West Boulder Cabin on the Custer Gallatin National Forest

A Tangible and Immediate Impact: West Boulder Cabin Restoration is Underway with Funding from the Great American Outdoors Act

Published: August 2024

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When asked about her favorite part of working to restore the West Boulder Cabin this summer, Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) Intern Elizabeth Bambury didn’t hesitate to reply, “It has been cool to make such a tangible and immediate impact on something. It’s very satisfying.” Bambury is part of a team, led by Custer Gallatin National Forest Exhibits Specialist Matthew Sanford, that is renovating this historic ranger station.

The West Boulder Cabin is located south of Big Timber, MT, next to the beautiful West Boulder River, and is one of 28 recreation rental cabin restoration projects on the Custer Gallatin National Forest funded by the Legacy Restoration Fund established by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Sanford has been working on three or four cabins on the list per year since 2021.

This summer, there are two MCC Interns on Sanford’s crew, Elizabeth Bambury from Virginia, and Riley McCarthy from Colorado. Both are new to the process and are learning the ins and outs of historical restoration from Sanford as they accomplish cabin repairs. According to Sanford, this mentorship and teaching role is one of the many exciting aspects of the project and provides interns with skills they can take away from the experience.

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On a hot and sunny July morning, Sanford and crew finished installing the final log that was needed to replace rotting timbers in the cabin. These new logs were individually selected from standing dead lodgepole pines in the nearby forest, much like they would have been sourced when the cabin was first built.

The outer faces of these logs were hand-peeled with draw knives to avoid leaving any marks from power tools; one of many techniques used to preserve the historic character of the building. Prior to replacing the logs, the team lifted and leveled the cabin to correct an approximate 6-inch slope and prepare the building for a contractor to replace the fieldstone foundation later this season.

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The restoration is completed with materials that are sympathetic to the original construction, using the same sort of craftsmanship. For example, repairs to the masonry daubing will be made using a mix that emulates the coarseness of the original material. Sanford loves, “learning about old buildings and solving problems. The buildings tell their stories, and it is fun to put the pieces together, while maintaining historic integrity and keeping it standing and useful.”

Other planned work includes repairing some of the exterior trim, rodent mitigation efforts, refinishing the floors, and rebuilding the kitchen cabinets. Although the cabin is currently not available to rent due to ongoing construction, repairs are anticipated to be completed by the end of November and visitors will once again be able to reserve this cabin on Recreation.gov.

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According to the forest Cultural Resource Record, “Little information was found regarding the development of the West Boulder Station. In 1906 the Secretary of the Interior recommended administrative withdrawal of 230 acres of land for the administration of the Yellowstone Forest Reserve. By 1913, when the cabin and barn are reported to have been constructed, the site served as the district headquarters for the West Boulder District of the Absaroka National Forest, the latter having been re-established in 1908 from parts of the Yellowstone Forest and all of the Crazy Mtn. Forest. Most early day Ranger Districts were managed by a ranger and a seasonal assistant primarily responsible for range patrol, trail construction, fire patrol, timber cruising, and livestock care. The West Boulder Station reflects this administrative structure. Early administrative responsibilities would have included monitoring of grazing leases which were reported to have been extensive in this area, expansion of the road and trail system, this done to further the fire detection programs. Although no specific information was found regarding the construction of the buildings at this location, neither the cabin nor barn are standard plan buildings-an indication of an early construction date, the buildings exhibit different notching methods- most likely a reflection of the preference of the builders.”

Getting to the point of implementing restoration work takes a significant amount of planning and preparation, and Sanford explained that many different employees of the Custer Gallatin National Forest have been helping to get this project to the finish line. For example, the Heritage team provides historical consultation, engineers assist with establishing contracts for work such as replacing the foundation, and the Recreation department manages the project budget.

Other GAOA cabin projects on the agenda this summer include the Maxi Cabin and Little Bear Guard Station cabins in the Bozeman Ranger District and the Beaver Creek Cabin on the Hebgen Lake Ranger District.

Sanford’s passion for this important work shines through, and the Custer Gallatin National Forest is thrilled that the West Boulder Cabin, as well as the 27 other cabins in the forest, are receiving much needed care. These improvements will maintain the historical character of the buildings and provide better experiences for visitors, thanks to critical funding provided by the Great American Outdoors Act.