opened daily for you to freely enter and explore! The residential (cabins) have no restrictions to entry at all at any time.
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Garnet got a “shot in the arm” (and new residents) in 1934 when FDR raised the price of gold (devalued the dollar!) from about 20. to 35. per ounce. The new higher price and new technology made Garnet more attractive as a mining location, so, it received a 2nd breath at life as a town. The population grew from almost nothing to 250 by 1936.
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By 1939, the approach of WWII drew many away for other “opportunities.” The post office closed (for good) in 1942. Frank Davey remained until his death in 1947. I could not find Davey’s date of birth, but I’d estimate he was at least 70 when he passed. Given the era and living conditions in such a remote town, that was certainly a “ripe old age.”
Garnet – Recent History
Garnet’s Last Resident
Marion (and Ole) Dahl built a cabin in 1938. Marion remained until the mid-1960’s. In her later years, she was there only in the summer. Her presence helped to minimize vandalism and theft of town artifacts. After she left (I find no reference that she died in Garnet), the town fell prey to hippies (late 60’s.)
The hippies were truly destructive (I learned the following from a representative on this BLM managed site when I visited.) They stayed in the cabins, looted artifacts and caused structural damage. Local radio DJ’s in Missoula learned of this misbehavior, brought it to light using their voice in the region and found public support for preserving Garnet.
It seems that many people living in and around Missoula either once lived in Garnet, had relatives who had done so, or knew of someone. This local connection created a ground-swell to stop the dismantling of Garnet and to preserve what remains.
Pressure was brought unto the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and in 1972, they agreed to the unusual task of managing the townsite (now ghost town.)
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Garnet today
Garnet today is a federally managed site. It IS a well preserved ghost town that is easily accessible from Missoula. It is also “not so easily” accessible from Drummond. This is the route I took to arrive! Be sure to see the top video on this post for what the drive is like to get there.
The BLM is committed to maintaining the town “as is.” There is a visitor center. There are people there who know the towns history and can answer your questions. The only fee is parking ($10/vehicle unless you have certain federal passes like the America the Beautiful Senior Pass.)
The commercial buildings (hotel, bar, Davey’s store, visitor center, etc.) open at 9:30am daily, but you can visit any hour of the day or night.
RV Accessibility and Getting to Garnet Ghost Town
There is parking for RV’s, but (I believe) overnight stays are not permitted (and there are caretakers living in RV’s 24×7 to protect the area.) The road from Missoula would be considered “RV friendly”, but the stagecoach road would NOT be RV friendly!
The drive from Missoula is well under an hour. Missoula is about 2000 ft. lower than Garnet. There are numerous RV parks in the greater Missoula region which is a town of about 77,000.
From Missoula, you’d take Mt-200. It is paved much of the way and the last several miles are graded dirt road. Coming from Drummond, as I noted earlier is rough. There are several miles of 2-way road that is NOT wide enough for 2 cars to get past each other. Fortunately, when I headed up the road, no one else was headed down! There are (occasional) turn-outs or (slightly) wider spots where 2 cars can get past each other.
About GOLD… I choose to hold and use GOLDBACKS as a means of exchange. Now recognized as having value by several states, goldbacks offer a very functional and usable form of gold – you can purchase a coffee with it!
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Closing Thoughts
Garnet is one of SEVERAL well preserved Ghost Towns here in Southwestern Montana. Bannack and Elkhorn State Park are two such sites. I visited Bannack a few months ago. I am planning to visit Elkhorn soon!
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Hey Alan, we are enjoying your latest video on Garnet. We moved to Idaho 3 years ago from Chicago and have really loved seeing your travels. Maybe we will run into you on the road sometime. All the best.
Ed,
Thanks so much for your kind words. By all means if you found yourself in SW Montana (and soon in Wy/Id/Ut), let me know!
Al