Montana Original · Places
Showdown Montana
Park, ride, drive home, tell everybody at work.
The Story
Montana's oldest operating ski area, on King's Hill off US 89 near Neihart. Started in 1936, and still a day trip from Great Falls: park, ride, drive home.
The oldest operating ski hill in Montana, about 67 miles from Great Falls. A handful of chairs, a saloon, and no reason to pack a suitcase.
Showdown started in 1936 as King’s Hill Ski Area, run by the Great Falls Ski Club, and picked up the Showdown name later. It still operates off US Highway 89 near Neihart, about 67 miles from Great Falls. That makes it Montana’s oldest operating ski area, and a very reasonable drive.
The 2025-26 season opened in December 2025 on the usual winter schedule. There are lodges, a saloon and a handful of chairs. It’s a day-trip hill in the best sense. Park, ride, drive home, tell everybody at work about it.
Seasonal, obviously. Snow decides a lot up there.
Learned to ski on King’s Hill? Tell us how it went. Falls count.
Still Here.
- Address
- 2850 US Hwy 89, Neihart, MT, 59465
- Phone
- 406-236-5522
Sources
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You're Old School Montana if... you packed up for a ski day up Highway 89 and still called the hill by its old nickname
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