A historic four-story landmark in downtown Livingston where Hollywood legends, fly fishers, and locals share stories over cold brews and French bistro fare.
The Murray Hotel stands as a four-story brick landmark at the corner of Park and Second Streets in downtown Livingston, directly across from the historic 1902 Northern Pacific Railway Depot. Originally built in 1904 as the Elite Hotel by Josephine Kline, its construction was financed by the family of future U.S. Senator James E. Murray, who took ownership of the property after Kline fell into financial hardship. In 1905, the hotel added a hand-cranked elevator, which remains a functional piece of the property's history, operated with the assistance of the front desk staff. Over the decades, the hotel transitioned from a bustling rest stop for rail passengers bound for Yellowstone National Park to a legendary sanctuary for artists, writers, and Hollywood figures. In 1991, Dan and Kathleen Kaul purchased the hotel, initiating a major restoration that reduced the property from 52 rooms to 25 uniquely decorated guest rooms and suites while preserving its vintage Western character.
The hotel's accommodations are steeped in the lore of their famous past residents. The most celebrated is the Peckinpah Suite, once the home and base of operations for maverick film director Sam Peckinpah, who lived at the hotel from 1978 until his death in 1984. Anthony Bourdain famously declared this suite one of his ten favorite hotel rooms in the world. The suite features a king bedroom, an additional bedroom with two full beds, a clawfoot tub, a full kitchen, and a balcony looking out toward Livingston Peak. Prior to Peckinpah's residency, the same third-floor space was leased by Walter Hill, the colorful son of Great Northern Railroad magnate James J. Hill, who decorated the suite with crystal chandeliers and hand-painted French wallpaper. Other legendary figures who have stayed at the hotel include Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, Will Rogers (who reportedly tried to bring his horse up the elevator), and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
On the ground floor, three distinct establishments connect directly to the hotel's lobby, forming the culinary and social heart of downtown Livingston. The Murray Bar has served as a local institution for over a century, offering 16 beers on tap, house-infused cocktails, and a stage for live music almost every night. Adjacent to the bar is Gil's Goods, a bright cafe serving wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and pastries baked fresh daily in-house. For fine dining, the 2nd Street Bistro, owned by Bobby and Jessy Perdan, blends classic French culinary techniques with locally sourced Montana ingredients, offering a menu that includes French onion soup, duck confit, and elk tartare. Guests can also take their drinks up to the fourth-floor rooftop patio, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding Absaroka Mountains and the town center.
Ask the front desk clerk to ride the historic 1905 hand-cranked elevator, or book the Peckinpah Suite to sleep in the exact quarters where director Sam Peckinpah lived and wrote.
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