BILLINGS RELOCATION AND MEMBERSHIP GUIDE
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Al Littler 869-2030
Tim Hudson 690-0571
Sheri Auer 661-3355
Barb Potzman 698-5914
Ryan Brownell 598-2121
Rod Lorenz
G.D. “Corky” Christman 869-2005
RealtoRs® With experience, a Company You Can trust. 2050 Broadwater Ave., Ste B Billings MT 59102 406.869.2000 www.MtRealEstateBrokers.com
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591-1850
Mo Quast 869-2007
Chris Dunn 698-3531
Joan Shoop Wilson 698-6860
Tom Hanel 690-4448
Terri Welborn 860-0055
Lori Helmey 670-1909
Amber Uhren 670-1942
Leann Zahn 672-5432
Trina White 698-8899
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Open spaces Quality schools
Vibrant economy
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Safety and security
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Wilson 60
Your new community and all it has to offer is just a mouse click away.
www.billings.org
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Our REALTOR® members are committed to sustaining and enhancing the quality of life in Billings. Make a REALTOR® your guide to a wonderful experience.
www.facebook.com/BillingsAssociationofREALTORS
BillingsREALTOR
Billings Association of REALTORS® 406.248.7145 | BoardOffice@Billings.org
Quality of Life – It makes our community HOME.
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hite 99
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RiverStone Health connects individuals and families to the services and resources they need to live a better life. From medical and dental services to prenatal care, from home health care to hospice, our family of professionals cares for you and about you.
www.riverstonehealth.org
406.247.3200 123 South 27th Street Billings, MT 59101
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The Billings Chamber Of Commerce/Convention Visitors Bureau Presents the…
BILLINGS MEMBERSHIP & RELOCATION GUIDE Living and Doing Business in Billings, Montana’s Trailhead
View of Billings from on top of the Rims ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
We’re on call When you neeD uS. • Sign up for our Prepaid Maintenance Program and never pay additional after-hours charges • Furnace Replacement (Financing Available)
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americanautobodybillings.com 406-655-0300
• Billings ONLY Premier Lennox Dealer! Call us 24 hours, 7 days a week
14281/2 GRAND AVE • BILLINGS 245-5424
Selling One Yard at a Time
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Each office independently owned and operated
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650 S. 20TH STREET WEST BILLINGS, MONTANA 59102
Celebrating More Than 55 Years of Service Free Local Delivery, Exceptional Customer Service, Qualified Service Techs
• Office Supplies • Office Furniture • Computers & Printers • Digital Dictation • Shredders • Copiers & Fax Machines • Time Systems • FP Mailing Machines
514 North 32nd Street 245-3029 • Westernoffice.net
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Big Sky level
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Complete care for you and your family! • 240 physicians in over 46 specialties working together to offer outstanding care in our clinics and hospital • One electronic medical record available to all of our providers • da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgery for gynecology and urology • Comprehensive Cancer Center • Level II Emergency & Trauma Center open 24/7 • Accredited Chest Pain Center • Family Birth Center with Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) • Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services • Joint Commission certification for Hip & Knee Replacement program and Primary Stroke Center
CenturyLink Holiday Station Stores U.S. Bank
Beartooth level Billings has been a city where people know how to work together to make the community stronger. At Rocky Mountain Bank, we share that ability to balance individual strengths to make this city a special place to live, work and grow. Rocky Mountain Bank invests time, resources and people to help build a better tomorrow in the communities we serve. You’ll like our professional and personable staff, competitive rates and hometown community spirit. Stop in and see how we can make Great Things Happen for you!
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Airgas Intermountain AT & T Bay, Ltd Big Sky Economic Development BNSF Cellular Plus Corportate Offices Century 21 Hometown Brokers, Inc. Computers Unlimited ConocoPhillips Crowley Fleck PLLP ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Co. Holiday Inn Grand Montana Montana Cycling & Ski Montana Rail Link, Inc.
Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Montana State Fund Optimum Phillips 66 PPL Montana, LLC Prioricare Rocky Mountain College Sam’s Club Stockman Bank, Billings Subway Underriner Honda Vertex Consulting Group Western Security Bank, Downtown Broadway
Published by: The Billings Gazette Project Management: Dave Worstell, Linsay Duty Sales: Lynn Langeliers, Lyssa Massey Shirley Bales, Michelle Donahey Design: Nadine Bittner Editor: Kelly McCandless Photo Contributors: Billings Gazette Staff Photographers, Billings Chamber/CVB, ThinkStock/Jupiter Images Photography. Cover Photo-Zimmerman Trail, inset left to right: ExxonMobile Refinery, downtown and Swords Rimrock Park, Billings. The Billings Membership & Relocation Guide is printed annually as an all-encompassing publication for newcomers and Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau members. The following pages offer essential information to people who are in the process of moving to the city, those who are contemplating relocation as well as a reference publication to residents who choose to support Chamber/CVB members with personal and business dealings.
Billings 406.656.3140 www.RMBank.com
Locations at Downtown, West and Heights. Health Questions? Call HealthLine at 255-8400 or 1-800-252-1246. www.billingsclinic.com
Billings Clinic Crowne Plaza MSU Billings
www.billingschamber.com
Member
FDIC
Great Things Happen!
TM
PO Box 31177 • Billings MT 59107-1177 406-245-4111 • 800-711-2630 Fax 406-245-7333
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contents
FEATURES
Billings, MT - RELOCATION GUIDE & MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY - www.billingschamber.com
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WELCOME TO BILLINGS
FINDING YOUR DREAM HOME
LEARNING AT ITS FINEST
PARKS, PATHS & TRAILS
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall - Montana’s Trailhead is a home for all seasons.
Before you shop for your dream home, learn more about the Billings’ distinct communities.
9 Letter from Chamber/CVB President/CEO 12 Energy Industry 16 Retirement Living 17 Employment & Economy 18 Education 21 Climate & Outdoor Offerings 26 Child Care Listing
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From preschool to postgraduate, education is a priority in Billings.
28 Transportation 30 Billings Scenic Drive Map 32 Healthcare & Medical Services 34 Places of Worship 35 Community Information & Important Numbers 36 Celebrating Community 38 Where Ya Headin’ Next
The Billings trail system is available in all areas of the city limits and beyond. Walk, bike, skate or jog on a trail best suited to your taste.
40 Trailhead to History 43 Membership Directory 55 Alphabetical Listing & Phone Numbers
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BILLINGS IS CHANGING. Your Chamber/CVB Is Leading The Way.
Billings Chamber/CVB located on South 27th ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
Welcome to Billings: Montana’s Trailhead With more than 100,000 residents, Billings is Montana’s city. Shaped by the Yellowstone River and sheltered by the sandstone “Rims” millions of years in the making, Billings is the cradle of progressive regional commerce providing healthcare, transportation, exceptional shopping experiences, diverse educational opportunities, cuisine and arts & culture to over 350,000 people throughout the region. This is a place of forever views, forever memories and the adventure of the untamed wilderness right out our front door. Explore our trails as you stroll along the Yellowstone, ride your bike along the Rimrocks or walk through one of our many parks.
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Billings connects you to warm, genuine, hardworking people who possess a perspective on life that is uniquely Montanan and inherently individual - people who look you in the eye and take time to welcome you home. This is the land where General Custer fought the Sioux and Cheyenne, where Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led their people through struggles and to victories, where William Clark left his signature as the Lewis & Clark Expedition passed through and where Calamity Jane raised a ruckus. Billings is a special place to live, work and recreate. From here, your trail can take you back in time or to the top of the world, anywhere or nowhere at all. So weigh the
possibilities, get ready for the trek of a lifetime and then decide… WHERE YA HEADIN’? Billings is Montana’s Trailhead. Welcome,
John Brewer, CAE President & CEO Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau
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About Billings,
MONTANA’S TRAILHEAD Aerial of Billings from the Rims ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
We welcome you to become a part of the Billings community. We know you will enjoy the business focused, family-friendly quality of life with access to some of the most beautiful backcountry in the nation. Billings is a growing community and plays a positive, vital role as a leader in the region in many industries including energy, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Billings is the largest city in Montana. It is within the county of
Elevation: Population:
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Yellowstone and is the largest metropolitan and trade area in a 500 mile radius. It is the largest city between Denver, CO and Calgary, Alberta and between Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Spokane, Washington. Billings, Montana’s Trailhead is experiencing growth with one of the largest actual population increase of any other Montana city. More than 14,323 new residents call Billings home today compared
QUICK INSIGHT
3567’ • Billings City Limits: 104,170 • Yellowstone County: 147,972 (2010 Census) Area Code: 406 Postal Abbreviation: MT Latitude: 45’East 48’North Longitude: 108’East 33’West Billings Membership & Relocation Guide Time Zone: Mountain
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to the year 2000. The 2010 Census reports the population of Billings’ city limits at 104,170. The community is the 60th fastest growing out of the 275 cities in the U.S. with populations higher than 100,000. Whether relocating your business or your family, you’ll find Billings, Montana to be a thriving, historic, forward-focused community that offers a strong economic and business base, an abundance of outdoor, historic and
January Average Temperature: 33 degrees F July Average Temperature: 86 degrees F Average Annual Snowfall: 56” inches Billings Chamber/CVB www.billingschamber.com or Resources: www.visitbillings.com City of Billings: www.ci.billings.mt.us Yellowstone County: www.co.yellowstone.mt.us Big Sky Economic Development: www.bigskyeda-edc.org
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Billings homes off Zimmerman Trail ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
MORE ABOUT BILLINGS cultural activities, great schools and western charm. Billings’ residents have passion, a sense of community and an ability to do business locally, regionally and internationally and still hike, bike and ski at a moment’s notice. Billings is Montana’s Trailhead because it is a beginning to any and all of the things you want to do in life: start your career, a business, a family, a vacation or your golden years. You name it, it can begin in Billings. Ask residents about what they love about Billings and you’ll receive responses that in some way relate to the goodness of the people in the community. With the area’s resilient economy, education and medical opportunities, low crime rate, solid housing market, historical roots and wonderful leisure ventures, you’ll find the people who do business here, raise their families here, retire here, and/or play here, genuinely enjoy the community in which they live. Billings has balance. It’s large enough to experience the community at your own pace but small enough to still run into friends at the grocery store. In Billings, despite the national economic challenges, business is
strong, unemployment is low, residents are enjoying life and the scenery is as wonderful as the quality of life. Billings is energized. It embraces and covets its history but looks forward to the future.
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~Photo courtesy of The Billings Gazette
© 2012 BRER Affiliates Inc. An independently owned and operated broker member of BRER Affiliates Inc. P Prudential, rudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered ser service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related the Prudential entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.. Used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. P Equal Housing Opportunity.
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Energy Industry
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BUSINESS & ECONOMY
ExxonMobil Refinery in Billings ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
Billings business and industry serves an area that stretches in excess of 125,000 square miles. The city is a destination for consumers because it provides goods and services to a vast region. Billings is professional but personal. Business incentives include state grant funds, state workforce training grants, low interest – fixed rate long term capital and infrastructure loans as well as SBA 504 Program and Revolving Loan funds. Billings has a strong Chamber of Commerce/ Convention and Visitors Bureau, Economic Development Authority and downtown revitalization organization. Together, officials with these groups work closely with City of Billings and Yellowstone County representatives to help the community grow. Billings was named after Frederick Billings who was the president of the Northern Pacific Railroad from 1879 to 1881. More than a century later, Billings is a vibrant city with a population that nearly doubles every thirty years and with the excellent rail, road and air transportation, industry thrives here. At Montana’s Trailhead, you will experience a community that is the center of progressive regional commerce. Continental Oil began selling products in Billings (“Coulson” at that time) in 1876 – the same year Custer was defeated just 60 miles away along the Little Bighorn River. The first refinery in Billings opened in 1949. Today, the Billings area is home to three refineries producing about 180,000 barrels of oil a day from oil operations in
service and energy center, the educational and medical communities provide tremendous options and opportunities for residents and people in outlying communities. As far as education is concerned, quality education can be found at all levels of curriculum. From pre-school diplomas to doctorates, Billings offers a full spectrum of quality institutions. The Billings Public School System is the largest in the state and boasts some of the most qualified educators in the nation. Montana State University Billings and City College are part of the Montana University System. Rocky Mountain College, University of Mary and Walla Walla University all offer innovative and competitive degree programs that draw students from across the region as well. The medical corridor provides the most advanced healthcare services in a four-state area, including Wyoming and the Dakotas. Two fully equipped and modern hospitals, St. Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic, as well as RiverStone Health offer care from a staff of doctors and healthcare specialists who have received national attention for their medical achievement. There are also 40 medical clinics, some that focus on homeopathic care. Healthcare in Billings is important business. Hundreds of physicians offer quality care in every major medical specialty. A complete range of medical services, surgical services and emergency care are available in the heart of the city. Go to BillingsChamber.com for
Montana, Wyoming and primarily Canada. That oil is distributed to nine western states. A wealth of long-term energy resources yields utility rates that are among some of the lowest in the nation. Coal is a rich natural resource and water is plentiful and of excellent quality. As the drilling in the Bakken Oil Play, the Canadian Tar Sands, and other lucrative locations takes hold, Billings is perfectly positioned as the regional hub for the energy industry in the northwest United States. Billings’ three area oil refineries and the rich coal and oil deposits in our region position the community in the heart of a regional economy focused on energy development, servicing and transportation that extends the 325 miles to the heart of the Bakken Oil Play in Williston. Agriculture also plays a crucial role in the Billings economy. The Western Sugar Cooperative Plant processes a multi-million dollar crop of sugar beets every year. Sugar beet farmers from all across the area deliver to the WS Cooperative plant. You can always tell when it is fall because the sweet smell of sugar-making sweeps across the city with every cool breeze. Agriculture is Montana’s number one industry and Billings plays a major role in maintaining the distinction. Livestock auctions, agriculture supply stores and well maintained roads help support farmers and ranchers in a large radius of the region. In addition to its role as a trade,
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View of Billings downtown area from Four Dances. ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
THRIVING INDUSTRY, BUSINESS & ECONOMY more details. There is also more information on the medical services in Billings in this guide on page 34. Montana, meantime, is one of only a handful of states in the United States without a state sales tax. While Montana has no general sales tax, Yellowstone County and Billings School District #2 collect property taxes in the Billings area. The State of Montana also collects a property tax which is used to fund the university
system. County government and all schools are also primarily funded by property taxes. All property, except agricultural land, has an assessed value equal to its market value as determined by the Department of Revenue. Agricultural land is valued based on its productivity level. For more information on state or local government, go to: ci.Billings.mt.us co.yellowstone.mt.gov or mt.gov In 2009, Fortune Small Business
ranked Billings #1 in the nation to launch a business. The editors of Fortune Small Business magazine based their decision on statistical and qualitative research. Billings’ housing, schools, cultural and recreational attractions, quality of labor force, taxes and regulatory climate make the city competitive for businesses, big and small. The city is a successful investing ground for new and expanding businesses.
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Real Estate IN BILLINGS
Copper Ridge Subdivision ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
The Billings area offers a wide variety of housing opportunities in all price ranges, locations and property types. Choose a view of the mountains, a relaxing deck off the golf course or a ranch in the country to compliment your Montana lifestyle. Billings offers housing opportunities that are as diverse as its scenic views. Come and enjoy your own piece of Montana in Billings.
The average sale price of homes in Billings is $198,000 (as of February 2012). The breakdown of average home prices is as follows: • 2 Bedrooms - $134,900 • 3 Bedrooms - $195,000 • 4 Bedrooms - $214,900 • Condos - $165,900 To find available properties in Billings and the surrounding areas, visit the Billings Association of REALTORS ® website at Billings.org.
MARKET SHARE BY AREA BY CLOSED SALES 2012
For additional information on real estate in Billings, contact any Billings Chamber/CVB member who specializes in real estate, building or property management. You’ll find a full index at the end of this publication, or you can visit BillingsChamber.com and click on Membership Directory to find an agent to meet your needs.
AVERAGE 2012 SALES PRICE BY AREA OF TOWN $300,000
29.6%
$250,000 $190,110 West Billings
$200,000 $150,000
25.7%
$100,000 Northwest
16.7% 9.2% 5.2% 4.8% 4.5% 4.2%
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West Billings Heights West Heights East South Billings Bluecreek Downtown Lockwood
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$50,000 $0 $258,869 $223,060 Northwest Laurel
The s ta s e c ti ti s ti c s in on a r t hi s e of th e Bill cour tesy i ng c ia tio n o f R s As s o EALT O RS ®
$209,937 $203,103 Lockwood Shepherd
$194,710 Heights West
$179,997 Heights East $166,853 Downtown
$113,704 South Billings
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2012 SOLD LISTINGS BY PRICE RANGE 2012 SOLD LISTINGS
BILLINGS AVERAGE SALES PRICE
BY PRICE RANGE
$212,666
Under $99,999 $100-159K $160-199K $200-249K $250-299K Over $300,000 2012
27.4%
$194,765
2011
$200,172
2010
$191,687
2009
13.1% 22.6% 10.6%
$198,582
2008
$182,110
2007
2012 SOLD LISTINGS BY PRICE RANGE 19.4%
Under $99,999 $100-159K $160-199K $200-249K $250-299K Over $300,000
6.9%
LISTINGS BY PRICE RANGE
Under $99,999 $100-159K $160-199K $200-249K $250-299K Over $300,000
Hurt? Teeth too Dark? Bleed ?
$170,455
2006
$161,942
2005
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Teeth
Gums
when you brush
You Don’t Have to Hide Anymore!
N
ORAL heALth is essentiAL tO geneRAL heALth.
Bernina Sewing Center Features: • • • • • • • •
Handi Quilter Dealer Fabrics Notions Quilting Events Sewing Classes Quilting Fabrics & Notions Horn Cabinet Dealer Unique Sewing Furniture Dealer
Family Dentistry and Implants Same day emergency appointments available Monday-Friday, Extended Hours Available Saturdays by appointment
ED Lawler DDS Billings Dental Clinic
848 Main Suite 1 • Billings 406-256-2243 www.BillingsDentalClinic.com Accessible • Affordable
“ W e c at e r t o c o Wa r d s ”
authorized Bernina dealer 1505 Rehberg Lane Suite A
406-656-4999 or 800-598-8976
www.berninabillings.com • Doris Holzer, Owner sewdoris@aol.com
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Senior Living &
RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
ASPEN VIEW RETIREMENT RESIDENCE AspenView.net (406) 652-7788 BONAVENTURE SENIOR LIVING BonaventureSenior.com (406) 652-9303 CANYON CREEK – MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY CanyonCreekMontana.com (406) 281-8455 EAGLE CLIFF MANOR EagleCliffManor.com (406) 245-9330 EDGEWOOD VISTA SENIOR LIVING EdgewoodVista.com (406) 256-5398
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HIGHGATE SENIOR LIVING HighgateSeniorLiving.com (406) 651-4833
TENDERNEST, LLC Tendernest.com (406) 655-9100
MISSION RIDGE MissionRidge.org (406) 655-5200
VALLEY HEALTH CARE CENTER ValleyHCC.com (406) 656-5010
MARQUIS GRAND PARK ASSISTED LIVING MarquisCompanies.com (406) 652-6989
WESTPARK VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY WestparkSenior.com (406) 652-4886
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN MINISTRIES Sjlm.org (406) 655-5600 SWEETWATER RETIREMENT COMMUNITY SweetwaterRetirement.com (406) 651-8111
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Employment In the work place, downtown Billings ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Chamber/CVB
The unemployment rate in Billings and Yellowstone County remains one of the lowest in the nation. In February 2012 the unemployment rate in Yellowstone County was ADECCO AdeccoUSA.com (406) 652-7644 ADVANCED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Advanced-Employment.com (406) 652-8808 ARROW SOLUTIONS GROUP arrowsolutionsgroup.com (406) 839-9000 BILLINGS JOB SERVICE EmployBillings.com (406) 652-3080 EMPLOYMENT SOURCE Employment-Source.biz (406) 256-3653 JOB CONNECTION, INC. JobConnection.org (406) 245-6323 KELLY SERVICES, INC. KellyServices.com (406) 652-2070 PRIORICARE Prioricare.com (406) 252-8645 SPHERION STAFFING SpherionCareers.com (406) 655-9200
5.3%. Montana’s rate was 6.2%, with the national unemployment rate sitting at 8.3%. The Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors
Bureau is not an employment referral service, but several members are available to meet your needs as follows:
• Savings • Checking • SuiteRewards™ • Auto, RV, Boat, Motorcycle and Personal Loans • Mortgage and Home Equity Loans • Share Certificates • IRA’s • VISA ® Credit Cards • Free ATM or VISA ® Check Cards • Free Internet Banking and Online Bill Payment • Free eAlerts, eLetters and eStatements • Free Mobile Banking • Free Telephone Teller
Stop in and see us today!
248-1127
www.billingsfcu.org 760 Wicks Lane • 2522 4th Ave. N • 32nd & King Ave. W Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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Education
AT MONTANA’S TRAILHEAD MSU Billings McMullen Hall ~Photo courtesy of MSU Billings
Billings offers a full spectrum of educational options for children and adults. Quality education is an important aspect of the Billings community on every learning level.
SCHOOL DISTRICT #2 – BILLINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Billings School District #2 is the largest school district in the state of Montana with an enrollment of approximately 15,715 students. The District’s instructional program encompasses kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as adult education. School District #2 is made up of 22 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. The District employs about 1,850 full-time equivalent positions. For further information visit BillingsSchools.org or contact (406) 281-5065
PRIVATE AND A LTERNATIVE SCHOOLS
Billings Catholic Schools: The Billings Catholic Schools (BCS) serve nearly 1,000 students enrolled in pre-school through 12th grade. Billings Catholic Schools includes St. Francis Primary, Intermediate, Upper and Billings Central Catholic High School. These schools all operate under the Diocese of Great Falls
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– Billings and are supported in part by the seven Catholic parishes in the city. The system is governed by the Billings Catholic Schools Board. Billings Catholic Schools also offer pre-school, daycare, before school and after school daycare options. More details can be read at BillingsCatholicSchools.org.
HIGHER EDUCATION AT MONTANA’S TRAILHEAD
Rocky Mountain College: Rocky Mountain College (RMC) is Montana’s oldest higher education institution. RMC consistently ranks in the top 10 among most comprehensive colleges in the western United States. A private college, RMC offers more than 27 liberal arts and professionally oriented majors. The college’s low student – to – teacher ratio makes the school very appealing to both traditional and non-traditional students. RMC has an enrollment exceeding 1,000 students. The updated campus, strong sport programs and phenomenal arts and culture programs help make this college competitive across the nation. For more information, log on to Rocky.edu. Montana State University Billings: More than 5,000 students attend MSU Billings which offers more
than 100 degrees ranging from education and business to human services and technology. In 2011, MSU Billings celebrated the largest graduating class in its history with nearly 950 highly qualified students receiving degrees and ready to enter the workforce. The university boasts five distinct colleges including the College of Allied Health Professions, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education and City College. MSU Billings Graduate Studies is home to a robust offering of graduate level degrees. Classes are held during the days and evening to accommodate traditional and non-traditional students. Grants, loans, scholarships and work-study options are plentiful and available for various student needs. Visit MSU Billings online at MSUBillings.edu. University of Mary: The University of Mary expanded from its main campus located in Bismarck, North Dakota, to service Montana in 2003. The University of Mary, Billings Center offers working professionals the opportunity to achieve their educational goals by attending class in Billings just one night per week. The University of
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The Lincoln Center ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
Mary recognizes that adult students have the experience, the discipline and the capability of learning through a non-traditional approach, so the accelerated programs are designed to be completed in as little as 15 months. More information is available at UMary.edu. Yellowstone Baptist College: The Yellowstone Baptist College (YBC) is the only Southern Baptist College in the Northwest. The school was started in 1974 by the Yellowstone Southern Baptist Association. The YBC maintains the highest academic standards possible offering a venue for students to engage in serious study of the Bible and related Christian subjects. Learn more at YellowstoneBaptist.edu Walla Walla University: Walla Walla University is based in Washington State but extended to Billings in 2001 to offer the region social work education. The Billings campus is located on the historic south side of town in a newly remodeled facility with state of the art learning tools. The WWU Billings campus phone number is (406) 254-9907.
Education and Career Advancement program can assist you. This program offers continuing education classes in computers, business, medicine, fitness, wellness, sports, languages, arts and crafts, music, and hobbies as well as parent/ child workshops. You can also work toward and obtain your GED/ Adult High School Diploma. Plus, there are fun and creative “Kid’s only” classes. Contact (406) 281-5010. SAGE Truck Driving Schools have provided top quality, comprehensive professional truck driver training to thousands of students across the country for
almost 20 years. The Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program at SAGE schools provides thorough driver training and trucking job placement assistance for the trucking industry. Call 800-545-4546 for more information.
OTHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND CONTACTS: Billings Education Association: (406) 248-9812 Billings Gymnastics School: (406) 259-2237 Huntington Learning Center: (406) 651-5884
BILLINGS A DULT EDUCATION
Want to return to the classroom to learn? The Billings Adult Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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MONTESSORI AND PRESCHOOLS INCLUDE: Billings Catholic Schools (406) 252-0997 Grace Montessori Academy (406) 652-1739 Head Start, Inc. (406) 869-1211
CHILDCARE OPTIONS AND RESOURCES:
If you have young and/or schoolaged children, Billings offers a number of options for you to consider when looking for that
perfect place to take them. Whether it’s before school or after school care that is needed, or both, there are several licensed and highly recommended childcare facilities and programs at Montana’s Trailhead. The following childcare focused businesses are members of the Billings Chamber of Commerce/CVB:
Boys & Girls Club (406) 245-2582 C.A.R.E: Academy (406) 252-3839 Friendship House (406) 259-5569 Shirley’s Place at St. Vincent’s (406) 657-7000 St. John’s Lutheran Ministries (406) 655-5600 The Y.M.C.A. of Billings (406) 248-1685
Ahead of the Curve (406) 652-8953 Big Sky Imaginarium (406) 371-3105
As an individual, I wonder sometimes just what there is about this place. Do I love it because it’s beautiful, or is it beautiful because I love it? All I know is, the heart has room to breathe here, and the soul has room to grow. The city has a spirit – both a life and an energy. Herb Buck The Billings Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce), 1951
Your universit universitY
VISIT MONTANA’S 9/11 MEMORIAL on the City College campus
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There is no Billings without MSU Billings. Since 1927 the city and university have grown together to build a brighter future for its residents. As our region continues to grow we stand ready to educate the next generation of Billings’leaders.
Visit www.msubillings.edu Call 406.657.2888
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The Climate AND LAND
Billings sits in the Yellowstone River Valley and rests against sandstone bluffs known locally as the Rimrocks. Billings’ climate is surprisingly mild for its northern location. In the winter, while the average annual snow-fall is 56 inches, it rarely accumulates to any great depth due to frequent thawing periods. Bitter cold spells can change into Chinook winds which can raise the mercury 20 degrees in a matter of hours. The old adage, “if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute” applies throughout all of Billings’ seasons. Severe storms are part of a Billings winter, but Logan International Airport rarely closes and experienced road crews across the city, county and state help keep road connections clear for drivers. The shelter of the river valley provides protection that’s not
experienced in cities in comparable northern climates. From unseasonably warm stretches to wet snowfall, springtime in the Billings area offers wide variations in weather. Overall, springtime is refreshing and rejuvenating with perennials sprouting and grass greening. The mercury during a typical summer day can climb into the 90’s making the summer nights perfect for camping, neighborhood walks or outdoor parties with friends. The first frost usually arrives at the end of September, but a warm sweatshirt will suffice as protection for a fall football game at Rocky Mountain College or any of the four local high schools. As for the geography of Billings, the community is settled in south central Montana and is a transitional zone between the eastern plains and the Rocky
Mountains. Big sky views of three mountains ranges, the Rimrocks and the Yellowstone River make up the topography of the area and can take your breath away any time of the year. The Yellowstone River originates in Yellowstone National Park and it flows through south Billings. It moves freely in a northeasterly direction through the Yellowstone River valley and on to its confluence with the upper Missouri River near Montana’s border with North Dakota. The valley soils are deep, well-drained loams with silty clays. The Rimrocks run along the north and east sightlines of the city. These sandstone cliffs range from 300 to 500 feet high above the valley floor. Rolling hills and flat plateaus also make up the diverse landscape and is truly unique.
Geese in Lake Josephine at Riverfront Park. ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
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THE GREAT
Outdoors
Billings is where the plains meet the mountains. You can work hard all week and play hard all weekend. Enjoy rugged mountains, wildlife areas, open vistas, spectacular scenery and meet friendly, helpful people along the way. If you like to play, you’re sure to enjoy Billings’ playgrounds! From the gorgeous Rimrocks to the Yellowstone River you can walk the dog, ride your bike, run like crazy and enjoy the beauty of Billings’ big sky. The recreational opportunities are endless. You can take up an outdoor hobby in each of the four seasons. Enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, skiing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, hunting, golfing, rafting, bird-watching, boating and much more. Enjoy lakes? Head to nearby Cooney Dam, Tongue River Reservoir, Yellowtail Dam or Deadman’s Basin. Yellowstone Lake and Fort Peck Reservoir are a little further away but well worth the drive. If you’d rather stay in town, you can enjoy a long hike on the Rimrocks, drop a line in the Yellowstone River, hang out at Lake Elmo and
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Cycling on top of the Rims ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Chamber
then hit the town for a first-class dinner at one of the areas fabulous locally-owned or franchise eateries. If you’d rather enjoy nature from your vehicle, take a Sunday drive on the one and only Beartooth Scenic Byway or the Chief Joseph Pass in the summer months. Yellowstone National Park is one of the world’s most incredible scenic wonders and it’s a short Montana drive. Want to take in some history? Drive to Pompey’s Pillar, just 20 miles east of Billings, and check out part of the country along the Lewis and Clark trail. Or, you can head south to the historic Little Bighorn National Monument, the legendary site of Custer’s Last Stand. Billings also has a strong city parks system. The City of Billings Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department maintains more than 2,596 acres of dedicated park land for recreation, conservation and special uses. You’ll find plenty of space for energetic recreation as well as quiet corners for meditation in the shade of the many mature trees which grace
the city. To check out places to play soccer, folf, cross-country ski, walk, run, bicycle or picnic, go to prpl.info, BikeNet.org or VisitBillings.com
BILLINGS PARK SYSTEM
Some Park Areas Include: Pioneer Park is one of the city’s most popular parks. It was developed in the 1930s and features 34 acres of weeded, hilly green space with a winding creek, playground, folf course and tennis courts. Several annual community events like Saturday Live (a public school carnival fundraiser) and the popular Billings Symphony Orchestra’s “Symphony in the Park” are held at this beautiful outdoor venue. North Park and South Park date back to the turn of the century and are part of the original town plat. Each park has 17 acres of beautiful landscaping and mature trees. South Park is a summertime favorite for swimmers and both areas offer well maintained grounds as well as updated playgrounds.
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Riverfront Park is located along the banks of the Yellowstone River in south Billings. The park measures 440 acres, twelve of which are developed. The rest of the area has been left in its natural state. Lake Josephine, located in the same vicinity, offers good fishing for a quick afternoon getaway or a long Saturday under the sun. Amend Park is primarily a soccer venue and accommodates thousands of local youth who play the sport. Other community events are also enjoyed at this well-appointed park. The Historic Swords Rimrock Park on top of the Rimrocks is part of the community’s past, present and future. Swords Rimrock Park dances along the Rimrocks and stretches from Skeleton Cliff through Earl Guss Park and connects to the existing trail from Mary Street down to the Yellowstone River. One of Billings’ newest additions is the High Sierra Dog Park located
at the west end of Wicks Lane in Billings’ Heights. The park features separate fenced areas for large and small dogs as well as diverse terrain including grass and natural landscaping. There are 40 other neighborhood parks located cross the city, offering everything from swimming and wading pools to sport fields and skating areas. Any day of the week you might see people walking, jogging or playing tennis during their noon hour and when the snow flies, you’ll even see winter enthusiasts crosscountry skiing and sledding.
Trails:
The Billings Chamber/CVB is passionate about the trail system in Billings and strives to develop the trail system for the economic and healthy community benefits that result from active transportation and improved general quality of life. Additionally, the Chamber/CVB has been active in supporting the development of
new trails to improve their connectivity in Billings as well as working to keep them safe and clean. BikeNet is behind many of the trails Billings’ residents and visitors enjoy. BikeNet was established to support Billings’ efforts to build multiple-use trails. Community support is a key factor in helping BikeNet continue to meet the needs of cyclists and others who use the trail system in Billings. The Billings Chamber/CVB works closely with BikeNet officials to assist in the success of the entity’s mission. That mission is to advocate for trail education, acquisition and development of a county-wide trail system that encourages safety, an alternate transportation mode, a healthy lifestyle, environmental preservation and resource conservation within cost effective constraints. Check out BikeNet.org for all the trail information you need.
Animal Clinic of Billings
and
Animal Surgery Clinic of Billings Wellness Care • Injuries • Illness • Trauma • Orthopedics General Surgery • Physical Rehabilitation & Conditioning Ken Brown, DVM • Anne Ball, DVM Darleen Miller, DVM • Bryna Felchle, DVM • Bobbi Jo Massic, DVM Kay Lynn Allen, Canine Physical Rehabilitation Special diagnostic imaging and surgical procedures CALL 24 HOURS
252-9499
1414 10th St. W. • Billings • www.animalclinicofbillings.com
Riverfront Park trail ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Chamber
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fab rides
While serious long-distance cyclists often tak Molt or the Pryor Creek Loop, the leisurely rid Trail by trying one of these:
Rimrock/ Shiloh Road/ ZooMontana 7 miles
Bike, skate or walk the entire length of Shiloh Road – from Rimrock Road to ZooMontana – entirely on paved bike trails.
Big Ditch Trail 7 miles. This trail starts at the ditch from Lillis Park at Broadwater to just south of King Avenue on 24th Street West. Along the way, you will cross arterial streets like Central Avenue and Monad Road via refuge islands.
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Illustration by&Gazette Staff Artist Billings Membership Relocation Guide Victor Ady
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sts often take a 30-40 mile loop along roadsides to places like eisurely rider can still get a serious workout on the Heritage
Mary St. Trail 6.5 miles This portion of the Heritage Trail runs from St. Mary Street, east of Main Street in the Heights, down around Earl Guss Park, under Interstate-90 and ends in Mystic Park.
Rims to River 10 miles round trip Park west of the 27th Street/Airport Road roundabout and bring along a picnic lunch – this ride is worth several stops. The paved trail merges with vehicular traffic for a block near Boothill Cemetery and connects to the Riverfront trail by MetraPark. (use Main St. Underpass)
Riverfront Park 7 miles
Combined dirt and paved trails wind their way along the scenic Yellowstone River, past Lake Josephine and through the forested park to the Montana Audubon Conservation Education Center near Norm’s Island.
For a complete trail map and information, log on to BikeNet.org. Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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Daycare/Preschool Apostles lutherAn preschool 3140 Broadwater Ave. Billings, MT 59102 406-656-7141 www.apostlesmt.net 3 to 5 year olds
GooD shepherD preschool 1108 24th St. W. Billings, MT 59102 406-656-1080 www.lcgspreschool.com Half day classes for ages 3 and 4
Mount olIve lutherAn school A Classical Academy 2336 Saint Johns Ave. Billings, MT 59102 406-652-7431 Kindergarten thru 7th grade
BIllInGs cAtholIc schools preschool AnD DAYcAre 511 Custer Ave. Billings, MT 59101 406-252-0997 www.billingscatholicschools.org Ages 3 to 10
KID corrAl chIlDcAre & leArnInG center 5555 Lester Road Shepherd MT 59079 406-373-KIDS www.kidcorral.net 6weeks – 12 years
the Fun Zone Drop-In chIlD cAre, toDDler escApe Inc. 2156 Central Ave. Billings, MT 59102 406-655-8144 www.thefunzonedropinchildcare.com We accept all ages
hrDc coMMunItY ActIon AGencY 7 N. 31st Billings, MT 59101 406-247-4732 www.hrdc7.org All ages
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Mount olIve lutherAn preschool 2336 Saint Johns Ave. Billings, MT 59102 406-656-2635 www.mountolive.com 3 to 5 years old
Zooschool preschool At ZooMontAnA 2100 S. Shiloh Road Billings, MT 59106 (406) 698-5760 www.zoomontana.org/education Ages 3, 4 and 5
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A Space for Your Family’s Pace. A ll Su it eS: • Hot Breakfast • Kitchens • Indoor Pool • Sport Court • Pet Friendly
Riverfront Park ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Chamber
Financial options for every phase of your life Call, click, or stop by and talk with a banker. Five convenient locations in Billings: Downtown • 175 N. 27th St. • 406-657-1903 Homestead • 2235 Grand Rd. • 406-655-6109 Heights • 1325 Main St. • 406-238-0737 Albertson’s • 2334 Central Ave. • 406-652-8288 Albertson’s • 3137 Grand Ave. • 406-652-1660
CheCk ouT our PhoTo Tour at www.marriott.com/bilri
wellsfargo.com
Bi l l i n g S, M T All loans are subject to application, credit qualification, and income verification. © 2013 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (870493_08008)
406-656-3900 Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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Transportation Logan International Airport in Billings ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
AIR SERVICE
Air service in Billings is top notch and something the community is very proud of. Billings Logan International Airport serves a large demographic region including most of eastern Montana and Northern Wyoming. This area represents a population base of more than 337,000 who utilize the airport. Find out more at FlyBillings.com. Aside from the scheduled major air carriers that have flights daily connecting Billings with all points of the world, there is one fixed base operator, Edwards Jet Center, located at the airport. For more information call (406) 252-0508. Also, Corporate Air specializes in air services offering feeder airline cargo service and is a certified Commercial Operator and Air Carrier. For more information call (406) 247-3131.
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AIRLINES SERVING BILLINGS LOGAN INT’L AIRPORT
Approximately 12 cargo and mail carriers including UPS, Airborne and FedEx service Billings.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
MET Transit is the city’s public transportation bus system. It provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service to residents. The MET is the primary mode of transportation for many citizens of Billings including the elderly, disabled and school age children. Use of MET transit promotes cleaner air and helps mitigate traffic congestion problems. MET is proud to provide a safe and reliable transportation alternative for all the citizens of Billings. A new downtown transfer center is a great addition to the city’s bus system.
MOTOR FREIGHT
Billings is served from the south, east and west by the interstate highway system. I-90 and I-94 join
A LLEGIANT AIR
www.allegiantair.com
UNITED AIRLINES www.united.com
at Billings: I-94 is the direct route to the Midwest, while I-90 serves the Pacific Northwest and northern and central Rocky Mountains to the west and south. Federal highways 87, 310 and 212, with state Highway 3, connect Billings with other communities in Montana and Wyoming. There are more than 70 authorized motor carriers that travel on regular and irregular routes to and from Billings.
R AIL
The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) and Montana Rail Link, Inc. (MRL) provide Billings with regular freight service.
BUS
With numerous daily arrivals and departures, Billings offers bus connections through Greyhound to every state in the continental United States as well as Canada and Mexico.
DELTA AIRLINES www.delta.com
SILVER AIRWAYS www.flygia.com
A LASKA AIRLINES
www.alaskaair.com
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YEAR-ROUND DIRECT FLIGHTS: Denver .......................................daily Minneapolis...............................daily Salt Lake City.............................daily Seattle........................................daily Numerous MT communities.......daily Las Vegas ...............................weekly Phoenix ..................................weekly SEASONAL 2013: Chicago ......................................daily Los Angeles ...........................weekly
HE
BIG SKY
UNTRY
STAR OF
CO
T
Portland .....................................daily
Billings Logan International Airport www.flybillings.com
Find the perfect home.
Home loans for every lifestyle and budget. Apply online at www.altanafcu.org TM
We’ll take care of the financing. 406.651.AFCU (2328)
Federally F d r ll iinsured ns d by b NCU NCUA A
Convenient Location Come stay for $ 60 a Night as little as
• • • •
*
Friendly! Comfortable! Walk Downtown FREE Continental Breakfast Kitchenettes
*before taxes
823 N. Broadway • Billings, MT 59101 North 28th Street at 9th Avenue, Across the street from Billings Clinic
406-252-5603 • 800-237-5882 www.billingscherrytreeinn.com
family owned & operated since 1971. • AAA Approved
Waterfall runoff from the Rimrocks ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
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EXPLORE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES
LAK STAT
Only have a few hours in Billings? Make the most of the time you have by exploring what you absolutely cannot miss! Whether you have a few hours or a few days, there is something for everyone in Billings, Montana’s Trailhead. Learn more about each of these sites by going to W Wicks Ln
VisitBillings.com.
SCENIC GUIDE Alk ali
VISITBILLINGS.COM
Cre
ek
vd Bl Go ve rs rn to a or n sB Se lvd
Rd
BILLINGS LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
ZIMMERMAN PARK
Highway
9
3
8
PHIPPS PARK
Rimrock Rd
ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE PARK
Rimrock Rd
ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
Poly Dr
Poly Dr
N
2
h
t 27
S
e Av
S St
ve tA 1s
e Av
h 4t
SOUTH PARK
King Ave E
e Av
King Ave E
90 EXIT 447
90 EXIT 446
R
el R d
16
Gab
RIVERFRONT PARK
ONE
RIVE
WST ELLO
Y
90
Zoo D
r
To Beartooth Highway
EXIT 443
1
Sugar Ave
AMEND PARK
Jackson St
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Division St
ZOO MONTANA
St
17
Rd
Hallowell Ln
l re
Calhoun Ln
40th St
Gabel Rd
na
ta
on
st 10 1
14 13 12 N e 11 Av
N
9
u La
rla ve
O
th
5th St W
nd
WENDY’S BILLINGS FIELD @ CLINIC AND DAYLIS HOSPITAL STADIUM
M
e Av
h
6t
State Ave
S Billings Blvd
King Ave W
King Ave W
PIONEER PARK
8th St W
Monad Rd
S 20th St W
32nd St SW
S 36th St W
S Shiloh Rd
Monad Rd
SHRINE AUDITORIUM
Moore Ln
STEWART PARK
7
NORTH PARK
15
Central Ave
Daniel St
S 19th St W
S 38th St W
RIMROCK MALL
15th St W
19th St W
Central Ave
24th St W
32nd St W
Shiloh Rd Central Ave
SWORDS PARK
6
Trail
ST. VINCENT HEALTHCARE
Grand Ave
Broadwater Ave
Broadwater Ave
Rd
MSU-B
Lewis Ave
Broadwater Ave
Black Otter
30
Grand Ave
th S t
E Air
N
Grand Ave
WEST PARK PLAZA
port
rt Rd
Virginia Lane
ROSE PARK
Rimrock Rd
13th St W
17th St W
Rehberg Ln
Zimmerman Trail
Shiloh Rd Grand Ave
Colton Blvd
E Airpo
N 27
To Chief Plenty Coups State Park
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94 To Pompeys Pillar LAKE ELMO STATE PARK
Hwy 10 W Wicks Ln
icks Ln
EXIT 456
Bench Blvd
Main St
er no rs
To Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
TWO MOON PARK
DOWNTOWN BILLINGS MSU-B
POLY DR
4
7
METRAPARK
Old U.S. 87
E AV
N
ND
22 H
T 24 TH
26
E AV
TH
28
D
2N
TH
ND
T 1S
N
RD
3
N
E AV
E AV
T 1S
N
N
E AV
N
2
12 11
N
S
E AV
S
SOUTH PARK
ND
32
H 4T
ST TH 27 28TH
E AV
S
T 1S
E AV
Rd
Garden Ave
Sugar Ave
NA TA N MO
H
4T
14
30
urn
BROADWATER AVE
10
E AV
E AV
NORTH PARK
13
32
b Co
90 EXIT 450
1ST
St
JOSEPHINE PARK
GRAND AVE
3RD
5TH ST W
h
t 27
1
H 8T
BILLINGS CLINIC AND HOSPITAL
DIVISION ST
FOUR DANCES RECREATION AREA
SOUTH PARK
ST
BILLINGS SENIOR HIGH
2
TH 30
ND
N
To Pictograph Cave State Park
PIONEER PARK
15
3RD
e Av
COULSON PARK
32
RTH RK
H
6T
ST
90
N
2 45
VIRGINIA LANE
IT
EX
TH 27
SWORDS PARK
6
th
TH
S
ST. VINCENT HEALTHCARE
19
5
Rd
Rd
Ol
Bl vd
CENTENNIAL ICE ARENA
port
in rd
a dH
EXIT 455 90
Hilltop Rd
90
H 8T
E AV
1
S
STATE AVE
ER PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK
3
815 S. 27th Street Box 31177 • Billings, MT 59107-1177 Phone: 406-252-4016 • Fax: 406-245-7333 VisitBillings.com
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Healthcare &
MEDICAL SERVICES
As was briefly noted in a previous section of this guide, the Billings medical corridor is a major part of the local economy and is often a reason people choose to relocate to the city. If you work in the healthcare field, need a specific type of treatment or are simply assured by the thought of having state of the art facilities and personnel at your service, you’ll appreciate this aspect of Billings. The city’s medical facilities provide the most advanced healthcare services in a four-state area, including Wyoming and the Dakotas. Two fully equipped and modern hospitals, St. Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic, offer care from a staff of doctors and healthcare specialists who have received national attention for their medical achievements. There are
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also dozens of medical clinics with a variety of specialties, some focusing on homeopathic care. Hundreds of physicians offer quality care in every major medical specialty. A complete range of medical services, surgical services and emergency care are available in the heart of the city. St. Vincent Healthcare is a Catholic, not-for-profit organization that is one of the region’s largest healthcare providers. St. Vincent Healthcare and its clinics are part of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System. St. Vincent Healthcare serves the healthcare needs of more than 400,000 people in a four state area. The hospital and its clinics are staffed with nationally recognized Cardiology, Neuroscience, Stroke Care and Orthopedic physicians.
The campus is located in Billings’ Medical Corridor and currently spans more than 20 acres. The hospital operates with 314 licensed beds and more than 500,000 square feet of space. Contact them at (406) 657-7000. Billings Clinic operates with an approach and system that is similar to that of Mayo Clinic. Billings Clinic is a multi-specialty group practice of more than 250 physicians and non-physician providers that is a not – for – profit organization. Billings Clinic and many members of its staff are recognized for outstanding healthcare services. The organization is governed by the Billings community with physician leadership at all levels. The downtown Billings Clinic campus consists of a 272-bed
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hospital that includes a Family Birth Center, a Transitional Care Unit, Trauma Center, Surgery Center and Cancer Facility. Branches across the city include Billings Clinic West and Billings Clinic Heights. Billings Clinic also operates the Aspen Meadows Retirement Community. Contact Billings Clinic at (406) 238-2500. RiverStone Health officials strive to build a personal connection with everyone they serve to provide optimal, complete solutions in healthcare. Focusing on public health and education, dignity, respect, understanding, kindness and sensitivity aren’t just words; they are the principles underlying each customer interaction. Contact them at (406) 247-3200. Advanced Care Hospital of Montana is owned and operated by Ernest Health and is an acute rehabilitation and long-term care facility. The Advanced Care Hospital of Montana staff is dedicated to providing high quality,
cost-effective physical medicine and rehabilitation services to promote the recovery of individuals who have functional deficits resulting from injury or illness as well as those with chronic or complex medical conditions. Their phone number is (406) 373-8000. Frontier Cancer Center and Blood Institute was founded in 1996. In 2010, a new state of the art facility was built in west Billings to accommodate the needs of patients. The organization has been providing exceptional diagnosis, treatment and medical services to patients with malignancies and immune disorders for nearly 15 years. Reach them at (406) 238-6290. The Mental Health Center professionals specialize in promoting all areas of mental wellness. Managing issues of stress, grief, anxiety, depression, chemical dependency and other addictions are just a few of the services offered. They can be
MEMBER PHARMACIES:
MEMBER HOME CARE & HOSPICE GUIDANCE:
FIRST PHARMACY (406) 896-8325 JURO’S PHARMACY HEALTH & WELLNESS (406) 869-0123 MORGAN CREEK COMPOUNDING PHARMACY (406) 294-6227 PHARMACY 1 (406) 245-6717
A PLUS HEALTHCARE (406) 245-6356 Aplushc.com RIVERSTONE HEALTH (406) 247-3200 RiverStoneHealth.org ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME CARE, INC. (406) 652-8883 RockyMountainHomeCare.org ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOSPICE (406) 294-0785 RockyMountainHospice.com VISITING ANGELS SENIOR HOME CARE (406) 259-7580 VisitingAngels.com/Billings
reached at (406) 252-5658. The Rimrock Foundation is a non-profit treatment center that has more than 35 years of experience in treating people who suffer from addiction. Treatment at Rimrock Foundation effectively addresses the damaging effects of both alcoholism and drug addiction as well as other addiction issues. Phone them at (406) 248-3175. The Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch (or YBGR) is a psychiatric residential treatment center that provides multiple levels of residential treatment for seriously emotionally disturbed youth. Contact them at (406) 651-1323. They also offer Yellowstone Academy and YBGR Community Homes provide less structured treatment settings to prepare and re-introduce youth back into their communities. Youth Dynamics, Inc. is a private non-profit behavioral health agency serving children up to age 21 and their families. They can be contacted at (406) 245-6539.
New City...New Investment Strategy? Let us un-pack that box for you. The Darnielle/Murphy Team (406) 255-8742 julia.murphy@rbc.com teresa.darnielle@rbc.com www.darniellemurphyteam.com
© 2013 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.
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Billings Chamber/CVB member churches are highlighted.
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
PARKHILL ASSEMBLY OF GOD 1707 Parkhill Dr. Billings, MT 59102 259-7294 www.parkhillassembly.com
BAPTIST
EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH (SBC) 328 S. Shiloh Rd. Billings, MT 59106 652-3161 www.myemmanuel.net LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST 207 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101 839-0739 www.lighthousebaptistbil@ipage.com WEST SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH 323 S. 32nd St. W Billings, MT 59102 656-6885 www.wsbcbillings.org
CATHOLIC
MARY QUEEN OF PEACE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 521 Custer Ave. Billings, MT 59101 259-7611 LITTLE FLOWER CHURCH 3411 3rd Ave. S. Billings, MT 59101 259-7611 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH 523 S. 29th St. Billings, MT 59101 ST. PATRICK CO-CATHEDRAL 215 N. 31st St. Billings, MT 59101 259-3389 www.stpatrickcocathedral.org ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH 226 Wicks Ln. Billings, MT 59105 259-4350 www.stbernardblgs.org ST. PIUS X PARISH 717 18th St. W. Billings, MT 59102 656-2522 www.stpiusxblgs.org ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE 2055 Woody Dr. Billings, MT 59102 655-5800 www.stthomasbillings.org
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE 34
CONGREGATIONAL
PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 409 S. 36th St. Billings, MT 59101 252-8390
EPISCOPAL
HOLY CROSS CHURCH - EPISCOPAL 2429 Mission Way Billings, MT 59101 Meeting at Kathy Lillis Chapel www.holycrosschurchbillings.org 208-7314 ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 119 N. 33rd Billings, MT 59101 252-7186 www.stlukesbillings.org
EVANGELICAL
FAITH EVANGELICAL CHURCH 3145 Sweetwater Dr. Billings, MT 59106 656-8747 www.faithe.org FIRST EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 401 Custer Ave. Billings, MT 59101 259-6026 efreebillings.com HARVEST CHURCH 1235 W. Wicks Billings, MT 59105 www.harvestweb.net 259-5648 Lockwood - 1413 Rosebud Ln. HOPE CHURCH 5554 Grand Ave. Billings, MT 59106 652-7726 www.hopeongrand.com
FOURSQUARE
FAITH CHAPEL 517 Shiloh Road Billings, MT 59106 656-8780 www.faithchapel.cc WORD OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP 1737 King Ave. W. Billings, MT 59102 655-2002 www.wordoflifebillings.org
JEWISH (URJ)
CONGREGATION BETH AARON 2013 Broadwater Ave. Billings, MT 59102 248-6412 www.cbamt.org
LUTHERAN
AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH 5 Lewis Ave. Billings, MT 59101 252-4171 www.amluth.org
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST 7 Burlington Ave. Billings, MT 59101 Reading Room - 2817 2nd Ave. N. 259-0535 Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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APOSTLES LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) 3140 Broadwater Ave. Billings, MT 59102 656-7141 www.apostlesmt.net GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMC) Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ 304 34th St. W. (Smith’s West Chapel) 652-6298, 256-1083 Billings, MT 59102 www.gracelutheranbillings.org JOY LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMC) 3200 Broadwater Ave Chapel - Seventh Day Adventist Church Billings, MT 59102 656-6832 and 655-0138 LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD (ELCA) 1108 24th St. W. Billings, MT 59102 656-1080 www.goodshepherdbillings.org MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH 2336 St. Johns Ave. Billings, MT 59102 656-6687 www.mountolive.com TRINTY LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS) 537 Grand Ave. Billings, MT 59101 245-3984 www.trinitybillings.org
NON-DENOMINATIONAL
BEIT EPHRAIM MESSIANIC CONGREGATION Meeting at Quality Inn 2036 Overland Avenue Billings, MT 59102 666-2365 CALVARY CHAPEL 2121 S. 48th St. W. Billings, MT 59106 www.calvarychapel.com
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST 3200 Broadwater Ave. Billings, MT 59102 656-3401 www.billingsadventist.com
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST Billings East Stake 1000 Wicks Lane 1640 Broadmoor Drive Billings, MT 59102 www.lds.org
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
BILLINGS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 2032 Central Ave. Billings, MT 59102 652-1893 www.uubillings.org
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 310 N. 27th St. Billings, MT 59101 245-6477 www.firstchurchbillings.org. MAYFLOWER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 2940 Poly Dr. Billings, MT 59101 656-5414 mayflowerofbillings.com
UNITED METHODIST
SHILOH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1810 Shiloh Road Billings, MT 59106 656-0050 www.shilohumc-mt.org
OPEN BIBLE
UNITED PENTECOSTAL
OPEN BIBLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 302 19th St. W. Billings, MT 59102 656-4946
THE PENTECOSTALS OF BILLINGS 2335 Lewis Ave. Billings, MT 59102 652-2443 www.pobmt.org
PRESBYTERIAN (PCA)
UNITY
ROCKY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CHURCH 2832 Broadwater Ave. Billings, MT 59102 259-7811 www.rmccmontana.org
PRESBYTERIAN (USA)
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 13th & Poly Billings, MT 59102 252-3434 www.fpcbillings.org ST. ANDREW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 180 24th St. W Billings, MT 59102 656-9256 standrewbillings.org
UNITY CHURCH OF CHRISTIANITY 9 14th Street W. Billings, MT 59101 254-9554 www.unitychurchbillings.org
VINEYARD
BILLINGS VINEYARD CHURCH 2376 Main St. Billings, MT 59105 259-VINE www.billingsvineyard.org
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Community
INFORMATION & IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Looking west from Swords Rimrock Park ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
CITY Mayor Tom Hanel’s Office ..................................................... (406) 657-8296 City Administrator ..................................................................(406) 657-8430 Animal Shelter & License ...................................................... (406) 294-7387 Business License..................................................................... (406) 657-8207 Parks Division .......................................................................... (406) 657-8372 Recreation Division ................................................................ (406) 657-8371 Parmly Billings Library ........................................................... (406) 657-8258 Fire Department – Administration ....................................... (406) 657-8423 Police Department – Non-emergency ................................. (406) 657-8200 Emergency Calls.......................................................................................... 911
COUNTY Yellowstone County Commissioners .................................. (406) 256-2701 Voter Registration ................................................................... (406) 256-2740 Motor Vehicle (License) ......................................................... (406) 256-2833 Sheriff’s Department.............................................................. (406) 256-2939 Emergency Calls.......................................................................................... 911
STATE/FEDERAL Department of Motor Vehicles–615B S. 27th St. ...............(406) 896-4326 Federal Building .......................................................................(406) 247-7030
U.S. GOVERNMENT POSTAL SERVICES 841 S. 26th St (Main Branch) ................................................. (406) 657-5700 2602 1st Ave. N. (Downtown) ................................................ (406) 657-5748 724 15th St. W. (Pioneer) ........................................................ (406) 657-5746 2550 Grant Road (Centennial) ............................................... (406) 657-5731 710 Wicks Lane (Heights) ....................................................... (406) 657-5654
NEWSPAPERS Billings Business ....................................... (406) 657-1561 or 800-543-2505 Billings Gazette Communications.........................................(406) 657-1200 or 800-543-2505 Big Sky Business Journal ..................................................... (406) 259-2309 The Billings Outpost ................................................................(406) 248-1616 The Billings Times ..................................................................(406) 245-4994 The Prairie Star........................................................................ (406) 534-2732
LOCAL M AGAZINES Magic City Magazine ............................................ magiccitymagazine.com Simply Family .................................................. simplyfamilymagazine.com Yellowstone Valley Woman...................... yellowstonevalleywoman.com
HEALTH CARE Billings Clinic ........................................................................... (406) 238-2500 St. Vincent Healthcare............................................................ (406) 657-7000 RiverStone Health ................................................................... (406) 247-3200 Advanced Care Hospital of Montana...................................(406) 373-8000 Frontier Cancer Center and Blood Institute........................(406) 238-6290 Northern Rockies Surgery Center of Billings ..................... (406) 248-7186
UTILITIES & SERVICES ELECTRIC
NorthWestern Energy ..............................................................888-467-2669 Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative ............................ (406) 348-3411
GAS Montana-Dakota Utilities.......................................................(406) 896-4250
WATER City of Billings.......................................................................... (406) 657-8315 Lockwood Water User’s Association................................... (406) 259-4120
SEWER City of Billings.......................................................................... (406) 657-8315
WASTE DISPOSAL City of Billings.......................................................................... (406) 657-8356
TELEPHONE SERVICE (RESIDENTIAL) CenturyLink.............................................................................. (406) 255-8311 Optimum......................................................................................877-273-7626
CABLE Optimum......................................................................................877-273-7626
INTERNET SERVICE (RESIDENTIAL) CenturyLink.............................................................................. (406) 255-8311 Optimum......................................................................................877-273-7626
CELLULAR PHONE SERVICES Cellular One .............................................................................(406) 656-5949 Cellular Plus – Verizon ............................................................(406) 655-4858 CenturyLink.............................................................................. (406) 255-8311
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (BUSINESS OR RESIDENTIAL) Integra integratelecom.com ...............................................................(406) 294-4000 ABTelecom abtelcom.net ............................................................................(406) 248-4204 CenturyLink centurylink.com ...................................................................... (406) 255-8311 Connect Telephone & Computer Group theconnectgroup.com............................................................(406) 248-8900 Nemont nemont.net...............................................................................(406) 650-8800 Optimum optimum.com .............................................................................877-273-7626
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Celebrating COMMUNITY DEHLER PARK
Gorgeous Dehler Park is home base for the Pioneer League baseball team, the Billings Mustangs (farm team for the Cincinnati Reds). The stadium offers 3,071 seats, most of which is individual stadium seating. You’ll find great sightlines for a solid entertainment experience, as well as budget minded prices, making Dehler Park a great entertainment experience for residents and visitors. Other summer events, like Shakespeare in the Park, also use Dehler Park as an entertainment venue. For more information call (406) 252-1241.
ZOOMONTANA
ZooMontana is Montana’s only wildlife park. It is home to native and exotic animals, including two Siberian tigers and a Grizzly Bear named Bruno. ZooMontana has been serving the Billings community for more than a decade with its 70-acre zoological park and beautiful botanical garden. With big plans for reorganization and growth, the zoo is a valuable asset to the community. Visit ZooMontana.org for more information.
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The bear Bruno at ZooMontana ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Chamber
MONTANAFAIR
MontanaFair celebrates the historic tradition of fairs. It is the region’s largest event and is attended by hundreds of thousands of people from across the area annually. Yellowstone County’s MetraPark hosts MontanaFair for nine days each August. Nearly 10,000 people will earn cash and ribbons for competition entries which range from beer, wine, bunnies, crocheting, horticulture, horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, petit-point, pickles, hobbies and arts and crafts. The Thomas Carnival operates the midway featuring 35 to 40 rides plus games. Stages around the grounds provide free entertainment and concerts, rodeos and arena cross events heat up the evening action at the Arena. Enjoy the summer like a kid again at MontanaFair. For tickets and other information call (406) 256-2400 or log on to MontanaFair.com.
SYMPHONY IN THE PARK
Led by conductor Anne Harrigan, the Billings Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Symphony in the Park” concert returns to Pioneer Park each June and celebrates music, art and life. This free event is for all ages! Log on to BillingsSymphony.org to learn more.
WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL
The Montana State University Billings Foundation event raises money to support student scholarships at MSU-Billings. Over the course of the past 16 years, more than $3 million has been raised to support scholarships and other special projects at the university. Culinary talent from around the world is recruited to come to Billings each year, providing the community unique opportunities to learn about wine and food. WineFoodFestival.com.
MONTANA BLUES FESTIVAL
For a few days each August, you can sing the blues in downtown Billings. The Montana Blues Festival is an annual event and each year it is attracting more and more people who want to simply enjoy good music and company. With headliners like Michael Franti, Spearhead and Alison Krause, this is quickly becoming one of the region’s most popular summer events. Want to know more? Visit MagicCityBlues.com.
BIG SKY STATE GAMES
The Big Sky State Games is an annual multi-sport event hosted in Billings. It is modeled after the Olympics Games and is open to Montanans of all ages and
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abilities. The State Games concept was developed in New York in 1978 with the Empire State games, and today more than 40 states currently conduct the State Games. Since the inaugural Big Sky State Games in 1986, more than 204,500 athletes from 250 Montana communities have participated in the games. Sign up today! BigSkyGames.org.
BURN THE POINT
Burn the Point takes place annually on Labor Day weekend and offers the community a classic car show and parade as well as a street dance. The festivities benefit local charity the Chase Hawks Memorial Association. Learn more at BurnThePoint.com.
NILE
The Northern International Livestock Exposition, or NILE for short, truly showcases Montana in
About the Billings Chamber OF COMMERCE/CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU A little bit about the organization who develops this guide for you: the Billings Chamber/CVB.
WE WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!
The Chamber/CVB is here for you. Our vision is to achieve excellence in community leadership and growth. Our mission is to develop a strong business climate and vibrant economy by serving the community in a leadership role thereby enhancing the quality of life. We do this by serving our members to the best of our abilities through government affairs, member development, tourism & convention recruitment, networking, educational
opportunities, advertising as well as events like Business After Hours, the Roche Jaune Awards for Business Excellence, Newsmaker Forums and the Annual Meeting and Business Showcase. Please know that we want to see the Billings business community and the community as a whole prosper. The Billings community is a great place to reside as a resident and business owner. If we work together as a team, with one voice as a cooperative spirit, the Billings area will continue to thrive, strengthen and succeed! The Chamber/CVB supports Billings business and the Billings community as a whole.
her cowboy (or cowgirl) best. Each October plan to enjoy a full week of prime rodeo action as well as a stock show and a western extravaganza. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the western roots that built the state we call home. Save the date at theNILE.org. Big events and exceptional attractions are available year round in Billings. To learn more, log on to VisitBillings.com.
A welcoming sign by the MSU B campus ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
Our websites are excellent tools for finding a local business or learning about attractions and other experiences in Billings: www.BillingsChamber.com www.VisitBillings.com
FIND US ON FACEBOOK!
Stay tuned with the Chamber/ CVB at Facebook.com/ BillingsChamberofCommerceCVB Enjoy visitor information and updates at Facebook.com/ billingsmt See us before you arrive! Watch our brilliant Billings video at VisitBillings.com/leisure. ADVOCATE. CONNECT. GROW. Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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Where Ya Headin’ Next AT MONTANA’S TRAILHEAD
Riding under the big sky ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Chamber
Billings is the trailhead to attractions, scenery, wildlife and history. Geographically located smack-dab in the majestic prairies of southeast Montana and breathtaking Yellowstone National Park, and right on the Lewis and Clark trail, Billings is a half day or day’s drive away from attractions that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Adventures start in Billings, the trailhead city to a wealth of wonders.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Two to three hours from Billings Mileage varies depending on the entrance you choose to America’s first national park. Three of the five park entrances are in Montana. The most beautiful highway in Montana is how Charles Kuralt described the breathtaking Beartooth Highway to Cooke City and Silvergate at the northeast entrance, open June – September, weather permitting. Geysers, including Old Faithful, mineral terraces, spectacular waterfalls, wildlife, geology, museums, campgrounds and
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lodges create this unforgettable natural masterpiece.
LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT
65 Miles southeast of Billings Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, next to Crow Agency at I-90 Exit 210 and Highway 212, is open year round. Signs, movies and ranger talks interpret the battle where hundreds of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors clashed with the 7th Cavalry on June 25, 1876. Among the dead were Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and every member of his immediate command. An Indian Memorial was added to the monument in 2003.
POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT
28 miles east of Billings Lewis and Clark spent more time and traveled more miles in Montana than in any other state on the 1804-1806 expedition. Clark and 12 of the party explored the Yellowstone River on their return journey. He had Sacajawea, her husband Charbonneau and
baby Pomp with him when they docked their cottonwood canoes at the most famous point on the journey. There he carved his name and the date, July 25, 1806, and gave it the 18-month-old toddler’s name, Pomp’s Tower, which is today some of the only remaining physical evidence from their journey. Take I-94 to Exit 23. Enjoy the interpretive center, boardwalk to the signature and top of the pillar, picnic grounds and riverwalk May through October.
CHIEF PLENTY COUPS STATE PARK
35 miles south of Billings Donated by Chief Plenty Coups as a token of friendship to all people , this state park is open May through September. A museum, the medicine spring, Chief Plenty Coups home and picnic grounds are managed by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.
BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION A REA Two hours from Billings Yellowtail Dam rises 525 feet between the rugged walls of
Bighorn Canyon and creates one of the most famous blue ribbon trout streams in America, the Bighorn River. From Billings, take I-90 to Hardin and Highway 313 south to Fort Smith. A marina and campground at the dam launch you onto 71 miles of water recreation, geological formations and spectacular views in the canyon. The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range runs adjacent to the recreation area.
BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER
Two hours to Cody, WY A must see museum on the way to Yellowstone Park is the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Open year round, it is devoted to western cultural and natural history. The center is comprised of the Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Museum of Natural History and McCracken Research Library.
WINTER RECREATION
Montanans have the luxury of being able to vacation in the same state where they live and work, even in the winter. Snow times are fun times for skiers and snowmobilers. Some of the most popular skiing areas for downhill enthusiasts are within easy driving distance of Billings. The dry climate produces some of the nation’s finest powder snow at more than a dozen alpine ski areas. There are also hundreds of pristine wilderness trails that beckon to be skied cross-country style. Yellowstone Park is a special treat in the winter and can be explored by snowmobile, half-track or on skis. For more information contact Yellowstone Park Reservations: (307) 344-7311. Red Lodge Mountain Resort (1.5 hour drive from Billings) With the 1930s development of the Beartooth Highway, described as one of the most “scenic, spectacular roads in the world,”
Red Lodge became a northeast entrance to Yellowstone Park. Just 60 miles southwest of Billings, Red Lodge Mountain slopes are classed as 15% novice, 55% intermediate and 30% expert. For more information and snow conditions, call Red Lodge Mountain Resort (406) 446-2610 Big Sky Ski & Summer Resort (2.5 hour drive from Billings) Located 18 miles north of Yellowstone National Park and 185 miles from Billings, Big Sky offers 55 miles of alpine trails classed as 25% novice, 50% intermediate and 25% expert. For more information call Big Sky Resort at (406) 995-4211.
FISHING AND HUNTING
Montana is the center of the best trout fishing in the country. Located within the immediate Billings area, fishermen have access to numerous streams: Rock Creek and the Stillwater, Boulder and Musselshell Rivers, to name just a few. But you won’t find any better fishing in the world than you will on the Bighorn, Yellowstone or Madison Rivers, all well known for their world famous trophy trout. A hunter’s paradise, Montana
offers a wide range of hunting opportunities. Within Yellowstone County, a wide variety of hunting seasons provide year-round challenges for licensed hunters. Whether you enjoy bird or big game hunting, the Billings area can accommodate your sporting desires. Gun enthusiasts can also enjoy shooting ranges at three gun and trap club on the outskirts of the city. For more information on fishing and hunting, contact Fish Wildlife and Parks at (406) 2472940.
GOLF
The mild weather enjoyed by Billings is conducive to a long golf season, often from March through December:
THE BRIARWOOD (406) 245-2966 TheBriarwoodgc.com EAGLE ROCK GOLF COURSE (406) 665-4445 EagleRockGolfCourse.com PAR 3 PUBLIC GOLF COURSE (406) 652-2553 BillingsPar3.com HILANDS GOLF CLUB (406) 245-7731 HilandsGolfClub.com LAKE HILLS GOLF CLUB (406) 256-8844 LakeHillsGolf.com YEGEN GOLF CLUB (406) 656-8099 YegenGolfClub.com YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY CLUB (406) 656-1701 Yellowstonecc.com
Historic Moss Mansion in Billings ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
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Trailhead to History
ATTRACTIONS & ENTERTAINMENT Crow Days at Four Dances ~Photo courtesy of the Billings Gazette
COULSON
Before Billings existed, the town of Coulson was an “oasis of joy” for bullwhackers, cowboys, sheepherders, gamblers and renegades. In its saloons and sod-roofed gambling houses they caroused and fought. The coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad established in Billings in 1882 marked the beginning of the end for Coulson. The Conoco Refinery and Coulson Park now occupy the town site.
BOOTHILL CEMETERY MONUMENT
(Off Airport Rd. on Aronson Ave.) This monument is a burial ground for two score residents of Coulson. Nearly all of those interred at Boothill met with violent deaths. The most famous person to be buried at the cemetery is Muggins Taylor, the scout who carried the news of Custer’s Last Stand to the world.
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YELLOWSTONE KELLY GRAVESITE
SACRIFICE CLIFF
BLACK OTTER TRAIL
PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK
(In Swords Park along Black Otter Trail) Yellowstone Kelly, who lived from 1849 to 1928, was the epitome of frontiersman, army scout, dispatch rider and hunter. He represented the highest type of American spirit and character that settled the old west. At his request, he was buried on Kelly Mountain overlooking the Yellowstone River, where his most interesting days were lived. (In Swords Park off Airport Rd.) A scenic drive starting from U.S. 10 at the east end of the city, the former roadway passes Boothill Cemetery, climbs Kelly Mountain and follows the edge of the Rimrocks, where it descends to the valley. Today the short road can be traversed with a four-wheel vehicle, but is better explored by foot or bicycle. Black Otter trail is named after a Crow chief who was killed there by a Sioux war party.
Historians report that a group of Crow Indians were camped on this high cliff above the Yellowstone River across from the Black Otter Trail, awaiting the return of a war party. When the warriors returned, they found their village decimated by smallpox. Among the warriors were two young men whose families and friends were among the dead. To appease the gods and halt the smallpox, the two young men blindfolded their ponies and rode them over the cliff.
(Coburn Rd.) One of Montana’s most significant historic landmarks, Pictograph Cave State Park bears the images of shield bearing warriors, human like figures and animals painted on rock walls by aboriginal people. The caves offer visitors a glimpse of life thousands of years ago and the interpretive center offers insight into artifacts from the early days of civilization.
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Interpretive Center at Canyon Creek battle Site
Chief Joseph outsmarted the U.S. Calvary at a site about 15 miles west of Billings, reached by driving west on Grand Avenue. Here, along the Rimrocks above Canyon Creek, the Nez Perce Indians out shot and out maneuvered Colonel Sturgis’ force of 400 men. Chief Joseph with a small band of warriors and a following of elders and children pinned down the Army with gunfire on a bright September day in 1877. The Canyon Creek battle was one of 11 engagements which the retreating Nez Perce fought. The wayside interpretive shelter tells the story of the battle.
Moss M ansion
(914 Division St.) Designed in 1901 by famous American architect Henry Janeway Hardenberg, the Moss Mansion is an exuberant mixture of various architectural styles. From the ornate Moorish entry to the Shakespearean library to the formal French parlor, the Moss Mansion offers an unusual blend of periods and styles. Rich tapestries, oak and mahogany millwork, finely woven Aubuson carpets and original furniture and artifacts add warmth and authenticity to this historic home.
Billings Historic District
(North of Montana Avenue from North 30th to North 22nd) Billings’ original business district, which grew up around the railroad depot, is experiencing new life again. The City Council declared the area an Historic District in 1977. Since then the Historic District has been accepted by the National Register of Historic Places; restaurants, art galleries and a restored depot now make this a popular destination.
Galleries and Museums
Billings is home to dozens of art museums, galleries and shops. These venues offer a remarkably
diverse range of fine arts and crafts. Everything from Native American paintings to historic fine art prints, sculpture, pottery and visionary arts and even handcrafted furniture can be found. Enjoy Artwalks year round that embrace the talent and beauty of arts for the region.
A lberta Bair Theater for the Performing A rts
Billings Studio Theatre
(1500 Rimrock Rd.) Billings Studio Theatre is a major producer of live theater in Montana. Each season, six productions are offered to audiences, including everything from Shakespeare to Neil Simon. The Billings Studio Theatre also offers three children’s theater productions each year.
(Corner of 3rd Ave. N. & N. 29th St.) The Alberta Bair Theater for the Performing Arts is the only major performing arts center in the region. Formerly the Fox Theater, a four million dollar renovation project provided Billings with a theater that offers a wide range of programs shown to over 100,000 people annually. From children’s programs to musical concerts to local amateur productions to symphony concerts, you can enjoy it at Alberta Bair Theater.
Rimrock Opera Company
Venture Theater
(401 N. 27th St.) The Yellowstone Art Museum is located in a beautifully renovated building in downtown Billings. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the art museum annually mounts 16 to 20 exhibitions of national and regional art, from contemporary to historic. Drawing its audiences from a four-state region, the museum’s dynamic program also includes a lecture series featuring nationally known artists, critics and art historians. Of particular pride is the museum’s growing collection of regional contemporary and historic art which constitutes a living heritage in the ever-changing northern Rockies region. Additionally featured is the Visible Vault, allowing patrons to view the museum’s vast collections not on exhibit.
(2317 Montana Ave.) Taking chances and stretching theatre for youth and adults, Venture Theatre brings delightful art to the stage. The community theatre is in Billings’ vibrant, eclectic historic district. Consistently providing adventurous, challenging, relevant entertainment, including improve, Venture fills a year-round play schedule for all types of audiences.
The Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale
Annually, the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale presents nearly one dozen outstanding concerts to the community. The talented 70-plus member orchestra offers a wide variety of works, composers and soloists. The annual Symphony in the Park is another wonderful event. Thousands of area residents converge on Pioneer Park with their blankets and chairs and settle in for an evening of amazing music.
The mission of Rimrock Opera is to enhance the cultural life of this region and to make opera available to everyone by providing high quality opera productions, outreach presentations and educational programming. From La Boheme and In Search of Beethoven to OperaFest and children’s festivals, the Rimrock Opera Company is a top pick for arts in the region.
Yellowstone A rt Museum
Western Heritage Center
(2822 Montana Ave.) The Western Heritage Center is a non-profit regional museum of history which strives to preserve the past through changing exhibits, educational programs and special Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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events illustrative of the rich cultural heritage of this area. Fascinating relics of pioneer and Native American life may be seen at this Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute.
Billings Cultural Partners
For more information on arts in Billings, contact the Billings Cultural Partners at (406) 2566804. This not-for-profit entity is a consortia of cultural/arts organizations for collaborative marketing and community service.
Museum of Women’s History (2822 3rd Ave. N.) This museum is a downtown venue with a mission to collect, preserve, study and disseminate women’s history.
Yellowstone County Museum
(1950 Terminal Circle) This community-oriented museum provides a unique experience for the visitor through interpretive displays, educational programming and research materials related to the history of our community, the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern Plains.
Babcock Theatre
The historic Babcock Building covers one-quarter of a city block in the center of downtown Billings. Built in 1907, it houses a 750 seat theater, 14 second story apartments, and main floor retail spaces. Recently accepted on the National Register of Historic Places, the Babcock is nearly finished being extensively renovated. Now filled with fresh retailers and tenants, it is once again a vibrant community landmark.
More…
More than two dozen local art galleries feature works of all types by regional and national artists. Montana State University Billings and Rocky Mountain College further enrich the community with concerts, theater and art exhibits.
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The MetraPark complex, with a 10,000-seat capacity, schedules concerts, rodeos, trade shows, rock groups, orchestras, horse racing and the state’s largest event, MontanaFair. Billings is home to the Shrine Auditorium which offers stage and trade shows and the Shrine Circus. Motor sports rev up at Billings Motor Sports Park at mile marker 16 on Highway 87 and at Yellowstone Drag Strip off Highway 3 west of Billings. Artwalks, Summerfair, Strawberry Festival, SpringFest, Burn the Point Classic Car Show, motorcycle hill climbs, parades, Billings Chamber/CVB and business social gatherings all add to the fun happenings. Find events at VisitBillings.com.
Downtown Billings
Walk downtown Billings any time of the year and you will encounter numerous restaurants, coffee shops, wine and tapas bars and microbreweries. Downtown Billings is a dwelling for enthusiasts of all kinds! With a focus on urban development and culture, including a premium selection of retail shops, dining establishments, services, lofts, apartments and entertainment, Downtown Billings boasts a revitalized and enhanced experience for residents, professionals, visitors, employees and students. Join thousands of people who come to experience festivals, music and markets during event season. Subtle reflections of who we are as a community are woven in the thoughtful design of new projects and street enhancements cared for by the Business Improvement District ambassadors, the Purple People. The mission of the Downtown Billings Alliance is to provide leadership in the promotion, advocacy and support of Downtown Billings as a vital center of our community as it relates to social, economic and environmental well-being. (Source: Downtown Billings Association).
Dining and Shopping
From locally owned boutiques and cafes to popular chain stores and restaurants, Billings has it. Any day of the week you can walk through downtown Billings and enjoy breakfast, shopping, lunch, more shopping and a fine dinner. Boutique shops like Meridian, Marcasa, neecee’ s, Cricket Clothing, Apricot Lane and Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters, to name a few, offer a gorgeous selection of clothing. Meanwhile, on the city’s constantly developing west end, the Promenade at West Park, Gainan’s, Rimrock Mall, the Shiloh Crossing development, Shoe Carnival, JCPenney, WalMart, Costco, Jason’s Clothing, The Joy of Living and other popular shops can help you cross everything off your to-do list. Sam’s Club and Cabela’s off I-90 and King Avenue East are also important places to stop for your shopping needs. Shopping and dining in Billings is more of a personal, friendly experience than many cities offer. It isn’t unusual for residents and visitors to walk into a shop or a restaurant and be greeted by the owner. That personal connection is what builds such strong business and personal relationships at Montana’s Trailhead. From the Heights to the west end, you know you will have an incredible selection of any product you need. From a cocktail dress to wear to a local fundraising event or a ski suit to wear on Red Lodge Mountain, you will find it shopping in Billings.
For a complete list of member restaurants, retailers, hotels and attractions, we invite you to check out VisitBillings.com.
Billings Membership & Relocation Guide
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experience what does
look like?
MORTGAGE REVIEWS & HOME LOANS
TERESA GILREATH Mortgage Loan Id 707960 Billings Heights 730 Main St. • 255-5833 NATALIE PIGG Mortgage Loan Id 298633 Lockwood Branch 2850 Old Hardin Rd. • 237-1805
LISA JORDAN Mortgage Loan Id 708013 Billings West 2501 Central Ave. • 255-6109 CINDY REISS - Manager Mortgage Loan Id 901291 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. • 255-5148
TIFFANY MCNEFF Mortgage Loan Id 707795 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. • 255-5185
competitive rates • First-time Homebuyer programs • rD LoaNs oNLiNe appLicatioNs • coNstructioN-perm LoaNs • reFiNaNciNg
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JACQUELYN WAGNER Mortgage Loan Id 707868 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. • 255-5177 ROBYN BARTA Mortgage Loan Id 609679 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. • 255-5176
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Today You’ll be treated like a person, not a patient. With primary care clinics in and around Billings, we get to know your whole family and work with your schedule; not the other way around.
You’ll appreciate: • Comprehensive medical care for the whole family • Same-day access • In-house labs and x-ray capabilities
To receive compassionate care from any of our board certified physicians in your neighborhood, call one of our St. Vincent Physician Network Billings locations today:
North Shiloh
Broadwater
West Grand Family Medicine
2223 Mission Way (406)237-8989
2019 Broadwater Avenue (406)237-5200
2750 Grand Avenue (406)237-5353
Heights Family Practice
Laurel
32 Wicks Lane (406)237-8300
1035 1st Avenue (406)628-6311
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