Dude Rancher Lodge

The number of motels in Billings grew rapidly as the national economy boomed after World War II. Millions of Americans took to the road on vacations and for business trips, creating a tremendous need for roadside accommodations. Among all the motels in the Magic City, the Dude Rancher Lodge was the most unique, incorporating the most modern amenities, yet also providing a link to the region’s Old West roots.

Billings businessman Percy Goan and his wife Annabel worked with the well-known Billings architectural firm of Cushing and Terrell to develop a design that harkened back to the ranch houses of the Montana frontier. The design integrated bricks salvaged from the old St. Vincent’s Hospital and wood beams from a recently demolished milling company.

The rustic Ranch style motel displays weeping brick mortar, full-length porches in the center parking area, and guest rooms with wood-paneled doors. Annabel Goan cleverly designed the interior, which features knotty pine paneling, decorative lampshades, custom-built western-style furniture, and carpeting with the brands of local ranchers who invested in the project.

An added treat was The Stirrup coffee shop, which served mouthwatering meals in a western atmosphere. Completed in 1950, the Dude Rancher Lodge quickly became a local showcase and popular hostelry for people from all over Montana and the United States. Promoters promised that the “Spirit of the West was everywhere evident” at the Dude Rancher Lodge.

The Goan family operated the Dude until 1990. It was, and still is under its second owner in 2010, Billings’ most distinctive motel.