Fort Owen State Park

05/10/2022

05/10/2022

Americorps member Tano leading a field trip to students from Victor, Montana today!

03/12/2022

March 7, The terrible winter of 1861/62 still had the Bitterroot Valley in it’s icy grip. Major John Owen, the Indian Agent for the Flatheads, had many Indians camped at his fort. Major Owen recorded the effects of the weather on the livestock in his diary. “There is so much snow and ice on the ground that the effect of the sun is much weakened. Stock still dying and will continue to die if we do not soon have a very decided change in the weather. It still freezes at night and the sun has to get high during the day before the crust on the snow is sufficiently soft for the weak and impoverished animals to break it to reach the grass. Last year the plows were running before this time.” Owen commented that they had burned 150 cords of wood that winter. In contrast the next winter was mild and relatively snow free, allowing wagon trains from Salt Lake City to reach the new mining camp at Bannack with much needed supplies. John Mix Stanley Artist: 1856

03/07/2022

Do you enjoy recreating in Ravalli County, in and around Stevensville, MT? Take park in the Ravalli County recreation meetings!

!!!!!!>>>> EDIT: Due to flight cancellations, the meeting tonight is pushed back to 7:00 pm at the Bitterroot River Inn.

03/01/2022

Fort Owen State Park has re-opened to the public! Explore the East barracks where John Owen had an office and living quarters. Open 9am-5pm daily.

02/27/2022

Calling all volunteers! We're looking for fun, dedicated folks to volunteer ar Fort Owen State Park this summer. Email [email protected] if you're interested!

02/04/2022

*Fort Owen State Park is currently closed until March 1st*
What a cold, snow winter it's been! Imagine living at Fort Owen in the winter months, how would you stay warm? We'll be reopening the park on March 1st in just 4 weeks!

01/31/2022

Welcome Sabrina and Tano, our 2022 AmeriCorps members, to Montana State Parks! Sabrina is coming to us from Nebraska and Tano is from Massachusetts. They'll be planning some fun events at Fort Owen this year, so stay tuned!

01/13/2022

*Park is currently closed until March*
Happy 2022 from very snowy Fort Owen! We sure had a lot of snow jn the Bitterroot Valley during the first week of 2022. Imagine living here in the 1850's like John Owen - what did he do to survive the long winters?