Belt, Montana

Belt was named for Belt Butte, a nearby mountain that appears to have a belt around it. The first coal mine was founded by John Castner and supplied fuel for Fort Benton. Belt’s coal fields also began supplying fuel for the nearby smelter at Great Falls in 1893. In 1930 the smelters were converted to natural gas and the coal market began to slump. The first post office opened on February 2, 1885.

While in Belt, stop by and see local history and art at the Belt Museum, a building which dates from 1895 when it was built as a city jail. The Belt Creek Ranger Station south on US Highway 89 has information on nearby hiking, mountain biking, and snowmobiling, and offers trail maps.

CAMPGROUND ACCOMMODATIONS IN BELT

Fort Ponderosa, LLC: 7-acres of lawn with lots of mature trees,gift shop laundry,propane sevice, outdoor museum, play ground, free 5 hole golf course, and a blue ribbon trout stream runs through the park.

Fort Ponderosa, LLC
568 Armington Road
Belt, MT  59412
Phone:  406-227-3232
Local: 406-277-3232
Email:  thefort@3rivers.net
Website:  http://www.fortponderosa.com/