The Pollard Hotel

Red Lodge's landmark 1893 brick hotel, once host to Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane, now offering beautifully restored rooms and scratch-made dining.

The Pollard Hotel stands as the first brick building erected in Red Lodge, constructed in 1893 by the Rocky Fork Coal Company and originally named the Spofford Hotel. Positioned strategically at the corner of Broadway and 11th Street, the building was designed with a dual-angled corner entrance because the founders were uncertain which direction the young mining town's main thoroughfare would ultimately run. In 1902, Thomas F. Pollard purchased the property, renaming it and embarking on an ambitious expansion that added twenty-five guest rooms, a bowling alley, and a grand lobby featuring a hand-carved mahogany bar. The hotel quickly became the premier social and political hub of the region, welcoming legendary Western figures. Buffalo Bill Cody swapped stories in the lobby, Calamity Jane caused her trademark disruptions, and notable guests like William Jennings Bryan and the copper king Marcus Daly signed the early guest registers. In 1903, when the local telephone system was established, the hotel was awarded the town's very first phone number, simply "1," a legacy that persists today in the hotel's active phone number ending in 0001.

Today, the hotel features 39 individually styled guest rooms and suites that blend historic character with modern comforts following a comprehensive multi-million dollar renovation. The accommodations, which include the luxurious Pollard Suites, are outfitted with vintage handcrafted furnishings, premium bedding, and thoughtful local touches, such as custom soaps and lotions sourced from regional Montana vendors. Some rooms feature private balconies overlooking the central gallery atrium, while others offer deep soaking tubs and jacuzzis. Guests seeking a deeper connection to the past can explore the dedicated History Room, which houses archival photographs, old ledgers, and memorabilia from the building's days hosting a J.C. Penney department store and the local post office. The upper floors also carry a reputation for friendly hauntings, particularly on the third floor, where staff and visitors have reported catching the scent of French perfume or sighting a woman in a yellow gown gliding down the hallway, alongside "George," a mischievous spirit known for leaving tiny handprints on freshly polished glass.

On the ground floor, Marli's at The Pollard serves as the culinary heartbeat of the property, offering a classically renovated space where guests gather for scratch-made breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The menu highlights regional ingredients with dishes like homemade rosemary biscuits and gravy, alongside craft cocktails mixed behind the bar. Beyond dining, the hotel boasts an extensive health club that is surprisingly robust for a historic property, complete with a full weight room, cardio equipment, saunas, and indoor racquetball courts. For gatherings and events, the Hemingway Room provides a handsome space that accommodates up to 80 guests under soft, warm lighting. Sitting in the hearth-warmed lobby or relaxing on the outdoor patio, travelers find a preserved piece of 19th-century Montana that remains as vital and welcoming to modern adventurers as it was to the coal miners and pioneers who first crossed its threshold.

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