A Ghost Town in the Mountains - Keystone, Montana

[@lukewest558]

In my opinion this is what should be on the history channel not 16 hours of pawn stars followed by 8 hours of WW2 documentaries. You are keeping the memory of old America alive part time explorer. Thank you for this awesome content.

[@MrKroogur]

Agreed

[@Sparkbomber]

TV is trash regardless... I'm glad PTE is on youtube... As someone not living in the USA I am glad to be able to enjoy these videos without licensing issues and ridiculous paywalls.

[@J0hnBr0wnsB0dy]

while i share the sentiment, they would probably find a way to louse it up! I appreciate earnest, hard work of Tom and his gf. As well as the small community here and on patreon (where I am under a different alias)

[@kellyblack4897]

+1 Luke you just gained 1000 horsepower 💯🤘🏼

[@kittybitts567]

I agree!

[@hairydogstail]

I have lived in Montana all of my 62 years of life and I never heard of this place. I built logging roads and did Forest Service road construction all over Montana and find this information fascinating. I would find old cabins and traces of human activity in very remote places and always wondered who the people were and their story. Great video.

[@CalamityJ765]

Same here. Montana native, 60 years. Never heard of the fascinating place!!

[@VRed37]

Bet you have some great stories as well!

[@Lucinda_Jackson]

I’m a fanatic about checking things out a little further. Keystone is on Google Maps and you can enter it in Google Earth to have a closer look. If you look, you can figure out where the big stones from the overpass on each side of the road are and see them and find some of the ruins he explored. It would be interesting to find out if you did see Keystone and just didn’t know it. Or if you were close.

[@lorddrayvon1426]

Imagine working through the middle of bumfuck nowhere and just coming across this old rotting wooden cabin miles from anywhere. I'd nope the fuck out immediately because that's some creepypasta SCP bullshit.

[@ALL_that_ENDS]

Born and raised, 406 forever

[@Southern-author]

As a child when I would see abandoned homesteads, there was often a family cemetery, with maybe a dozen stone markers. Neglected family plots seemed so lonely surrounded by dry prairie grass.

[@kittybitts567]

Yes, they do! You can find beautiful, old abandoned houses in parts of upstate New York, towns like Seneca Falls, which were once factory towns. You can find lonely, abandoned grave yards in New Hampshire and Vermont. So much life so long ago, now forgotten!

[@voxtek]

Channels like this are the reason i dont even bother with tv anymore, this is so much better, ty so much.

[@kittybitts567]

"Definitely a fixer upper... in today's market this would go for around $450,000..." I love Tom's sense of humor! He's spot on as always! This is such a beautiful, informative and poignant video. Thanks, Tom and Emma and crew! If you ever do see any spooky activity a compilation would be a great Hallowe'en video. :)

[@caturdaynite7217]

Original woodwork, open floor plan.

[@GooberFace32]

Sad thing is that if that little fixer upper were in Missoula, he wouldn't be too far off the mark!

[@kellyblack4897]

We need alternate forms of entertainment that isn’t jammed full of “the message”. I’m behind you 100%

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Thank you so much!

[@crakkbone]

Kudos

[@thedemolitionmuniciple]

What kind of dogwhistle is "the message"?

[@joemackey1950]

What always gets to me about abandoned towns, etc that are in "the middle of nowhere" is the sheer amount of work it took to fell the trees, shape the logs or saw them. Not to mention the work in merely getting supplies to the town. Things like glass for the windows, tin for the roofs, etc. And all the items needed for a general store, or hotel and restaurant (not to mention the bedding, cookware, dinner ware, etc) and on and on. And until the railroad came through it had been brought in by horse and wagon. The very idea of just the above makes me feel tired...

[@markbowles2382]

You said it joemackey.... also the massive stumps to be removed after all those trees were cleared.... by machine?, if it was for R/W of the center line of RR track.... most likely pole, axe, saw, rope and a team of oxen, and what with it being mountainous land in Montana I imagine the ground was rocky and unforgiving.

[@maureenfitzgerald1895]

Once upon a time, most every place in the United States was in the middle of nowhere. Building a cabin, furnishing it, etc. would have been monumental tasks but were considered just part of what you had to do…

[@Sammy-il1qf]

I'm Australian and just love these videos. I find it a real shame that such beautiful countryside/surrounds are abandoned.

[@ratwasnotbad4230]

Thank you for documenting these sites for those of us who will be unable or too late to see them in person.

[@Stickman550]

This is my favorite type of content on your channel. I appreciate how you take the time to edit in additional footage and narration rather than 100% of the video being somebody standing behind a camera talking and pointing at stuff. I hope to see more videos of your travels in the future, they're very interesting!

[@Montana_horseman]

Very good video. nice drone shots, good sound and editing. If you had the feeling you weren't alone or were being watched.. you were... heh heh. Not much goes unnoticed by those of us that live in truly rural Montana. Glad ya had a chance to visit during a nice time of year. When it's 50 below zero out it really brings home how tough life was back then, even in what once were nice cabins. I deal and live with horses, winter is tough with modern equipment. Deep respect for the earlier settlers. All the best to you!

[@billshroyer9487]

This was a very beautiful find. Nothing "glamorous" or "flashy", just a simple walk through beautiful historic scenery. Thank you so much!

[@bjrlmh52]

Thanks!

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Thank you!

[@PuckDudesHockey]

I am quickly becoming a huge fan of this channel! Future request to consider: Silver Islet, Ontario. Another ghost town on the north shore of Lake Superior.

[@jonkas4542]

Background music. Perfect!

[@erikdukes2505]

I like watching your videos without the dramatic effects or sounds. Make it entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

[@washingtonradio]

There are some many ghost towns with a similar story to Keystone. In some ways the story is tragic as it highlights that the hopes and dreams of many were dashed by the failure of the mines.

[@deandarvin553]

Between the inflation quip and the housing price joke, I'm sold. Nothing like being a young adult in the 2020s!

[@kingkramer]

Even if the excellent, extensive historical background explanation wasn't there, I'd still be learning so much from all the in-field examples of "This thing is a [...]. That means [...]". Like when you pointed out the direction of the lateral beams and how the roof must have rolled

[@johnsenig7104]

Part-Time Explorer is the NICEST channel on KZbin, and I love the quiet, lovely, haunting music that accompanies so many of the videos.

[@matthewgebhard4]

Idk if im first but I know when I get out of work this is the first thing im going to watch!

[@DerpyPossum]

Definitely looks like the kind of place I’d camp at for a night or two. Gorgeous scenery and intriguing ruins :)

[@ColdEmperor]

If you ever do let us know if you see any ghosts.

[@silasbeebe]

as a montanan thats recently been obsessed with your content, this video made my week. Great stuff dude

[@carlwest859]

> I've lived and worked in many US states and anywhere, everywhere there are traces of humanity. Remoteness did not stop the dreams and hard work our nation grew up on. Many times it is only a name on a map that hints to centuries old activity underneath overgrowth, brush and cow pastures or interstates. This land is always changing and many thanks to you two for giving a glimpse of what was our original nation.

[@taylor7772]

Have been to a mining settlement about 9,000 feet up in the Boulder mountains of Idaho, 20 or so miles from Ketchum. It was called Boulder City and was at one point the highest mining settlement in Idaho. Over 700 people used to live up there and much of the original buildings still survive including the stamp mill, some cabins, and a large cabin which was probably a mine office or saloon of some sort. The mine operated from 1883 to 1891 and had brought out a million dollars worth of silver, lead, and gold. One year I went up when there was still snow on the ground and found a burlap Sack with the letter “B” on it. I still have that burlap sack and for 130 years old it is in remarkable shape. The settlement is in this big basin, completely surrounded my mountains and one time we were caught up in a massive thunderstorm, lightning striking extremely close. Very fun and awesome time. I recommend it whenever you find yourself in Idaho.

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

this is an amazing and fantastic diversion from your original content. it almost has a tangible feel to it because we can actually see you walk up to the remains and describe them. as opposed to basically being confined to history books, paintings and black and white pictures from so far ago.

[@GenuinePluko]

The tangible and on foot videos are my favourite on this channel, brings out the hidden urban explorer in me, and the history and drone shots just add to the fantastic video!

[@gryfandjane]

Brilliant episode, Tom and Emma! What a fascinating place.

[@bbeth7092]

I discovered your channel two weeks ago while looking for a distraction from the pain of my dog’s unexpected death. I’ve mainly watched the ones about shipwrecks, but this one caught my eye because I have family in western Montana. Your videos are informative, professional, unique, and free of foul language. Thanks for the content and hard work you obviously put into your channel.

[@mileshigh1321]

What a great location with so much history and character! When I was a teen, we visited a Ghost town close to Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Canada. There was lots of houses that were just piles of lumber. But one had a stone fireplace that had 1812 on it ! You could feel a bit of the soul and energy from the people that lived there!

[@marybaker8582]

You have a true talent for looking at a ruin and identifying tiny little features. Quite fascinating that… Thank you!!

[@empressmeowmeow9581]

Great video and that moment of the sun breaking through was gorgeous!

[@henryroe16]

Another superb video ! Cannot get enough of these exploration videos. Can’t wait for more.

[@Kaiser_Pug]

I live near a place called Keystone Colorado and whenever I look it up it always shows me other Keystones across the country and this one Is one I once saw in a article about ghost towns. Great video keep it up!

[@erikdukes2505]

Part time explorer, I came to say. Thank you for your mini history documentary. On the modest silver ghost town of keystone. Deep in the mountains and wilderness of Montana. Wanted to say, I acknowledge your researching, editing and presentation for the video. As an long time history bluff. The historical significance on exploration videos such as ghost towns. Fascinates me very much. I admire you put tons of research, knowledge and history. Whenever you guys stumble across on emptied, silent and gorgeous destinations. Attractions where they once boom and bustle with trade; commerce and societal communication. Keystone is one prime sample of the many spots. Where residents continued living in the area. Until all of a sudden, much of the town folks packed their stuff and left entirely. Due to locals using and extracting up. All of the sources like silver; timber, etc. Towns such as keystone usually give us glimpse of the past. An sense of who we are as humans. Often abandoned quiet and peaceful locations. Generally leave hints or clues of historic importance. Once the area thrived and boomed. Throughout the years until everybody left. Thank you Emma and Tom. For the skillful and informative content. Y'all upload on KZbin. Seems astonishing without no profane language, drama nor nonsensical things. Being added to your documents (or other videos).

[@shak8282]

I just love your videos! Listen to them all day long at work. Like going back in time and witnessing a different era

[@scootosan]

You captured a time in history of if Buildings could talk. A time capsule glimpse of what it took to live back then one can only imagine. And at 13:15 a sighting of a local inhabitant of today.....

[@roadweary5252]

Another great video, Tom and Emma! Very happy to see the Patreon list getting bigger and bigger 👍🍺

[@habslover2306]

Fascinating. Thanks for the explanations.

[@nigelridgeway2579]

I've just started watching your channel and I'm really enjoying your adventures, I live in Cornwall in the UK so it's great to see all these amazing ghost town's, and you maritime films of ships and wreck,s is great, really loving your work. Nigel.

[@p.k.5455]

This beats history channel by 1k miles...this channel shows actual HISTORY!!! Great video, thank you again!

[@nannerz1994]

I can't get over how phenomenal your videos are.

[@DavidVanmeterDutch]

Your content is just so good!! I love your videos and your narration!!!

[@BS-qr5es]

I myself am a Montana guy, born and raised. But you do great work with your videos and i love the way you always ask people to show respect and clean up after themselves ❤

[@judyburkett9319]

I thoroughly enjoy our walk through Keystone. I hope I can visit is town some day!

[@sferguson1130]

Just found your channel and it’s right up my alley! Thanks for all the efforts made, putting projects like these together 🙏

[@als3022]

The handful of times I've been able to do this outside of the archeological tech job I used to do (And we didn't go out into the wilderness) it has been amazing. Course its rural Georgia and not the west or mid-west, but love these kinds of videos and just wish I could go on them myself. Thank you for these little tours.

[@justinlitynski2347]

Just a bit of advice from someone you have probably never met. Find a way to do it before you are too old to do it anymore. Dont wish for it . Work for it. Its the best decision that I ever made. Remember. The biggest regrets most people have in life are the risks they didnt take.

[@chrisbyard29]

Beautiful video and history. The mountain background always have me at peace when watching.

[@sharonroberts3397]

REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING YOUR VIDEO LOVE SEEING OLD TOWNS AND BUILDINGS IT IS LIKE STEPPING BACK IN TIME

[@Alehyn666]

your content is A1, love the narrative, the drone shots, old reminiscent pictures that takes us to how it would really be, black and white, perhaps still more colorful than our times, so much energy coming off these beautiful lands, one with nature, railroad along the river, so much craftsmanship involved, back breaking work that made boys men, and girls into women, the true pioneer of what our great nations once were.

[@VRed37]

I just discovered you and this video. I loved it! I love your narration and the wealth of information. And the photography and scenery was beautiful. Thank you for your work. I think I’ll stick around awhile.

[@trinketsmusings]

I just love your videos. Beautifully done, always.

[@jimmyguy428]

I'm really enjoying your videos. Not only are these videos informative, but I also find them therapeutic, and relaxing. With everything going on in the world today, we all can use a little of that. LOL!

[@Jadegreif]

That looked awesome, but yeah, I got some Twin Peaks vibes from the surroundings.

[@user-iamRobinV68]

Love it! And thank you to all the respectful visiters🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@dtimes2wa]

I just found your channel today and have been doing a little binge watching. You do a fabulous job on your videos. My mom went to boarding school near here in the 1940’s. So I have some knowledge of the area. It is a beautiful around there.

[@CaseytheComedian]

This is the kind of stuff I subscribed for. So well done, this little stopover in time...

[@extracelestial9527]

PTE, I watch a lot of professionally produced documentaries on YT because there is nothing informative on TV. I watch History docs in most genres, including war, forgotten history, military history, ghost towns, maritime disasters...etc. I have even resorted at times to watching urban explorers but get frustrated with their lack of knowledge and research, just like ghost hunters. I love seeing inside the buildings they get access to but don't really care about the ghost parts. I just like to learn about factual history. Then one day, your content came up as a suggestion in my feed! I decided to check it out. I am now a dedicated fan! I've binge watched most of your mini docs and always wish they were longer! You may not realize it, but as you've continued to create content and refine your skills, you just keep getting better and better at creating engaging content while being more comfortable in front of the camera and narrating. I look forward to helping your channel grow through Patreon donations in the near future! Cheers!

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Thank you!

[@ginalibrizzi5204]

The location and scenery here are breathtaking! Maybe a trip to Montana is in my future...

[@23mrcash]

Great content

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Thank you!

[@barbaragravely920]

Thank you for this. Yes my family was here to visit every ghost town and not ghost towns:)Love the history you speak of thank you and keep doing what you like doing?

[@dsbmwhacker]

As a Montana native I've had the pleasure of visiting many abandoned town sites, mines and military locations.

[@strmchsr902004]

Superior Montana just east of there is my hometown. I've hiked up Keystone so many times. I've gone farther up The Gulch and even inside a few of the mine shafts on the left hand side before they were purposely caved in so no spelunkers like myself would enter, Night Owl #3 was the first Shaft I've walked all the way back into. There are quite a few buildings and mining equipment and even more shafts if you are up for the hike farther up The Gulch.

[@nagaempress]

Your channel is wonderful! I am so glad that I found it!

[@talesfromanoldmanpatoneal6372]

As always a great video and thanks for taking us on the adventure.

[@BlackCat-aka-Jewels]

We were just in that part of Montana last week. I wish we would have found you before that. What a great video. We love to explore these old places too.:)

[@ironbacon]

There is a pair of ships, a 1950s destroyer and 20s tug boat if memory serves, currently sitting on the bottom of the Columbia river in Portland right by the i5 bridge. Would love to see their stories told

[@justinlitynski2347]

I havent heard of that. Id like that too.

[@jonzaremba]

Thank you for another great video. I like your ghosttown features the best.

[@mikeweaver2496]

As a kid I loved history for the wars and infamous leaders, but your videos and Israeli excavation videos makes me respect and appreciate all the little things that haven’t been touched by humans for generations.

[@timothyhagens8497]

I found many of these abandoned cabins and houses through out the areas I roamed in western Montana while I was at the U of M. I would make the drive to Montana from PA and back, two to three times a year. I lived there for five years.

[@alexdenton1073]

Thank you love MT stayed at Red Lodge just a few weeks before the flood happened was first time at MT

[@kellykorte2981]

One place to check out is Bridal veil Oregon, there was an extensive narrow gauge railroad and it was a logging town. There also was a impressive trestle. Unfortunately there's not much left mostly piles of cans, some of the settlements were well above Multnomah falls.

[@phillipwombacher9635]

There are many many amazing abandoned towns nestled in the Sandhills of Nebraska with wild prairie all around them very very picturesque

[@philiptownsend4026]

Not even my continent but very very interesting. I love poking about in old places, my father in law's old stone barn fascinates me.

[@IowaTrainGay]

Omg! The Pacific extension! I think it was electrified through here!

[@darlenejohnson8864]

Enjoyed the video of keystone love old cabins houses of long ago.

[@filipdemski8303]

Gosh, I love your videos! Thanks for preserving a history. Your and Emma recording skills are awesome!

[@wwiLinnoitteet]

Love your channel and your soothing approach!

[@waynejones8481]

I enjoyed this little video very much! Oh and don't forget you have to look into doing a piece on the NS Savannah before she is gone.

[@888junkcarsbuyingteam8]

What an amazing video and great work by the way!

[@elikamosca6266]

This is beautiful. Thank you so much for such amazing posts

[@MaxDemone]

Been waiting for you to hit a spot out here in Montana! There is an insane amount of history and ghost towns, you could easily run a separate channel on it!

[@darranbrown270]

just found your channel,find all your videos really informative & interesting.

[@Ihrtbewbs]

To think about the people who used to call those cabins home. What did they think about? Talk about? What were their dreams? Did they laugh and cry in those cabins?

[@jimblain521]

Great video thanks for sharing and keep up the good work 👍

[@Blazed_Operator]

I live out by keystone there are so many good stories from the people that live out here

[@thedaisiesgrow]

Be careful! I almost ended up stepping into an abandoned well on a similar property. It was so overgrown I couldn’t see it. No structure, just a deep, deep hole.

[@garydavenport3321]

Totally digging this channel!!! Fascinating my mind!!😎🔥

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I enjoy these little escapes/stories. Keep it up. :)

[@RamSkirata]

Very good episode! Thank you!

[@Lucinda_Jackson]

Love the “lost places” videos”!

[@dannydillon997]

Wonderful video of our history.

[@eldupont3095]

I could listen to you talk about ships and ruins for hours. Fully support you doing long-form videos if youre interested

[@rahabvon-horn9152]

Such Rich Beauty!! Thank you

[@TheRetr0Gamer414]

I've recently discovered your channel. My favorite video so far has been on the Centralia mine fires. It'd be cool if you were able to do a video on the Kehley Run mine fires

[@karaDee2363]

So fascinating, and thank you for showing us..

[@jeremiebrown5119]

It's interesting on that last cabin you see on the two visible corners the saddle notches facing upwards. I thought it was just the ridge cap turned sideways but you can see it all the way up on the other corner. I've only seen that one other time and the old man who built it when he was in his teens said he was just learning and made a mistake.

[@mathewhephill8686]

Great work, thanks

[@simpleman5688]

Nice drone footage. Thanks.

[@draufganger620]

This is not to far off from where I live in the silver valley of northern Idaho. I’ll have to check it out

[@CowpoteAdventures]

Well done young man I do a little bit of exploring but wish I could do what you do but I work for a living this is kind of things that KZbin should kick out more often said of live streaming and video games or games well done love you Centralia one