Elkhorn Mountain Inn

We left a few things behind, and they were able to mail them back to us. This is one of our usual stops, in a quiet spot away from Helena. The rooms are good, with a long counter that's handy for all your stuff. Breakfast is basic but gets us on the road.

The beds were rock hard, the heaters didn't work, and the sinks and carpets were dirty. The rooms smelled bad, and the employees were rude. It's old and really run down, and they called my room the “new building,” though the only new thing in it was the TV. This place makes Motel 6 look good. Don't stay here unless you like all that.

The rooms weren't heated at all, despite heat being advertised as part of the accommodations. We had booked two rooms for three nights for me, my two children, ages 10 and 13, and a family friend. It was cold and raining, with nighttime temperatures of 53°, and I didn't want to camp with the kids in that weather. The window AC units had thin boards around them and weren't sealed properly, so light and wind came through. The assistant manager said the boiler system was off for the season. He offered another room, but when I asked if it had heat, he explained that the entire Inn was without heat. I asked him to call the General manager about what could be done, like providing a space heater. He came back saying she told him to do nothing and to “buck up, this is Montana.” I was standing there and heard her on the call. He was apologetic and looked embarrassed and horrified to have to tell me. I grew up in Florence without a heater, using a wood burning stove, but I was paying for the comfort of heat and running water, both advertised. When I checked out in the morning, freezing cold, there was no discount or apology. Shawn the GM just said that's how it is and tough. I paid in full with cash at check-in, but they also shorted me the coin change on the refund for two nights. They almost wouldn't let me leave with the refund for the unused nights. Never again in life. Zero stars, horrible.

It was 53°, rainy and windy, and the weather came in around the window AC units. We were freezing, so I checked out early. Shawn, the General manager, said the boiler was off for the season and wouldn't get or give me even a small space heater. There was no discount either. They offered another room, but when I asked about heat, I was told the whole place had none. Not happy.