History of the blacktail ranch

Gold, with the help of the railroad, had drawn him west to Montana in 1885. He arrived in Helena where he picked up the brewing trade, first at the Herman-Rister Brewery and then at the famous Kessler Brewery.

1889, the year Montana became a state, Gustav married Augusta Klause. Three sons were born in Helena and soon after, Gustav and Augusta took over a tiny cabin and a small plot of land in the Dearborn River area deserted by an old French trapper. On this homestead another son and a daughter were born.

This was the very start of the Blacktail Ranch, though of course, it wasn't near what you picture today.

Gustav and Augusta's youngest boy, John Frank, married a local homesteader's daughter Minnie Moren in 1928 and had a son, also named John Frank, who is better known as Tag.

By 1948 Tag had built six small cabins up the creek and started an outfitting business. The heart of the Blacktail Ranch at the time was back country hunting, but there were also fishermen and some summertime guests.

Renovations started in 1984 and have continued until today. What used to be a barn for cows and chickens (and a few vehicles when they would fit) is now the main lodge and dining room. The original six cabins up the creek are still guest cabins but have been modernized and moved a little closer to home. Gustav and Augusta's original cabin has become a museum filled with artifacts of more than 120 years on the land, plus archeological treasures from the famous Blacktail cave.

With time, commitment, and a lot of hard work, The Blacktail Ranch has become an inspiring location for workshops, retreats, weddings and, of course, good ol' Wild West vacations.

In Appreciation

Thank you to…

…the staff that has come and gone through the years;

builders and growers; movers and shakers; and those who do the little things too. Each of you has left your mark at the Blacktail and we thank you for your individuality.