The Last Best Podcast

On this episode of The Last Best Podcast, we talk about the history of skiing in Montana. We learn about the Beef Trail located outside of Butte, which once attracted a famous winter games Olympian in the 1930s. We also share about some of our own experiences skiing (or not skiing) in Montana, and discuss some of the challenges surrounding the popular winter sport.

Thank you so much for listening! Follow us on instagram @lastbestpod. If you are enjoying our episodes, please rate and follow our podcast!

Sources for this episode:

Montana's oldest ski mountain is one for the ages https://bozemanskissfm.com/oldest-montana-ski-area/

Beef Trail Ski Area: History of the early ski area in Butte – Montana Living https://www.montanaliving.com/blogs/outdoors-adventure-in-montana/112961413-beef-trail-ski-area-a-montana-original

Showdown Montana https://www.showdownmontana.com/

Historic Timeline | Big Sky Resort https://www.bigskyresort.com/2025/historic-timeline

History  https://www.bridgerskifoundation.org/about/history

First Tracks | Outside Bozeman https://outsidebozeman.com/activities/skiing/alpine-skiing/first-tracks

The History of Skiing: North America | Shawnee Mountain Ski Area https://shawneemt.com/the-history-of-skiing-north-america/

On this episode of The Last Best Podcast, we talk about the Slayton Mercantile located in the tiny town of Lavina! This location is actually not the original location of Lavina, and this is not the original mercantile. The original was built in 1908 and burned down in 1910. It was rebuilt in the same location. The SMCo as it was referred to, experienced some success over its 90 year history. It played an instrumental role in the homesteading of the area in the early 1900s when many people were making their way out west. According to google, it now serves the community as an entertainment venue.

Book recs:

The Boxcar Librarian: A Novel by Brianna Labuskes

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson

On this episode of The Last Best Podcast, we discuss the beginning of the cattle ranching industry in Montana. Starting with how men heading west to work as fur traders would transition into raising cattle as they saw the decline in demand for animal fur. One of those fur traders, Johnny Grant, would start what is known today as the Grant-Kohrs Ranch, which would become one of the longest running ranches in Montana. Grant, and later, Conrad Kohrs would survive many changes in the industry, while meticulously cataloguing its operations. Today, it is still run as a working ranch by the National Park Service and is also a National Historic Site.

Thank you so much for listening! Follow us on instagram @lastbestpod. If you are enjoying our episodes, please rate and follow our podcast!

Sources for this episode:

Ranching in Montana: History Collections | Montana History Portal

A Farm of Her Own | Montana Women's History

Local History Thursday: The Peach Day Massacre & Sheep Wars of the 1890s – Mesa County Libraries

History & Culture - Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

History - Montana Stockgrowers Association

History and Library Board | Kohrs Library

The Diamond J Ranch opened for its first season in June of 1931 with Julia Bennett as its proud owner and operator. Everyone who stayed at the ranch raved about Julia's hospitality and can do attitude, but opening a dude ranch at the beginning of the Great Depression had numerous challenges. In Part 2 we learn about all the creative ways Julia drew people to her ranch, how she became successful enough to buy a second ranch, and the hardships she faced to keep her dream alive.

Inspiration and excerpts from this episode came from the book, Burning the Breeze: Three Generations of Women in the American West by Lisa Hendrickson.

Thank you so much for listening! Follow us on instagram @lastbestpod. If you are enjoying our episodes, please rate and follow our podcast!

Sources for this episode:

Burning the Breeze: Three Generations of Women in the American West by Lisa Hendrickson

⁠https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/9781496227928/

The Diamond J Ranch opened for its first season in June of 1931 with Julia Bennett as its proud owner and operator. Everyone who stayed at the ranch raved about Julia's hospitality and can do attitude, but opening a dude ranch at the beginning of the Great Depression had numerous challenges. In Part 1 we learn about Julia's early life and all that she experienced that led her to the threshold of what would become the first woman owned dude ranch in Montana.

Inspiration and excerpts from this episode came from the book, Burning the Breeze: Three Generations of Women in the American West by Lisa Hendrickson.

Thank you so much for listening! Follow us on instagram @lastbestpod. If you are enjoying our episodes, please rate and follow our podcast!

Sources for this episode:

Burning the Breeze: Three Generations of Women in the American West by Lisa Hendrickson

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/9781496227928/

https://fayranches.com/property/diamond-j-ranch-montana/

The Old Montana Prison located in the shadow of Powell Mountain would bear witness to tragedy in the spring of 1959. Not long after, the last prisoners would be removed. Leaving the stone walls empty but not for long. Soon, it would see new life as a museum, greeting nearly 40,000 tourists each year.

Sources for this episode:

Montana Vigilantes – Legends of America

The story of ‘Turkey Pete’

Old Prison Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana – Legends of America

The Writing of “Jerry’s Riot”, Montana – Legends of America

Old Montana State Prison: More Than a Museum; Punishment and Incarceration from the Early Days of the Montana Territory to Present Day  Author Haas, Taylor Kate

The Old Montana State Prison situated on Main St. in the small town of Deer Lodge would have a long and storied history in its 108 years of operation. Opening before Montana had even gained statehood, it would hold the lives and souls of many men within its large and imposing stone walls. It was a place ment for punishment, and it took that job seriously. This episode explores the dark and troublesome past of Montana’s first prison.

Sources for this episode:

Montana Vigilantes – Legends of America

The story of ‘Turkey Pete’

Old Prison Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana – Legends of America

The Writing of “Jerry’s Riot”, Montana – Legends of America

 Old Montana State Prison: More Than a Museum; Punishment and Incarceration from the Early Days of the Montana Territory to Present Day

Join friends, Heather and Merlita, as they delve into Montana history!

Follow us on instagram @lastbestpod.