Savenac Historic Tree Nursery Visitor Center

The historic nursery was founded in 1907 as a Forest Service tree nursery. Nursery operations concluded in 1969 and now the site is used for cabin rentals and a visitor center.

The Savenac Visitor Center occupies what used to be the administration building of the tree nursery when it was active and now provides a welcome respite for travelers going east or west. With its Cape Cod style of the architecture, the center is not only fun to visit, but an aesthetic treat.

Once inside, you will see ceiling tile that is hand-carved with a different design in each room. Feel free to browse through the photo albums showing the surrounding landscape and site from its begining to present day and the people who each added to its history. Maps, brochures and other travel information are available for visitors.

An interesting interpretive display along with many artifacts bring the site's history to life.  The site has the only life-sized bronze commemorative CCC statue in the state of Montana honoring the work of the CCCs throughout our nation.

A self-guided interpretive tour, which takes about one half hour to complete, takes the visitor through the compound highlighting the history of the site, nursery operations, and the fires of 1910. Picnic tables are available for those wishing to stop and enjoy lunch.

Self-guided trails let the visitor explore one of the largest historic tree nurseries in the U.S. Many of the techniques used in nurseries today were developed right here at Savenac.

Points of interest include: the Koch tree, one of the few trees that survived the 1910 fire; the Savenac aboretum which features numerous tree species along with a living memorial of spruce trees dedicated to the firefighters that lost their lives in the 1910 fires.

On the upper bench, a beautiful spruce plantation features many different families and color variations of spruce from several states. View our "Savenac Historic Tree Nursery" brochure for more information about the tree nursery.

Visitors can take a self-guided, interpretive tour, which takes about one half hour to complete. The tour takes you through the compound highlighting the history of the site, tree nursery operations and the fires of 1910.

Picnic tables are available for those wishing to stop and enjoy lunch. The Savenac Visitor Center provides a welcome respite for travelers going east or west.

The site has the only life-sized bronze commemorative CCC statue in the state of Montana honoring the work of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps).