Welcome to Hot Springs MT

Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce

P O Box 627
Hot Springs, MT 59845
406-741-2662

email: 
hscofc@hotspringsmt.net

 

Homesteader's Days

"Homesteader's Days is an annual event in Hot Springs, and is held the second weekend in June of each year. It is a family fun weekend including street games, live music on Main Street, a two-day rodeo, food and craft street vendors, a kiddie parade on Saturday, a grand parade on Sunday, art and craft shows, and much more. Join us the second weekend in June for this traditional event which honors the original homesteaders in the Hot Springs area."

 

Click Here for History of Homesteaders Day 

Click Here to Read Information about Booth

Click Here to Open & Print Application for Booth

Click Car Show Poster

Click Rodeo Poster

 

 

 

Click for Larger View

Click for Larger View or to Print


 

Click Here to Open & Print Application Below

HOMESTEADER' S DAYS
JUNE 7, 8, 9 2013 OUR 64TH YEAR!!


1.  APPLICATION and FEES must be received by June 1,2013.
2.  Mail to: Homesteader Days• c/o Symes Hotel PO Box 651, Hot Springs, MT. 59845.  For Questions, call 406-741-2361 or e-mail: symes@hotsprgs.net.
3.  If you are a FOOD VENDOR, please -send us, with the application, a copy of your food handling permit. Food
Vendors cannot operate without this permit.
4.  Will you need electricity? PLEASE let us know before the opening date. It is in limited supply and must be planned for.
5.  Weather is sometimes windy and rainy at this time of year. Please bring any protection you might need.
6.  Please check in at the Symes Hotel front desk, whether you are checking in Thursday, or Friday. They will show you the map with your assigned space.
7.  If you have been a vendor at Homesteader Days before, and have a preferred spot, please indicate on your application, and we will try to accommodate.
 8.   COSTS FOR 2013: Fee per day: Friday, and Saturday:  $25.00 for each 10x12 foot booth size, each day.         

 Sunday:$15.00 for each 10x12 ft. booth size for the day.
9.  ONE TIME COST FOR ELECTRICITY: $15.00
lO. The Symes Hotel is located at 209 Wall St. N.

Once you have turned off the highway and are on Hot Springs Road (which turns into Broadway) you will come to at intersection. At the stop sign you will see across the street, The Valley Bank, and the Post Office. Turn R, it will be Spring St.. Make the very First L, (1st Ave N) J go two blocks and The Symes will be right in front of you!


*COST Per Day:
Friday, June 7: $25.00 for 10x12 foot booth
Saturday, June 8: $25.00 for 10x12 foot booth
Sunday, June 9: $15.00 for 10x12 foot booth
 

We look forward to SEEING YOU!!!!!
 

Click Here to Open & Print Application Below



More about Homesteader's Days Click Here

 

Year ago, century before last, Lewis and Clark identified the Indians that they were visiting with as "Flatheads".  The winter camp of the Salish Indians was on the banks of the large, Flathead Lake.  In truth, the tribe of the Flathead is Salish, Kootenai and Pend D'Orielle.   And, many, many years ago, the Flathead Indians pitched their camp of teepees close to the many bubbling springs thatcame up, through the earth.   They recognized the water as soothing, and curative. They called it "Good Medicine".

And so, when the Homestead Act took place in 1910; the tribes chose their allotments of lands first, and then the homesteaders were allowed to choose their plots of 80, or more acres.  From Niarada to Lonepine to Camas and Hot Springs, Homesteaders and Tribesmen alike, ranched and farmed and developed this area of the Western Flathead Reservation.

By 1910, Hot Springs (once called Pineville, due to the wide variety of pine trees in the region), had its own Post Office, and was developing into a healthy community in large part due to the many hot springs that promised health and healing.  The 28 day  cure promised life changing events, and brought commerce to the area, as many  "housekeeping cabins" were  built, along with several  grand hotels (The Symes and Alamedas are still thriving today), that  promised deluxe accommodations along with the physical improvements they would benefit from, via the hot springs.

The town of Camas was at one time more developed than Hot Springs.   By the 1920's most commerce had moved to Hot Springs, in part because the majority of the beneficial “springs" existed in Hot Springs.   In the 1930's the town  boasted several  car dealerships, hair dressers, restaurants, several  grocery stores,   a movie house, a men's clothing store, a government funded/constructed bath house, with eight  tubs, two steam rooms and rooms for massage.

Homesteader Days began in 1949, at the time that the largest bathhouse was erected and dedicated by the Confederated Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. It remained active and maintained by the Tribes until the 1980's, when it fell Into disrepair and was determined safe to use.  To bridge this gap between the closed bathhouse, many areas with naturally occurring hot springs improved upon their sites. "Big Medicine" is the spot where tribal member, Leroy O'Bennick maintains the well known mud baths and hot mineral baths. There is Rose's Plunge (Rose is a Tribal Member), Alameda's and The Symes Hotel with outdoor AND indoor soaking available.

Join us as we celebrate the beauty of the reservation, (some people call it the town that time forgot... , the naturally occurring  Hot Springs and all of the PEOPLE, Indian and White, that have treasured this land and maintained it alive as a wonderful tribute to our pioneering spirits.

Norah Potts

May 5, 2012

 

 


web design
Beaver Creek Consultants
05/31/2013