Lonesomehurst Cabin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lonesomehurst cabin
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The original Lonesomehurst Cabin, 1920
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 Location in Montana
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| Location | Hebgen Lake |
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| Area | 0.73 acres (0.30 ha) |
| Built | 1919 |
| Architectural style | Log |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000541 |
| Added to NRHP | August 18, 2011 |
Lonesomehurst Cabin is a cool old log cabin located by Hebgen Lake in Montana. It's close to West Yellowstone and the famous Yellowstone National Park. This special place has three main buildings. There's the main cabin, which was built around 1919. There's also a log boathouse from 1958 and a small outhouse built around 1930. The cabin is about 8 miles (13 km) west of West Yellowstone.
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What Lonesomehurst Cabin Looks Like
The Lonesomehurst Cabin is nestled among tall fir trees. It was first built between 1919 and 1920. Over the years, it has been updated several times, like in 1932–33, 1939, and 1973.
The cabin has one and a half stories. It has stone steps leading up to the door. Around the cabin, you can see a cool rock mosaic with fish designs. There's also a picnic area and a row of rocks that surround three sides of the cabin. The cabin is about 30 feet (9.1 m) long and 33 feet (10 m) wide. It has a steep roof covered with asphalt shingles. The outside walls look like a log cabin, even though they were added in the 1950s.
Inside the cabin, you'll find three bedrooms, a dining room, and a bathroom that was added in 1973. There's also a screened-in porch and a small shed. Much of the furniture is made from rustic wood. You can also spot several pieces of fish art decorating the walls.
Other Buildings at Lonesomehurst
There are two other important buildings at the site:
- The outhouse is a small building, about 4 by 5 feet (1.2 by 1.5 m). It has simple plank board walls and a rolled roof. It sits northwest of the main cabin.
- The boathouse is also northwest of the cabin and measures about 13 by 23 feet (4.0 by 7.0 m). It has a strong concrete base and walls made of concrete and flat logs. The roof is green metal. The side facing the lake has a large wooden garage door for boats. Inside, it has wooden walls and a concrete floor.
The History of Lonesomehurst Cabin
Long ago, the Shoshone people were the main native people living in this area. Later, in the 1820s, fur trappers and traders arrived. Two old trails pass near the cabin. One is the Bannock Trail, which follows ancient native paths. The other is the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. Chief Joseph led his Nez Perce tribe along this trail during the 1877 Nez Perce War.
Building the Cabin
The Lonesomehurst Cabin was built because of a special law called the Term Occupancy Act of 1915. This law allowed people to build private vacation homes on United States Forest Service land between 1915 and 1932.
A group of fishermen from Salt Lake City first built the cabin. They loved to visit the South Fork of the Madison River to fish every year. Back then, they traveled by train and then by covered wagon over the Continental Divide. John Horlick was one of these fishermen and the first owner of the cabin. At that time, the cabin was part of the Madison National Forest. Later, in 1931, this area became part of the Hebgen Lake Ranger District within the Gallatin National Forest. Lonesomehurst Cabin is the oldest permitted cabin in this whole area.
Changes Over Time
Running water was added to the cabin around 1939. Even with these changes over the years, all three buildings have kept their original look and feel.
A big change happened in 1959 because of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake. The earthquake caused Hebgen Lake to drop by 22 feet (6.7 m) in some places. This created a wide gravel beach along the southern side of the lake where the cabins are located.
Starting in 2006, the Forest Service began encouraging special buildings to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This helps protect important historical sites.
How Lonesomehurst is Used Today
The Gallatin National Forest manages the area around Lonesomehurst. There are public campsites nearby, with 27 spots available for campers. Five of these spots even have electricity! These campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are also boat ramps close by, making it easy for people to enjoy the lake.
