Tongue River Vineyard

October 24, 10:05 AMBillings Sightseeing ExaminerGregan Wortmann

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Tongue River Vineyard, owned by Bob and Marilyn Thaden, just south of Miles City, Montana has been growing grapes for five years.  Once they had 40 vines and now their produce covers over two acres.  Some of their best grapes are named Frontenac, Frontenac gris, La Crescent and Marquette (Marquette grapes are shown in the photo above), all hardy, cold weather varieties developed by the University of Minnesota.  Their other best growers are Saint Pepin and Saint Croix which are grape varieties developed by pioneer grape breeder Elmer Swenson from Wisconsin.  http://www.ndgga.org/index.cfm?page=vineyards  http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Grape_expectations.html  http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1103.html  http://www.madeinmontanausa.com/Wineries.asp

Tongue River Vineyard also grow seedless and table variety grapes, sandcherries, blackberries, raspberries and elderberries.  The Thadens are planning a grand opening in September 2010 when they will be premiering their first wine named "French Kiss" a play on the words of their company name, Tongue River.  To get to Tongue River Vineyard from Billings drive east on I-90 east and take Exit 138 and then drive south on Montana Route 59 for about a half mile and then turn right onto Cemetery Road and after a turn in the road take Sunset Drive and that will take you to Morning Star Lane.  http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10832-Billings-Sightseeing-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Miles-City

I keep telling you, "There's nothing under the bed!"

Halloween sightseers can see some very old buildings in Billings, Montana.  At 2702 Minnesota Avenue the building that use to be the home of Buster's Antique Shop has been researched and is considered to be the oldest permanent structure in Billings.  I have also been told that the building directly west and next door to Buster's contained a Chinese restaurant and laundry businesses and a hotel with rooms upstairs.  Buster's has been closed for a few years and the building still does not have a tenant so there is a business opportunity for someone.

Across 27th Street from Buster's is the building that was the Arcade Bar.  This bar located at 2624 Minnesota Avenue in Billings, Montana was gone before I lived here but I have been told by people who lived in Billings during the 1970s that the Arcade Bar was the meanest kind with beatings, stabbings and shootings regular occurrences.  The photo above shows the old Arcade Bar building when it was boarded up and before the businesses that are there today moved in.  So there are some more old buildings to look for as you explore and ghost hunt around downtown Billings for Halloween 2009. http://www.yhpb.org/VirtualTours/BillingsTour/Arcade%20Building.html

This building at 2704 Minnesota Avenue in Billings, Montana is the one that had the Chinese restaurant and laundry and hotel rooms upstairs around the time of the late 1800s and early 1900s.  http://www.yhpb.org/VirtualTours/BillingsTour/Map%20Page.html

Gregan Wortmann

kruzndog@imt.net

Tongue River Vineyard is at 137 Morning Star Lane in Miles City, Montana 59301 (406) 234-5275

Thank-you to the Miles City Star newspaper.  http://www.milescitystar.com/