Mr. Art Bent shows some of the tight fitting, high quality wood work left behind by the original 1935 builders of the Hillcrest.
These “cabins” of this early Yellowstone NP Thirties Cottage Style motel buildings are just as snug and functional as they were when they were first crafted in the 30's. Mr. Bent, in confirming ZMM author Robert Pirsig statements as to the Hillcrest’s high quality construction, stated that all the other original 1930’s motels in this area of the West are long since out of business and gone! By contrast, most of the original buildings of the Hillcrest Motel are still here! This is testament and legacy of Mr. & Mrs. Ritchie the original owners AND the carpenters who, guided by a contractor, did the original work. This is somewhat contrary to statements of the ZMM Narrator. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bickles were the second owners, and may have been the persons who talked to the our ZMM Riders in 1968.
Hillcrest Motel, Gardiner, MT.
(Photo = 107-0764 IMG)