Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 76 Drinks are available, the prime rib dinner is tasty, the non-smoking cabins offer live music by local entertainers, and you're guaranteed a pretty peaceful ride—until you run into the masked bandits, who tend to show up without notice. e Chew Choo runs from Mother's Day through early October. VISIT BIG SPRINGS TROUT HATCHERY Big Springs Trout Hatchery is located just seven miles southeast of Lewistown next to Big Springs. It is the largest coldwater pro- duction facility in the state of Montana. Established in 1922, the hatchery can produce about 130,000 pounds of fish each year, and is also the site of the city's pure water spring. GO FISHING In the words of Jim Harrison, "You can't be unhappy in the middle of a big, beauti- ful river." In Lewistown, Spring Creek gives rise (pun fully intended) to dozens of fishing options. Fly-fishing opportunities abound year- round, and Big Spring Creek is home to six separate public fishing access sites, managed by MT FWP. What's not to love about a town that makes it possible to catch a nice rainbow within city limits? If you'd prefer to fish larger water, Lewistown is just a stone's throw from the Judith River. TAKE A WALK Lewistown offers several beautiful, well-maintained public parks, including the Veteran's Memorial Park (right in the middle of downtown), and an extensive trail system. As you stretch your legs, take a walk through Lewistown's historic city center, which features brick buildings that date back to the early 1900s and were built by Croatian stonemasons. For an example of their handiwork, check out the Masonic Temple, which sits at 322 W. Broadway and was built in 1908. HEAD TO A LOCAL FESTIVAL Lewistown has some lively festivals. Depend- ing on what time of year you visit, you can head to the Chokecherry Festival (held the first Sat- urday after Labor Day), the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering (August 16-19, 2018), e Montana Winter Fair (usually in late January) or the Central Montana Fair and Rodeo, which falls on July 25-28th this year and features music by Easton Corbin, a demo derby, and a PRCA rodeo. e community pool and ice rink also host activities throughout the year, and Lewistown is home to drag racing at Montana's oldest quarter-mile drag strip. CHECK OUT A GHOST TOWN Within a stone's throw of Lewistown are several ghost towns, including Kendall and Nelsonville, which was the first tent city in the Judith Mountains. While some of these ghost towns (like New Year) sit on private property, many are on state land and open to exploration. LIVE IT UP IN LEWISTOWN One of the best small towns in Montana, Lewistown has an abundance of everything you could ever want. Land a fly on the glassy water of Spring Creek, take a ride on the din- ner train, or just plop yourself downtown and let your fantasies of old-time Montana run away with you. No matter how you spin it, Lewistown promises not to disappoint. Check out Lynn Donaldson's fun site, Last Best Plates. www.distinctlymontana.com/lynn182 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL LYNN DONALDSON LYNN DONALDSON CENTRAL MONTANA TOURISM REGION The drive between Denton and Lewistown is one of the prettiest stretches of Blue Highway in the state. The Chokecherry Pit Spitting Champion gets to wears the crown and robe.

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