History of Montana Broker

Montana Broker was established in 2004 by Shirley Layne who had been actively working in Sweet Grass County for eight years to protect open space from subdivision. Shirley decided to pursue this effort by getting her real estate broker license, and taking a new approach to the profession by helping buyers and sellers better understand that this open land is both fragile and a scarce commodity. When people see these wide open spaces and think “how could a small development on a hundred acres matter, they forget that undeveloped land in the United States is being swallowed up at lightening speed – covered by concrete, light, noise, and pollution – and they have come HERE because it is almost the last place in our country to find space, clean air, peace, and wildlife.

Big Timber, Sweet Grass County, Montana

The town of Big Timber is said to have been named by William Clark on his voyage up the Yellowstone at the end of Lewis and Clark’s historic Voyage of Discovery expedition in 1806. The giant Cottonwood trees that line this beautiful river were Clark’s inspiration for the name.

Big Timber is located in Sweet Grass County, a small community of 3000 anchored in 100+ years of sheep and cattle ranching. Many persons in the county still own and work he ranches homesteaded by their families several generations ago. the town has a great hotel which was restored and placed on the Historic Register several years ago. There are also great restaurants, several wonderful clothing stores, flower shops, a hardware store, grocery, drug store with an old fashioned soda fountain, banks, specialty stores, filling stations, a library, and much, much, more. Although a country and easy feel, Big Timber is very much a part of the 21st Century.

Silver Gate, Montana

Silver Gate, Montana is nestled between Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley, Montana’s Beartooth Mountains, and Wyoming’s Sunlight Basin and Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Area. Silver Gate is located one mile from the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and is the most pristine gateway community in the country.

Known as “Yellowstone’s Quiet Entrance,” Silver Gate is an ideal destination for wildlife viewing, fly fishing, hiking and backpacking, cross country/backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and photography. The original covenants for the town are still in place, and require that all construction be of log or natural materials. The year-round population of Silver Gate is 8, and there are approximately 100 summer residents and landowners.