Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 9 82 FISHTAIL GENERAL STORE FISHTAIL e sign out front of the Fishtail General Store reads "A little bit of everything since 1900." Cherished by the locals and tourists alike, the Fishtail store has the honor of being the old- est continually operating general store in Montana as well as a gathering hotspot for this tiny commu- nity. It's more than a stop for groceries, sundries, over-the-counter pharmacy needs or gas. An in-house bakery/deli, Kombucha on tap, legendary homemade sausages, and ice cream cones are all part of the operation designed to keep up with the times. It's a favorite stop for miners heading to work at the nearby Stillwater Mine, picking up a breakfast wrap or sandwich. Or in the last few years the many visitors heading to the elegant concerts at Tippet Rise. A large wooden picnic table in the back near the deli is more than just a place to chill; it doubles as the store's guest book, with folks writing their names and dates of visits. Katy tells how a couple came in and when the gal went to use the restroom, her guy wrote on the table "will you marry me?" When she returned, he showed her the proposal and she wrote down "yes." Katy and Bill Martin purchased the store in 2000. With Bill's passing in 2018, Katy remains an energetic force behind the popular- ity of the General Store. Her son Kirk runs the Fishtail Grind, a coffee bar attached to the store. COOKE CITY STORE COOKE CITY No matter how you find your way to Cooke City, the drive is one of Montana's best. e town anchors the west end of the Beartooth Highway coming from Red Lodge and serves as the east entrance into or out of Yellowstone National Park. Established in 1886, this gem is on the National Historic Register. Open May 1 through September, the store sees a sizable number of visitors during the summer months, but it's also a much-needed source of goods for the locals because of its remote location. Groceries, beer and wine, gifts, sporting goods, penny candy, hardware, fishing licenses, and dry goods fill the shelves of this two-story structure with its fire engine red exterior. e original hand- crank cash register and a 1904 scale are still in use. Cooke City owes its roots to gold first being discovered in 1870 on what was originally part of the Crow Indian Reservation. When land opened up for exploration in 1882, the miners poured in. e popula- tion today is around 145. Troy and Beth Wilson, owners of the store since 2004, shift to their Billings home in the off-season. Troy wears many hats in the commu- nity—fire chief, town notary, search and rescue member, water Board member. When the snow flies, he accesses the town via snowmobile from Sunlight Basin to attend to his civic duties. Troy is quick to say that the people that he and Beth have met and friendships that have developed over the years are the ultimate reward for owning the Cooke City Store. F I N D Y OU R A D V E N TU R E F I N D Y OU R A D V E N TU R E • SP I R I T A N D I N S P I R A T I O N • • SP I R I T A N D I N S P I R A T I O N • COOKE CITY FISHTAIL "WE WERE THE WALMART OF THE WORLD WHEN THERE WAS NO WALMART"

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