The American Old West has filled the fantasies of children and adults alike, inspiring countless bestsellers, blockbusters, and theme parks around the world. For anyone who has ever dreamed of packing up and moving out West to live out their dreams of roping steers and rustling cattle, this remarkable little town in Montana which just hit the market might be your chance.
Perched on the eastern slope of Montana’s Continental Divide sits Frontier Town, once an Old West-themed tourist attraction, now a private residence currently on the market for $1.7 million (£1.43 million). Just 15 miles west of downtown Helena, Frontier Town was established in 1948 by John R. Quigley and his wife Sue. The property operated as a Western-themed attraction until 2001, when it came under private ownership.
The property was a true passion project for Quigley, who had been born and raised on a nearby cattle ranch, and whose grandfather was one of Montana’s earliest settlers, according to the Frontier Town website. After the end of the Second World War, Quigley began chasing his childhood dream of having a “hunting and fishing lodge” to enjoy with his friends, an ambition which quickly expanded into the 41-acre attraction which Quigley built entirely by hand.
Quigley was not alone in his endeavors, however. In 1950, he married Sue Whittier of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Quigley had warned his future spouse that his was a hard life, and one which she might not wish to share, but Sue took to life in Frontier Town with tremendous enthusiasm, serving as bartender, hostess, bookkeeper, and manager of the enormous gift shop. Indeed, according to Quigley’s daughter, Kitty Ann, it was Sue’s head for business and prowess as a saleswoman that built Frontier Town into such a success.
In its heyday in the 1950s and 60s, Frontier Town was a true destination, attracting thousands of visitors with its quirky roadside attraction – an animatronic sculpture of a man and his dog being attacked by a bear, accompanied by a stereophonic looped track of barks and growls which echoed across the mountains. The property gained national fame, featuring in both Time and Architectural Digest, and played host to several celebrities ranging from Dinah Shore to Reverend Billy Graham.
Today, however, the town’s many structures stand empty, desolate, and in varying degrees of disrepair – a veritable Old Western ghost town. The outbuildings include a vast dining hall, saloon bar, gaming lounge, workshop, detached garage, and picturesque church, all of which feature the characteristically “Western” use of exposed logs and stones which, according to the Frontier Town brochure, Quigley cut and shifted by hand. Many of the cabinets and pieces of furniture still on the property are also Quigley’s own handiwork.
The dining hall is a particularly impressive feat, built by Quigley in exactly two weeks, and designed to accommodate the 2,000 visitors the attraction frequently drew on good days. The far end of the hall once housed a revolving stage which Quigley built himself out of logs weighing over five tons. For many years, the stage was home to a collegiate summer theatre troupe who acted out melodramas for Frontier Town’s guests.
The dining hall also features a series of large picture windows showcasing the breathtaking mountain views, as well as an enormous stone fireplace around which guests would gather. Quigley could generally be found presiding over the fire, dressed in either old fashioned rancher or traditional Native American attire. A “master of promotion,” Quigley was always eager to chat with his guests, regaling them with stories of Frontier Town’s epic construction and his own “mountain man” ancestry.
In addition to his efforts as a craftsman, Quigley was also a prolific collector, assembling one of the world’s most extensive private collections of Western antiques and memorabilia. According to the Frontier Town brochure, his treasures included old guns, etchings, books, Native American clothing and artifacts, gold samples, frontier carriages, outdated drugs, and even chamber pots. A portion of the remaining collection can still be seen displayed in the dining hall.
Perhaps the most impressive design feature in Frontier Town is the enormous split log bar, measuring fifty feet, six inches in length, and weighing more than six tons. The bar actually featured in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” as the world’s longest one-piece bar. As with nearly everything on the property, Quigley cut the bar himself with a chainsaw from a single Douglas Fir, and hand polished and sanded it to a mirror-like finish.
In addition to its impressive size, the saloon bar is also a work of art. Into the bar top at each end of the bar Quigley carved two scenes, one of two male elk fighting over a female, and the other of a prowling mountain lion. At the far end of the bar are eight bar stools, each topped with a genuine riding saddle. At the opposite end, a cosy fireplace nook was a popular gathering spot for guests.
Artistry meets engineering in an intricate diorama which runs the length of the back bar, and features countless buildings, figurines, and animals, all sculpted by hand. A miniature eagle soars on a silk thread, once powered by a small motor sunk into an above beam, and a tiny stagecoach runs the length of the bar on a cable. Fresh water bubbles into a stream which cascades into a waterfall that once was used as a tap for drinks. Though the diorama no longer operates, much of it remains intact.
Perhaps the most beautiful building in Frontier Town is the chapel, constructed, like the other buildings, by Quigley from enormous native logs and rocks. The chapel was non-denominational, open to anyone who wished to come for worship, meditation, or just to enjoy the beautiful views out of the picture window behind the altar. With a capacity of up to 50 people, the chapel frequently served as a location for services, weddings, and baptisms, according to the Frontier Town brochure.
The interior of the chapel is equally magnificent, with ten pews hand-hewn from large pine trees, their kneeling rails covered in sheepskin. The picture window behind the simple altar at the front of the building frames a magnificent mountain view, while the rear of the chapel holds a choir loft and a small organ. During Frontier Town’s operation as a roadside attraction, stereophonic music played throughout the chapel to create a peaceful respite for guests.
Another impressive structure to be found onsite is Quigley’s workshop, where much of the town’s furniture, cabinetry, and artistic detailing was created. Historian and author K. Ross Toole wrote of Quigley, “I have never met a man whose free-wheeling imagination and substantial artistic talents have been translated so positively into log and stone.” Many of his tools, both decorative and functional, are still on display, along with one or two unfinished projects.
In spite of its rolling acres and numerous outbuildings (which boast 42 rooms in total), the residential section of the property is a modest 13,500 sq ft, with only one bedroom and one bathroom. However, once the Quigley family residence, the home’s interior is a Western-lover’s dream, replete with a wood-burning fireplace, exposed log beams, and large picture windows showcasing a view of up to 75 miles on a clear day, according to the listing.
This cosy cabin is a perfect escape for lovers of hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing, all of which can be found mere minutes from its back door. The property boasts 15 springs, as well as its very own pond, which is suitable for fishing and swimming.
The exposed wood and local stone continue throughout the house, creating a warm and rustic atmosphere, and every window offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountainous landscape. In addition to the ensuite bedroom, the house includes a kitchen and breakfast nook, dining room, living room, and den, which can also be modified to include another bedroom, perfect for guests or children.
In 1992, Frontier Town was sold to Denham Richard Pegg, who auctioned off much of Quigley’s collection of Western antiques, art, and heirlooms, “thereby destroying much of Frontier Town’s unique culture and character,” according to its website. However, there are still plenty of curiosities housed on the property, many of which will come with its purchase, giving some lucky buyer a chance to own a real piece of Western history.
The property’s rustic décor and prominent use of natural, local materials create the clever illusion that the home is merely an extension of its breathtaking natural surroundings, bringing the outside in. While the cabin is of course equipped with all the modern amenities, including a washer and dryer, full range, and central air, the aesthetic remains one of antiquated and rugged charm.
After dedicating his life to Frontier Town for 32 years, Quigley passed away from cancer in 1979 at the age of 64. He left the property, and with it his own legacy, in the care of his wife Sue and daughter Kitty Ann (pictured above with Quigley). For Quigley, an abiding love of the land and his family connection to it had always been the driving force behind his ambitious construction. “This is my land and my grandparent’s legacy to me and my children,” he once wrote.
Sue Quigley continued to operate Frontier Town until 1992. Kitty Ann and her husband, who had been helping Sue run the attraction, offered to buy Frontier Town, but Sue chose instead to sell to Denham Richard Pegg. The property quickly became a financial nightmare to operate, needing more repairs and maintenance than its substantially reduced profits could possibly cover. Financial difficulties led to legal troubles, and Pegg finally lost the property, which was sold in a 2001 sheriff’s auction for only $190,000 (£160,300).
That the property is in such excellent condition today is to the credit of its purchaser and most recent owner, Tom Battershell. Battershell purchased what Kitty Ann descirbed as “a shell of a maintenance nightmare.” Intending to use the property as a private residence, Battershell worked hard to preserve and restore its many buildings, which Kitty Ann admits she and her husband could never have afforded to do. Amenities in the cabin in particular, such as the ensuite bathroom, benefited from Battershell’s renovations.
However, given its tremendous sentimental, not to mention potential commercial value, it should come as no surprise that the Quigley family is eager to reclaim Frontier Town now that it’s finally back on the market. According to a post on the Facebook page “John Quigley’s Frontier Town, Montana USA,” Kitty Ann’s daughter Taegan Walker (who now operates the page) has been in negotiations with Battershell over a selling price for a year and a half, but her ultimate offer of $1.5 million came in just $200,000 short of Battershell’s asking price.
“It’s pretty obvious I am heartbroken,” Walker told MontanaRightNow.com. “I have dedicated much of my life to getting it back. I am crushed.” However, Walker has not yet given up hope of bringing Frontier Town back into the family fold. Just days after the listing was posted, Walker launched "The Quigley Family Frontier Town Heritage Foundation" in an attempt to raise enough money to match the listing price and purchase the property. “I face my fears because my goals demand it,” Walker’s post reads. “Here's to chasing dreams.”
While it remains impossible to predict whether or not the Quigley family will be successful, or if the property will come under the ownership of yet another ambitious real estate pioneer, Walker’s sentiments unquestionably echo her grandfather’s driving ethos in establishing this remarkable attraction. “A dream, a desire, an ambition. Call it what you may,” wrote Quigley, “but for the love of a past, and a heritage, Frontier Town was built to help preserve part of it. It’s my little bit for honoring my frontier forebears.”