The Historic Main Lodge is the original building opened in 1900 as Chico Warm Springs Hotel.
The Main Lodge is a three-story Victorian Inn that houses the renowned Main Dining Room, adjoins
the Warren Wing and is connected to the pool from the second floor. The Saloon and Poolside
Grille are also adjacent.
The Main Lodge's 48 quaint and cozy rooms are furnished primarily with
antiques; 13 of the rooms have private bathrooms, while the others have
shared bathrooms in the hallways. Of the 35 rooms without private
bathrooms, 21 of those rooms have sinks in the room. Most Main Lodge
rooms have one or two full size beds, however there are some queen and
twin size beds throughout the building.
Main Lodge rooms are non-smoking and pet friendly.
Rooms 101-105, 201-234, and 336-352
Room with private bath - $89
Room with 1-2 beds, sink, shared bathroom - $64
Room with 1 bed, no facilities, shared bathroom - $49
Reservations are currently not available online, please contact any of our
guest services representatives for personal assistance in booking your Chico Hot Springs vacation.
Generous verandas, period furnishings, and healing
waters invite the visitor to experience turn-of-the-century hospitality
under the shadow of Emigrant Peak. The hot springs, long appreciated by
native peoples, got their commercial start during the territorial period
when miners stopped by to bathe and "wash their duds".
In 1876, an inventive settler tapped into the 112 degree water, piping
it under his greenhouse to grow vegetables for local residents. A hotel
was planned in the 1800's, but in 1892, there were still no facilities
and families camped nearby to enjoy the springs.
Percie and Bill Knowles inherited the property in 1894. They ran a
boarding house for miners and in 1900 built the long-awaited hot springs
hotel. Under Knowles' active promotion, uniformed drivers ferried such
guests as Teddy Roosevelt and artist Charlie Russell from the Emigrant
train depot to the springs.
When Bill Knowles died in 1910, Percie and her son Radbourne transformed
the luxurious hotel into a respected medical facility. Dr. George A.
Townsend joined the staff in 1912 and under his direction, the hospital
and healing waters gained renown throughout the northwest.
After the 1940's, new owners and new directions included gambling and
dude ranching. In 1974, Mike and Eve Art began recapturing the
once-famous hotel's turn-of-the-century ambiance. Chico Hot Springs,
with its Georgian-inspired architecture and warm Craftsman-style
interiors, is one of Montana's best-preserved examples of an early
twentieth century hot springs hotel and health resort.
The Historic Main Lodge is the original building opened in 1900 as Chico Warm Springs Hotel.
The Main Lodge is a three-story Victorian Inn that houses the renowned Main Dining Room, adjoins
the Warren Wing and is connected to the pool from the second floor. The Saloon and Poolside
Grille are also adjacent.
