About a dozen miles north of Lewistown on 87, and then another 5 miles or so along a gravel road in the North Moccasin Mountains, is the abandoned mining town of Kendall. One of the first spots in Montana where gold was discovered, Kendall was a booming little town until the 1920s or 1930s.
Today, are only remnants of that thriving town. All that remains are some walls of the bank, general store, church, and that odd rock used for drilling contests, but the hotels, restaurants, schools, brothel and saloon are gone. Only about three buildings remain today, others having collapsed as a result of the mining that took place underneath them. The town now sits on private property, and while there are signs and the interpretive signs strategically placed by the shells of the remaining buildings, visitors are cautioned it is private property. Visitors can easily walk to the remains, however. I think it might be easier to get perspective during months other than the tall-grass summer, although nothing is completely out of sight.
The bandstand, which is more of a gazebo, was placed on a hill at the middle of things, but probably not in its original location. The boy scouts, I believe, own the area now and they did a wonderful job restoring that bandstand.
The more interesting/amusing story was that of the church having to compete with the brothel on Sundays. That's bringing a "realness" to life in a mining town.
There isn't much in the way of cell service in this area, so make sure you have your directions ready. To get to Kendall seems like a long drive on gravel -- albeit relatively smooth gravel -- past ranches, cattle, hills, and trees. It would be easy to think you made a wrong turn but then the view will open and you'll see Kendall. read more