Montana News Roundup: The Real Cost of the Yellowstone Floods

UPDATE: Mission Valley Crash 10:10 am 8/28/25

Lake County Sheriff's Office Don Bell is now saying 4 people were killed in that terrible accident on Post Creek Hill on Highway 93 in the Mission Valley last night. A car collided with an RV with 10 people inside, some with minor injuries, closing the road for over 3 hours. 

Three years after devastating flash floods ripped through the northern reaches of Yellowstone National Park, new research is showing the storm cost the region nearly $100 million in visitor spending and over 1100 jobs.

The findings come in a new report by the University of Montana's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, which surveyed area businesses and found that 88% reported losing money after the June 2022 flooding. Carbon County says the biggest drop in tourism, dropping by half to levels seen during the pandemic.

And while Yellowstone saw a million and a half fewer visitors that summer, traffic rebounded to 4.5 million visitors in 2023, even better than before the pandemic.

Floods cause financial problems for this historic Havre attraction

Operators of Havre's historic underground are appealing for people to come and support the organization, which is still coping with a bunch of lost business from this summer's flash floods.

The Havre Weekly Chronicle reports Havre Beneath the Streets has been shut down five times this year because of flooding on Second and Third Avenues, and First Street. But the group says, actually, it's been a problem for the past few years, and they're asking for residents to step up and help by taking tours and continuing support.

Another fatal crash on Post Creek Hill

Traffic in the Mission Valley was snarled yesterday evening after a fatal crash on one of the most hazardous sections of Highway 93, Post Creek Hill, just north of St. Ignatius.

The crash happened just before 6 pm, forcing traffic to be detoured on adjacent county roads while emergency responders dealt with the crash and conducted their initial on-scene investigation.

That part of the highway has seen repeated fatalities over the years and had been slated for a widely anticipated widening project, which was stopped earlier this summer when federal money was cut.

The weather is perfect at this point

Cooler weather is helping with the remaining big fires across the state, with Montana DNRC reporting only one small fire start through yesterday evening.

But there's still a lot going on. Residents living near Helmville were told last night that firefighters are still working hard to complete lines on the 3600-acre Windy Rock Fire, and for now, evacuations will continue near the blaze.

Fire crews are using back burns as they try and use this cooler, showery weather to stop the spread of the Bivens Creek and Cloudsrest fires burning in Madison County. Bivens Creen is still 2200 acres, and 34% contained. Cloudrest is close to 3500 acres, but is now 12% contained.

Missoula developer wants to build homes by spring

The developer who plans to buy a key piece of Missoula property and develop anywhere from 150-to-200 housing units says the land he intends to buy from the city "checks all the boxes".

"It's mixed use. I can hit the 'missing middle' and maybe a little below the 'missing middle' on the economics scale," Chris Kemmerly, Miramonte Companies CEO, told reporters during a press conference yesterday.

"We can do rentals. We can do housing, and we can do commercial. And at the stage of my career, that's what gives me juice. So that's why we're so excited. I'm really excited about it.  And we love our company, and I love Missoula"

READ MORE: Missoula announces partnership for Southgate Crossing

Miramonte Companies is already developing other projects around Montana, housing as well as recently building the two Amazon warehouses in Missoula and Bozeman.

 The city intends to sell him the land near Southgate Mall for close to the $6-million it paid to buy the 10 acres for this kind of project last fall. 

Study confirms financial impact of UM sports

Grizzly sports are more than entertaining. A new report from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research shows that Griz Athletics contributes more than $94 million in total spending to Missoula area businesses every year.

     🎟️ The news came as UM set a new record for pre-season ticket sales.