Billings Rimrock Auto Arena shredded by tornado

by Jason Heflin on

The MetraPark Entertainment and Trade Center in Billings, Montana was ravaged yesterday by a monstrous tornado. Several businesses in the Heights neighborhood also sustained heavy damage. The MetraPark’s Rimrock Auto Arena is a major concert and event venue in the region and draws tourists from across Montana and Wyoming.

The storm struck around 4:30 PM yesterday and was accompanied by heavy rain, hail, and lightning. The arena was scheduled to host the Antiques Roadshow this coming weekend and several other events throughout the summer. Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund toured the area Sunday and said, “A total disaster, absolutely nothing is left of it.” The is no word yet on when the arena will reopen or if events will be moved elsewhere while repairs are made.

*Warning, this video contains profanity.

Tragedy changes downtown Bozeman, Montana: A tourism blow

by Jamie Rhein on

Each year we’ve gone through the outskirts of Bozeman, Montana on our way to Butte from Billings. Each year, before we head for Montana, we say we’ll go to Bozeman, at least for a day. It’s been touted as being a western town success story. Boutique type stores, galleries, and eateries are housed in wonderfully restored buildings that capture the flavor of when the west boomed as the railroad was built and mining thrived.

Some friends of ours who live in Montana have told us that Bozeman has lost some of its wild charm as it has swung more upscale over the years. Unfortunately, last week, Bozeman was delivered a blow that will be a hard one to get over. Due to a massive explosion due to a gas leak, five of the historic buildings downtown on Main Street were destroyed and several damaged. The woman who managed the gallery in the building where the leak happened was killed.

Because of the economic downturn that has also affected downtown Bozeman, there’s a fear that the downtown might have difficult time recovering. The New York Times article, where I read about this news, also covers the other ways economic difficulties have influenced Bozeman’s recent development projects.

With this explosion has come the anxiety about leaks in old gas lines, probably something all older towns ought to think about. Now that I’ve found out about Bozeman’s recent hardship, I have more of an urge to swing through town this summer to buy something. It’s the least we can do.

If you browse through the photos of crd who took this picture of Main Street in Bozeman, you can see more results of the explosion.