Some of the Many Buildings
As those of you that regularly follow this blog, our favorite places to explore are old and forgotten places off the beaten path. I prefer to experience history where it happened,not in a distant museum. Such is the case with Comet, Montana.
Welcome to Comet. The Fence in the Picture Does Not Limit You From Exploring the Mill
I had first learned about Comet years ago in one of my ghost town books long before the advent of the internet. The book provided the history of Comet, showed many picturesque ruins (taken from the road) and also clearly stated that Comet was on private property and visitors were not welcome as vandals had taken a toll on the town. Therefore, Comet stayed off the “to do” list on several RV trips through the area in the 1990’s. Our recent (August, 2015) RV jaunt through Montana once again brought us into the vicinity of Comet. More recent information I had obtained on Comet stated that while still located on private property visitation was permitted. Reading between the lines I surmised the gun toting hermit that lived on the property had passed and more tolerant owners were in control. However, all the pictures I had seen since the advent of the internet were still taken from the road showing the buildings located behind barbed wire. Since it was only a few miles off I-15 and there was no longer any fear of being shot, I put it on the “to do” list figuring an hour would be sufficient time to drive to the site, take a few pictures from our vehicle and return.
Arriving at the site, we were greeted by scores of buildings, including: a hotel, processing mill, ore loading facility, miners bunkhouse, retail businesses and more. There were zero “No Trespassing” signs and the fence I had seen in pictures was there to control cattle, not limit public access from the road. We spent HOURS exploring the old town and while there is a single occupied residence in town, no one asked us to leave and no shots were fired!
Discovering so much more than expected, just another adventure in RVing.
If you go:
– Comet is located a little over five miles northwest of Boulder, Montana at: N46 18.625 W112 10.195 Easiest access is via High Ore Road off I-15
– A few of the buildings along the north side of town are located behind a fence. Please respect the fence line and the privacy of the occupied residence.
– Visit at your own risk. Hazards include: open mine shafts, collapsing buildings, sharp objects, uneven walking surfaces, to name a few.
– To view a great video on Comet, click here.
Next week, I will tell you where to camp for free while visiting Comet.
Bunkhouse Kitchen
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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