Mining Origins
Prospectors discovered the thermal springs 16 miles east of Butte in 1868 while seeking precious metals and acquired the land. The drying up of the gold in the region led to the sale of the property.
Resort Established
Investor John Paul purchased the land around the Pipestone Hot Springs in 1870. Eight years later he opened a public resort.
Accolades and Expansion
Print reviews of visits to the resort reported restorative cures to be found in the waters of the hot springs by 1888. John Paul expanded the resort in 1893.
Peak Years
Three stagecoaches per week from Butte visited the resort in the early 1900s. Subsequently, it became a stop on Northern Pacific Railroad's main line, and the Montana Department of Agriculture and Publicity called attention to its easy accessibility by automobile as early as 1921.
New Ownership
John Alley purchased the resort in 1912. Fires ravaged the property in 1913 and 1918, destroying two large hotels and other buildings. Alley built a third, smaller guesthouse shortly after.
Demise
With waning popularity over the following decades, the resort was closed to the public in 1963.
