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Drilling carried on for several years at both Kintla Lake and a second
well near the confluence of Kintla Creek and the North Fork of the Flat-
head River (also known as Kintla Lake Oil Well). No oil was ever struck
at either, and soon the operation was abandoned. Across the border, near
the town of Waterton, oil enthusiasm was also running high and many dry
wells had been drilled in the 1890s.
Persistence can sometimes pay off: in 1902 oil was actually struck at a
depth of just over 1,000 feet. It was designated "the first oil well in western
Canada." However, over the course of two years, it only produced a total
of 8,000 barrels.
By 1904 that well was also abandoned.
Hikers along the north shore of Kintla Lake nowadays will find the re-
mains of the rusting hulk of a steam concentrator eerily appearing out of
the water.
The biggest oil boom in the park was actually back in the Swiftcurrent
area again.
Some of the unsuccessful mines had noticed some oil seepage and even
bubbles rising up from near the banks of Sherbourne Lake. Again, much
excitement was generated, several claims were filed across the Swiftcur-
rent Valley, and "roughnecks" were brought in to drill. Some small quanti-
ties of gas were discovered, but very little oil, if any. Despite this, one well
was designated the "first producing oil well in the state of Montana" in
1905. By 1907 the oil boom was over. In all, eight to ten wells were drilled,
Remains of the Cracker Stamp Mill (top) and the eerie Kintla steam concentrator (bottom).
