PONY, Montana Community Information

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  Local Church

  Photo courtesy: MTOT

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  Old Bank Block

  Photo courtesy: MTOT

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  Old School

  Photo courtesy: MTOT

Pony, near Harrison, was named for Tecumseh "Pony" Smith who arrived here in 1869. He acquired his nickname due to his small stature. Pony was once called by the Madisonian "the metropolis of the thousand. Pony is an old town; even before the Alder Gulch discoveries Smith had built a cabin on the stream that was to be called Pony Creek and was doing some placer mining. In the fall of 1875 quartz discoveries brought prospectors flocking, and by 1900 the town had many handsome brick buildings, including a $12,000 schoolhouse, a bank, newspaper, stores, hotels and saloons. It is now a cluster of summer homes with a few year-round inhabitants. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)

Nearby, Norris Hot Springs offers guests a soak in mineral water pouring from the earth's depths at 120 degrees. Clean, clear, hot water bubbles up through smooth planks into an historic wooden pool. Live music under the stars issues from the poolside stage in the geodesic dome.

Pony is not far from the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, featuring one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest. Naturally air conditioned, these spectacular caves, lined with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites, are electrically lighted and safe to visit. Above ground, a self-guided nature trail provides opportunities to understand the natural surroundings.