Historic Bitterroot hot springs is officially up for auction

Medicine Hot Springs in Conner, currently listed for $7.95 million, will hit the auction block this spring with no reserve.

The 119-acre property at the southern end of the Bitterroot Valley is bordered on three sides by U.S. Forest Service land and boasts a 2,046-square-foot hot springs pool, hot tub and historic bathhouse, 12 cabins, a 3,797 square-foot main residence, and a communal gathering space called the East Game Lodge, with a pool table, kitchen, one-bedroom loft and bathroom. The property’s location offers ample recreational opportunities with access to fly-fishing, hiking, skiing, horseback riding and ATV trails.

The property also holds senior geothermal water rights dating to 1908, when it operated publicly as a healing bathhouse. The chemical-free hot springs flow consistently at 94 degrees F to 114 degrees F, naturally filling the pool, hot tub and soaking tubs, according to a statement released by Elite Auctions.

According to the Montana Historical Society, a man named Ed Miles claimed and settled at Medicine Hot Springs, about 4 miles south of Sula, in 1883. Miles, along with Ed and Bertie Lord built a hotel at the site in 1885.

According to an entry on Rootsweb, the location was “frequented by many residents of the Bitter Root valley from the early 1900s until it closed about 1983.”

The Lords sold their shares in the property in 1900, and George Steele of Grantsdale purchased the springs in 1903 according to the Montana Historical Society.

The Rootsweb entry also refers to an advertisement placed by George Steele in the July 24, 1903, edition of the Ravalli Republican newspaper, “indicating the fine and commodious hotel was open for the season, with superior accommodations and the finest hot medicinal baths for patients and pleasure seekers.”

Steele later sold the property to Edwin Smith of Hamilton who also built a hotel (which later burned) along with cabins, and a swimming pool. Smith’s son Barton built additional cabins and made improvements to the property in 1943, according to the Montana Historical Society, before selling it to Harold Mildenberger, who sold the springs in 1988.

A photo posted to social media by the Montana Historical Society taken sometime between 1908 and 1929 shows cabins and tents and old cars dotting the location prior to the construction of a pool.

A statement released by Elite Auctions touts the property's location near Lost Trail Ski Area, Triple Creek Ranch and recreational opportunities, as well as the popularity of the TV show "Yellowstone," filmed at the nearby Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby.

"With properties like Triple Creek Ranch establishing the Bitterroot Valley as a destination for luxury outdoor experiences, and increased visibility from "Yellowstone" filming at nearby Chief Joseph Ranch, this auction tests market appetite for historic properties with commercial potential," the statement reads.

The auction will take place on Tuesday, March 10, with open houses taking place every Saturday and Sunday, from 1-4 p.m., starting Feb. 21.

"This property represents an exceptionally rare Montana offering," said Tara McLean, president and co-founder of Elite Auctions. "The estate offers a level of seclusion, historic character, and natural assets that is increasingly difficult to find in the American West — ideal for buyers seeking a turnkey multigenerational family retreat, or for developers keen to explore the estate’s potential as a hospitality or wellness venture."

For more information, visit auction listing at https://eliteauctions.com/medicine-springs-rd-conner-mt/.