Author A.B. Guthrie penned the phrase “Big Sky Country” right in Choteau, Montana. Others call the area the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, and the place where the rolling hills meet the majestic mountains. Choteau Mayor, Jay Dunckel, says the natural beauty of the area drives tourists to visit. “Yeah we think we have anywhere from half a million to a million tourists passing through every year. So it’s a big item in our economy,” Dunckel says.

Visitors can walk through City Park and enjoy the trickling stream or tour the County Courthouse. The Teton County Courthouse is located in the center of town and Main Street wraps around the building. According to town legend, the record for driving the loop is held at fifty-three times.

Just a few blocks away from the Courthouse sits the Old Trail Museum where visitors can browse through exhibits and even see dinosaur fossils. Board member for the Museum, Dana Burns, says it's not just the natural beauty that brings tourists here. “Choteau itself, the people, the hometown atmosphere, one of the things I like about it is I can go into the stores and people call me by my name. I’m not just another number, I’m not just another customer, but I’m a person and even tourists get that same feel when they come through here,” Burns adds.

Choteau Montana proves that one can experience million dollar scenery without spending a dime.