Fort Owen State Park to celebrate park improvements with June 8 ribbon cutting

STEVENSVILLE –Fort Owen State Park, located in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, June 8 at 11 a.m. to celebrate a series of park additions and improvements that have taken place over the last four years.

The park’s transformation began in 2020 and includes a new public access parking lot, new interpretive exhibits and trail, and stabilization and preservation of one of Montana’s oldest standing buildings.

Many partners, volunteers, and experts have dedicated hundreds of hours to complete the park improvements. The work was made possible by funding from the State Parks Foundation, Helmsley Family Trust, and the Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program.

The park, known for being the site of many firsts in Montana history, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1841, Catholic missionaries established St. Mary’s Mission, and in 1850, John Owen bought the mission and transformed it into Fort Owen, a trading post and agricultural center.

The event is free and open to the public and is a chance see and celebrate the new additions to the park. Fort Owen State Park is surrounded by private property, so visitors should watch for signs marking the boundaries and only walk and drive on park property. Parking is limited, and staff will be on site to assist.

For more information on Fort Owen State Park, visit fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/fort-owen or call (406) 273-4253.

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Below: New display at Fort Owen State Park