THE TRAIL LEADS TO ROCKVALE, MONTANA
Rockvale, Montana is a historic legacy location located in south central MT. This strategic location was and still is a navigation headquarters at the junction of Rock Creek and the Clarks Fork river, (Named for Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition) just a few miles south of Yellowstone river! Today, you might recognize Rockvale by the large
roadside ferris wheel, the extremely tall Muffler man (the cowboy with the oversized gun!), or the major highway junction of 310 and 212. When horses and wagons were the premier method of transportation, multiple trails met at this Montana destination. Most well-known, this junction was part the Bozeman Trial used by traders, trappers, cowboys/girls, gold pursuers, and some of the earliest Montanans staking their claim and adventure in MT. This junction was the spot where some of MT’s first could lodge, trade, gamble, tell tall tale’s, take-in a meal, and have a spirit or two! becoming a main rail for the Northern Pacific Railroad in the early 1900’s. Today, when your feet rest at Rockvale, to the south you’ll see the skyline towards Powell, Cody, and Cooke City. Fixing your eyes west the overly scenic Red Lodge and Beartooth pass. Heading south from Billings and Laurel, either way you chose to go at this junction you’re heading toward an entrance of Yellowstone National Park and some of the most beautiful scenes in America! The Fort Restaurant at Rockvale was first built in 1958. Spanning over a half-century of entertainment history, The Fort has played host a wide variety of surrounding communities from Laurel, Silicia, Edgar, Joilet, Roberts, Bridger, Belfry, Cody, and Powell. And, The Fort has seen all kinds of entertainment seekers from Billings’s families out for the quick get-away to tourists to skiers to motorists needing a quick break from the road. In 2016 the Fort is entertaining stronger than ever and this fall has new plans to put the bar/grill, casino and live poker back into the landscape at Rockvale! New additions include 8 ceiling mounted local draft beers, 20 new casino machines, weekend live poker, western bar/grill menu, daily food and drink specials, over 10 flat screen TV’s, Sunday buffet, and kids games in the restaurant. Next summer the incredibly large patio and putting green will be a great way to enjoy the sun, music and the western scenery. In 2017 history will be restored with plans for a large campground including short term and long term campers among the clear water and tall cottonwood trees. A historic Montana junction from horse’s on dirt trails to big rigs driving the highways, you can’t miss this location and this location has a long name of providing entertainment for all passing through!
