Montana's STRANGEST Town?

Dive deep into Montana's unique landscape with us as we explore Saint Marie, an intriguing quasi-ghost town rooted in Cold War history. Learn about the town's origins as an Air Force base built for nuclear defense capabilities, witness the surreal juxtaposition of abandoned homes with occupied ones, and hear about its unexpected real estate scene. Curious about the most isolated and enigmatic places in Montana? You won't want to miss our journey to this town just 16 miles north of Glasgow! #MontanaExploration #GhostTown #coldwarhistory

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Disclosures: All opinions are my own. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links, if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Will Friedner
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[LivinginMontana]

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[ivanhicks]

I am 90 Air Force vet from Havre - I remember all the towns and AF Units on the High Line - Got married to the Montana Queen in 1956 Loved Her and Montana Thankyou for the video Great Job

[clyderokke]

I was stationed at Glasgow for three years, 65-68. The base was considered isolated until someone moved the gate up to the county highway which was gravel at the time. As a result, Glasow was re-designated as only remote and the MWR funding was lost. Limited recreation facilities. Very boring but I kept busy by taking college classes by extension. The base belonged to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and was home for B 52 bombers and KC 135 tankers. There was also an Air Defense Command (ADC) unit here, 13th FIS (F 101 Voodoos) and a small MATS detachment. By the way, the whole housing area was a part of the base and when we started closing in 19968, the Crow Nation petitioned the dept of the interior for the housing area. Never happened and there was considerable bickering from influential people from Glasgow and the state which served to drive prospective parties away. I knew this since I had a part time job working behind the bar at the Officer's club and listened to these people on a number of occasions. Booze does funny things to the brain and people sometimes say things they should not.

[privatepilot]

Because nothing says “Retirement” like shoveling snow when you’re in your 90s!

[kellyreinlasoder]

I was born and raised in Poplar, MT. Which is on the Fort Peck Reservation about 50 miles to the East of Glasgow on Hwy 2. My father moved us to the air base in 1969 but we only stayed for 3 months and then moved back to Poplar. Glasgow was one of the largest towns aside from Williston, ND close to us. We used to go to Glasgow quite a bit for shopping and they had some decent places to eat. As I got older I lived in Glasgow from May, 1983 to April 1985 working for the Valley County sheriff's office.

[micbrenoel]

My wife and I live in OSCODA, MICHIGAN on the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. It was the last staging area for B-52 bombers and KC-35 refueling aircraft during Desert Storm.
The base was closed for about 10 years then refurbished as you describe there, however, this is a huge success. Over 700 units restored which includes townhouse ( such as ours), single family built homes, and single family manufactured homes.
Our runway is 10, 000’ long and was the backup for the shuttle because the eastern approach is completely over Lake Huron( no population) and the western approach is over miles of uninhabited National Forest. This looked similar to your town 20 years ago, but is thriving(sort of) today. All of the 8-plex units were demolished and only three side streets of quad-plex units remain.
We live in one of the bases generals townhouse We bought it 20 years ago while the refurbishment was nearing completion. We owned an aircraft then and wanted to be near our airplane.

This is a beautiful place to live and these housing units were built to be the last thing standing if nuclear war broke out!

[arnoldalt]

Places that are desolate are to be found all around this country. Check out Epping, ND where my Grandfather and his brother homesteaded in 1900. Long long ago this old man was a Private in the US Army and was hitch hiking back to my base in Washington State. After many miles of traveling across flat land in parts of Neb and Kansas I was bothered by the complete lack of trees. If you are from Wisc. that's a problem. After many hours I saw way off in the distance a lone tree along side of the road. I said "oh a tree" and the local fellow that was giving me a ride got somewhat indignant and said, "tree hell, that's Schefield National Forest. Nice guy and I appreciated the ride.

[cptkettch]

My dad was stationed at Glasgow AFB, 1963-65. The housing and layout is pretty standard for military bases I have lived on.

[johnwood]

I lived and worked out of that base doing Seismic Exploration back in the late 70’s. It was still in great shape and it was luxury to us as we moved every few months to a new prospect to explore for oil and we lived in motels or tents. I was amazed that this “City” was there with a huge airport that a manufacturer could have used. Sad to see it so run down.

[kayhenry]

One problem with St Marie being a retirement community is the lack of medical facilities. Most retirees are of an age that need ready access to medical care.

[danielhutchinson]

I delivered part of a Log Barn to that area on Christmas Day back in 2010 I believe.
The folks who lived there were running a business from their Home in a Farm House that they bought cheap and fixed up to support their Home Business.
Remote work appears to become something that can support life in the most remote locations.

[goinrcn]

I grew up in Cut Bank, also on highway 2 along the highline, most commonly known as the coldest spot in the nation. Great place to grow up and live if you don't mind high winds and sub-zero temperatures 😊

[kathleenmartin]

I stayed there back in 1979 while attending a government sponsored vocational training school. The housing was all in pretty good shape back then. Its a shame that something couldn't have happened to repopulate the place.

[janicestewart]

The houses as you call them was housing for the Air Force Base personal. When the AFB closed of course folks moved away. Its not like this was an actual town and suddenly a ghost town. MANY fine people live at St Marie and many wish they did! Anytime a condo comes for sale it sells rather quicley. Not everyone wants to live in town or city. St Maries is an amazing community of people.

[GEN-X-]

That place with the haze hanging in the air is creepy. I wonder what the people are like. I love that it's low pop.

[zpjpvki]

I'm in Canada just north of here and work with WORKING South Sudanese Christians. Good people that stay away from drugs and that entitled BS you get from a lot of other new arrivals. With all the homelessness in the US you get a cohesive group in there and save these houses, and build a community and get it rockin along.

[nancyhoff]

Mountain Plains Economic & Educational Program Development Program thru 6 surrounding state Job Service in 1970s. Lived in enlisted quarters (the more abandoned area in video) while training for job tech via “packets”-at our own pace. Got paid $75/wk & required classes on parenting, budgeting, nutrition. At completion, helped find a job where we chose to go. Innovative! Would love to hear if any one also completed this program. Some Air Force was still there - in the bigger homes. We had use of grocery store, movie theatre, schools, clinics, rec center. It was thriving- even tho most of military was gone. Yet I have never found any comments on this program . I’d Love to write a book on the experience.

[robdavidson]

I'm from Idaho. I worked in the oilfields around Williston and stayed in Glasgow with my daughter on the weekends. Some years ago. I also lived for a year just outside of Darby, MT on the ranch you see on the TV series Yellowstone. I started school there. That was 1961. Things have changed a lot since then.

[sherrysmithrice]

No one wants to be controlled by a condo association or HOA. So it's probably why no one wants to buy a run-down shack

[jazzrat]

I lived in Brockton for a while and I wish I knew about this place. Interesting to visit. I went to Custer County High School in Miles City and we used to go to Glasgow for basketball games. Quite a long trip!