Karst Kamp
There were three dude ranches: Michener Camp, Karst Camp and Buffalo Horn Resort. In the early days they cooperated, agreeing to charge $12 per week for room and board. The first visitors came with little or no knowledge of the “Wild West.” They rode horses, hiked, fished, panned for gold and were entertained with outrageous, mostly untrue, tales. Once the Northern Pacific Railroad began to advertise the area, the ranches started hosting more and more guests, most traveling from Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Chicago and other big cities to the east.
Pete Karst built a tourist business that went beyond the usual dude ranches in the area. Aside from being located on the one of the best fishing holes on the Gallatin River, he had a bar and restaurant, a museum of artifacts, electricity, a heated swimming pool and, when his daughter happened to marry a golf pro, he installed a golf course. At the height of his business, Karst had over 25 guest cabins.
During the prohibition of the 20’s, Karst Kamp was a place where people could get liquor. All they had to do was go to the bar and ask for a “bottle of pop.” Pete Karst himself famously said, “It was pretty good bootleg. No one ever went blind.” However, one day Karst sold some liquor to a federal agent. After begging and crying to the judge, he was allowed to serve his 100-day sentence during the winter so as not to interrupt his business.
In the winter of 1935, Karst constructed the first ski tow in Montana. People came from Bozeman on weekends to ski and party at Karst Kamp. They held races and constructed a 90-foot ski jump. Jumpers came from around the country, several Olympians among them, to show the locals how to do it.
People remember that Karst would dig a large hole in the narrow road in front of his place, hauling water from the river to fill it. He would then charge $3 per car to be towed out.
People would have so many laughs with Pete Karst; they would often stay for a drink, a meal or even a few nights. It was this amazing man’s legendary character that drew many people to spend many summers enjoying this area. Karst Kamp was sold in the early 1950’s. Today, it is private land with some small cabins. The legendary fishing hole is still there, available for beginner fly-fishing lessons through Montana Whitewater Rafting Company.
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Information courtesy of “Montana’s Gallatin Canyon” by J.Cronin and D.Vick.