Missoula BLM seeks public comment on Garnet fee proposal

The Bureau of Land Management’s Missoula Field Office seeks public comment on a proposal to increase visitor fees at Garnet Ghost Town.

The Field Office’s proposal includes raising the existing standard amenity fee and cabin rental fees at Garnet to levels consistent with similar amenities in the area. The current fee for visiting Garnet is $3 per person 16 and older; the field office proposes raising that to $10. Winter cabin rental fees for Dahl Cabin would go from $40 per night to $50 per night; rental fees for McDonald Cabin would go from $30 to $50 per night.

This will be the first time that visitor fees have been raised at the mining town since 2005.

“Collecting fees at Garnet Ghost Town ensures funding is available to preserve the historical value of Garnet for the public,” said Maria Craig, Outdoor Recreation Planner for the Missoula Field Office.

“The revenue also allows us to adequately staff our education and interpretive programs—which have been enjoyed by so many children on school field trips over the years.”

Fees collected at the historic mining town will remain on site for maintenance and staffing of Garnet.

More details about the proposed business plan for Garnet can be found on ePlanning at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2030350/510

Want to share your opinion on the proposal? There are three ways to comment:

Click on the “Participate Now” button on the ePlanning site;

OR, mail comments to:

Missoula BLM Field Office

Attention: Garnet Ghost Town Business Plan and Fee Increase Proposals

3255 Fort Missoula Road

Missoula, MT 59804

OR, email comments to BLM_MT_Missoula_FO@blm.gov (subject line: “Garnet Ghost Town Fee Program”).

All comments are due by Jan. 16, 2024.

This fee proposal will be considered by the Western Montana BLM Resource Advisory Council at its Jan. 11, 2024, meeting in Missoula. The Garnet proposal is the third of three proposals that the Western Montana District plans to bring to the Resource Advisory Council. The other two are new fees and increases for the Butte Field Office, which has already been through public comment, and new fees and increases for BLM recreation sites along the Madison River, which is currently out for public comment.