Distinctly Montana Magazine

45 w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m S P R I N G S S P R I N G S Quinn's Hot Springs started much more rustic than the afore- mentioned sites. Originally people had to hike over the moun- tain ridge to get to the springs. In 1909 railroad tracks were built, which helped, but they still had to cross the swinging bridge Quinn made himself to get there. These were some challenging times for travel in Montana, but in the 1930s, when Lolo National Forest West was established, a dirt track was constructed to the resort from Highway 200. Bet- ter days were ahead for Martin Quinn's favorite destination, and —through it all—the location stayed in the family name. Fred Harwood, a Northern Pacific Railroad engineer, and Quinn's daughter Maggie would have six children, two of whom—Jack and Dick—would take ownership of the hot springs and are responsible for the Harwood House Restaurant, perhaps best known for its seafood. The Harwoods sold the resort in 1974. Today, any vehicle can make the trip to what's become one of the most popular hot springs locations in the region. It is now in its heyday, as most weekends for 2023 are already booked. The resort has seven pools, five of which have a 100% natural flow ranging from 100 to 106 degrees. They also have a cold plunge set to 55 degrees and two salt-treated pools set around 90 de- grees for swimmers to enjoy at their leisure. As for lodging, there are close to 75 rooms, including two lodges and more than 25 canyon and riverside cabins. The exquisite location—overlook- ing ponderosa pines, the Clark Fork River and the Rocky Moun- tains—is also host to holiday parties and concerts. Their most recent show featured a baroque classical duo. BROADWATER HOT SPRINGS & FITNESS It was 1889, a rich time for Montana, and a celebratory one at that. It was the year Montana became a state and the year rail- road company president Colonel Charles Broadwater unveiled his Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium in Helena, the town in which he'd made his riches with the development of Montana's freight industry. As a believer in the medicinal properties of the Ten-Mile hot springs water, it was Broadwater's dream to build a magnificent resort with an emphasis on health and wellness. He did that and more, creating what would be considered the largest natural hot water plunge in the world, a 30,000-square-foot indoor pool. This mind-blowing display of elegance was topped off with a for- S P R I N G S S P R I N G S

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