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Gardiner Gateway launches Yellowstone North Gate project with fanfare

It was only smiles and fanfare for the Gardiner Gateway Project launch among an impressive lineup of local, state and federal officials who came together to sign and celebrate an agreement that will govern a sweeping reconfiguration of the park’s North Gate and the historic downtown and business districts in Gardiner.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk take a brief stagegoach ride to Arch Park on Thursday at the Gardiner Gateway Project kickoff event. (Ruffin Prevost/Yellowstone Gate – click to enlarge)
The iconic Roosevelt Arch was the backdrop for solidarity and speeches, along with a little stagecraft that saw dignitaries “arrive” at Gardiner’s Arch Park in a stagecoach and vintage yellow tour bus.

Pig racing makes Montana bar a unique Yellowstone attraction

Tourism slowed to a trickle in many small towns around Yellowstone after a series of spectacular fires in 1988 burned across nearly one third of the park. So, with a local population of only 83 people in Bearcreek, Mont., bar and restaurant owner Bob “Pits” DeArmond knew he had to do something to attract attention, and visitors. So got into pig racing.

“We just figured pig races might be the thing,” said DeArmond, owner of the Bear Creek Saloon and Steakhouse, home of Bear Creek Downs.

A natural-born promoter, DeArmond has tried a number of attractions and events around his place in addition to pig racing, including a sagebrush golf tournament, a velcro wall and iguana races.

Montana bar stakes claim as Yellowstone attraction where pigs fly

“We just figured pig races might be the thing,” said DeArmond, owner of the Bear Creek Saloon and Steakhouse, home of Bear Creek Downs.