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Feb 6, 2019

Every state has its own unique and unusual sites, and Montana is no different. Not only is this area of the country known for its beautiful scenery and large national parks, but it also has some quirky local roadside attractions. Check out these unusual places in Montana that you can drive to from the Great Falls area. unusual places in montana

Hill 57

Hill 57 overlooks the town of Great Falls. Most residents know exactly where the hill stands, but they don’t know where it got its name. According to some, It all started in the 1930s when Art Hinck, a local pickle salesman for the Heinz company arranged the whitewashed rocks in the form of the number 57 as an advertisement for the Heinz product line. There are also some people who believe the name for the hill came from James J. Hill, the chief executive officer of the Great Northern Railway.

Big John – Cowboy Muffler Man

Big John is a 22-foot tall cowboy that has stood under the Big John Casino sign since 1999 and is one of the Muffler Men that you can see throughout the country. Big John once stood at a hotel along interstate I-94 but he disappeared from that location sometime in 1995 and then soon reappeared in Great Falls in 1999 where he remains. Big John is a cowboy standing with his hands extended down as if he is about to draw his pistols, but he doesn’t have any.

The Sip ‘N Dip Lounge: Mermaids

The O’Haire Motor Inn on Seventh Street in S. Great Galls Montana features a wall-size window that allows people in the lounge to see into the pool. On New Year’s Eve in 1995, the manager of the Sip ‘n Dip and her mother convinced one of the inn’s housekeepers to put on a mermaid suit and swim around in the pool. It was such a hit that there are now six mermaids that regularly swim around in the pool entertaining the customers in the bar.

The Ringing Rocks

About two and a half hours from Great Falls in Pipestone, Montana, there is a large pile of rocks that ring like bells when you hit them with a hammer. The location of the rocks is a bit out of the way out on Road #2, but it is worth the trip. You can get to Road #2 by taking exit 241 off I-90 and following a gravel road that runs almost parallel to the highway for a 3/4 of a mile where you’ll find the marker for the road. Make sure to bring a hammer and bear spray. You’ll also want to wear comfortable shoes because there is a short walk to get to the rocks from the parking lot.

There is a large forest service sign at the entrance describing the rocks when you get to the location, so you’ll know you are in the right spot.

Check out these fun and unusual places in Montana. You can find some right in Great Falls, and others within a short drive.

Image  by Tim Evanson via CC BY 2.0