Dusk Envelopes The Hillcrest Cottages Motel.

…. “They talk about changes that have taken place over the years, adding a dimension to what we see around us, and it builds to a kind of beautiful thing...this town, this couple and the years that have gone by here."

….Gardiner, MT. These “cabins", now called cottages”, constructed in the early thirties, show the typical Yellowstone National Park Cabin Style Motel. These buildings are just as snug and functional as they were when they were first Expert Crafted in the 30's.
…. Mr. Arthur 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! He said that these 30’s cabin style motels failed, because of their inadequate quality of construction: They deteriorated to the point where they had to be destroyed.
….By contrast, nearly all 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.
….Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bickles were the second owners, and may have been the persons who talked to our ZMM Riders in 1968. Thus the original owners & carpenter, may NOT have been the persons who talked to the ZMM Narrator. Thus, we see this history is somewhat at variance to statements of the Narrator in ZMM.

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(Photo = 107-0735 ...... ZMM Page = 128 ...... WayPt = 184`|q|' 5314ft)