Hotel Baxter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Baxter
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Hotel Baxter in 2013
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 105 W. Main St., Bozeman, Montana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | H. J. Hamill; Fred F. Willson |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002469 |
| Added to NRHP | April 19, 1984 |
The Hotel Baxter, often called the Baxter or Baxter Hotel, is a seven-story building in Bozeman, Montana. It was built in 1929 in the city's historic downtown area. The hotel was designed in the Art Deco style by architect Fred F. Willson. This style uses strong geometric shapes and rich decorations.
The Baxter Hotel first opened its doors on March 2, 1929. A big opening party was held a few weeks later. The hotel is named after George Baxter, a well-known rancher from Gallatin County. He helped pay for much of the building.
When it first opened, the hotel had 76 rooms, two bars, and places to eat. The main floor has a fancy lobby with a small water fountain. Upstairs, on the level between the first and second floors (called the mezzanine), there is a large ballroom. Today, the upper floors have about 20 apartments, mostly with one or two bedrooms. On the ground floor, you can find Ted's Montana Grill and the Bacchus Pub.
Hotel Upgrades and Changes
In the 1970s, the first floor of the hotel got some updates. The old Bacchus Pub was improved, and a fancy Italian restaurant was added. In 1982, a new owner bought the hotel. They updated the whole building and changed the upper floors into apartments for people to live in.
After some years, the hotel went through a tough time with different owners. Then, in 2004, David Loseff bought most of the building. He was an investor and lived in Bozeman part-time. Loseff started new updates for the hotel. He brought in live music and improved the Robin Lounge, which is now part of Ted's Montana Grill. He also ran a casual restaurant while looking for new businesses to take over the main restaurant and the Bacchus Pub.
Finally, Ted's Montana Grill opened in June 2008. This restaurant is owned by Ted Turner, a famous media person. To make space for Ted's, the old restaurant and Robin Lounge areas were changed. Now, Ted's takes up about 4,800 square feet (446 square meters). The Bacchus Pub, which had been closed for almost four years, was also updated and reopened in December 2008. It is still a popular spot in the hotel.
The Bacchus Pub's History
The Bacchus Pub has a unique design that looks like a medieval European building. It features special carved and painted heads of monks along the walls and ceiling. The pub was open for 30 years with different owners and themes.
It closed from 2005 to 2008. When the current owners took over, they decided to bring back its traditional name and style. The space had mostly been a pub that served food and drinks. But it had also been a Mexican restaurant and a small Italian restaurant for a while. The new owners of the Baxter building wanted to restore the original pub design. They turned down other ideas until they found someone willing to do this.
After the pub reopened, there was a small legal issue about who owned the "Bacchus Pub" name. Another local restaurant owner had bought it. But they quickly worked out an agreement. This allowed the pub to keep its original name at its original location.
Special Features of the Baxter
The Baxter building has some very special features. One is a huge electric "Hotel Baxter" sign on the roof. It is 32 feet (about 9.7 meters) tall and 45 feet (about 13.7 meters) wide. This sign was put up in 1929 when the building was finished. It was meant to be seen from mountain tops up to 70 miles away. It was like a "beacon for travelers."
The red neon sign did not work for about 40 years. But it was fixed and lit up again on January 10, 2013. At the ceremony, U.S. Senator Max Baucus called it "A crown jewel of Bozeman." However, a researcher at Montana State University has worried about light pollution from the sign. This has caused some local discussion.
The roof of the building also has a flashing blue light. This light turns on during winter to tell local skiers when new snow is falling at the Bridger Bowl Ski Area. It was first put in place in 1988. The light turns on every time Bridger Bowl gets two inches of fresh snow. It then stays on for 24 hours. Local skiers rely on this light. This is because the ski area can have a lot of fresh powder snow, called "cold smoke" by locals, even if it is not snowing in Bozeman. Because of this, keeping the light working is very important for skiers. Only once in 20 years was it out of order for two days.
