Lost Horse Lodge Open for Business with Help from Commerce Tourism Grant Program
Lost Horse Lodge in Hamilton, established in the late 19th century as a roadside saloon, grew into a full-service mountain getaway with a restaurant, banquet hall and guest cabins before financial hardship caused it to sit unused for over a decade. Once a gathering place for loggers, adventurers and travelers, the remote lodge in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley fell into disrepair.
In 2024, the Montana Department of Commerce’s Tourism Development and Enhancement Revolving Loan Fund Program awarded $24 million in funding across the state. These funds were used to form a public-private partnership between the State of Montana and local economic development organizations to create jobs for Montana residents, promote long-term, stable economic growth, retain or expand existing tourism-related businesses and encourage workforce development within the tourism economy.
“The Tourism Development and Enhancement Revolving Loan Fund Program supports one of Montana’s most powerful economic sectors,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “Rural and under-visited areas of our state are in high demand as visitors seek out off-the-beaten-path adventures, and Commerce’s support for the enhancement and revitalization of these destinations is vital.”
At Lost Horse Lodge, new owners Ryan and Nicole Meacham and Darren Rawson saw the potential for revitalization. The Ravalli County Economic Development Authority saw it, too. With over $1.1 million of the RLF Program’s funding awarded to RCEDA by Commerce, its first endeavor was to loan funds to the lodge.
“We know that Lost Horse Lodge can and will move the dial on the $73.3 million spent in Ravalli County,” RCEDA Executive Director Julie Foster said, referring to the amount spent by tourists last year according to the Institute for Tourism and Reaction Research. “The owners have transformed a property that was in decline for more than a decade into a fantastic tourist and local establishment, providing an authentic Montana experience adjacent to our beautiful national forest.”
In addition to the loan through Commerce’s RLF Program, RCEDA loaned funds for essential services, such as operations and commercial kitchen equipment. The owners of Lost Horse Lodge were able to breathe new life into it, creating a destination that appeals to tourists, families, corporate groups and residents while keeping its history and reputation as a gathering place intact.
Now employing over 30 people and offering some onsite employee housing, the lodge hosted a group on Sept. 22 composed of state legislators, RCEDA staff, community stakeholders and Commerce employees. The group toured the lodge and visited downtown Hamilton to see what’s next for the historic town.
To learn more about Commerce’s Tourism Grant Programs, visit commerce.mt.gov or reach out to tourismgrants@mt.gov.
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