The Old Shell Lodge was build in 1897 by Mr. Mackenzie, the grandfather of Mrs. Ann Simson of Cody.
Mackenzie was on his way to the gold fields of California when he stopped in Shell and decided that he liked the Big Horn Basin. He and his partner built a lodge out of local sandstone and operated the lodge as a general store until it was sold in 1915 because people started to use automobiles and went shopping in Greybull.
The store sold saddles, seeds, food, guns, bullets, flour, carriages, tools, etc. - like most of the general stores at the time. Watch some old Western movies and you can picture the kind of activity that went on in such a store.
The Michelena family owned and operated the store since then, but in recent years, the building had fallen into disrepair and the store has been closed for five years.
The current owners (who also own The Secrets of Shell LLC that manages the Trapper Creek Supper Club in addition to managing nearby The Hideout Guest Ranch), bought the store, little log cabin and property 3 years ago and began restoring the property.
The little log building built in 1932 is rented to Bob Simon; otherwise known as Dinosaur Bob. Bob lives and conducts dinosaur digs in Shell during the summer months and spends the rest of the year in Virginia cleaning up his findings and selling them to museums from around the world.
Coming from Europe, the current owners have a love for old buildings, stone, brick, log and restoration.
The plaster that covered most of the logs inside of the building were stripped, the logs cleaned to enable careful inspection of the structure, which proved to be in remarkable condition after all these years.
The roof of the main stone building is in good shape and will be replaced next year. The roofs of the side building are leaking at 2 spots and will be replaced this autumn. Gutters will be installed as well as a french drain.
Currently, we are in the process of restoring the old windows and painting them in the original color. We striped off the old painting layers to get to the very first layer, which is a beautiful maroon color.
All work is being done by the staff of The Shell Lodge Event & Adventure Company and The Hideout.
Other restoration work that is planned for this winter:
- Remove and restore the old iron lamp above the main door.
- Remove the white painted shingles above the entrance, restore the underlying wood structure and add new wood colored shingles.
- Oil the existing shingles.
- Remove the rotted wooden platform at the entrance.
- Take away the front porch building; remove the concrete cracked porch, under which a filled tank sits.
- Jack up the wooden buildings, level and support with concrete.
- Clean out the basement and dismantle the old coal furnace.
- Take off the bark siding and sheet with nicer looking wooden panels.
- Work on the electricity.
- Restore the roof and deck of the adjacent cabin, paint the woodwork in the same color, and jack up the cabin.
Our partners in restoration
- The majority of the work is being done by the staff of The Shell Lodge Event & Adventure Company who employs in 10 people from the Shell area and providing summer work at The Hideout, Trapper, and Shell Lodge.
- Most of the building materials are supplied by The Greybull Building Center from Scott Good, who is instrumental in giving us advice.
- The people of Shell and it's surroundings, who constantly encourage and support us with their curiosity, enthusiasm, passion and excitement over the project,
- Local Western Artist Ann Hanson, who is our biggest supporter.
- David and Paula Flitner, who supported us generously, in restoring the fence, the waterlines and the park behind the lodge as part of their vision to preserve Shell.
- Timmy Anderson and Ron Hill of Hill Real Estate for their support in acquiring the building.
- The Shell Lodge neighbors for tolerating our construction noise with a smile.
- Previous owner Michelena, for his valuable advice and support.
- The Red Lodge Micro Brewery, who brews our customized Old Shell Lodge Ales, which you can enjoy at The Hideout and The Trapper Creek Lodge. Every time you drink one of these wonderful micro-brews you support The Shell Lodge Restoration Project.
- Many others….
The Future of The Shell Lodge
Probably the most frequently asked questions are:
What will you do with it? What will become of it?
The current owners committed in an interview with Ruffin Provost of The Billings Gazette 2 years ago, that they would visit and listen to the people of Shell and surroundings as to what would be the best destination for this old lady in the center of town.
- Most popular is restoring The Shell Lodge and using it as a general store where one can drink a beer, a coffee and eat simple good quality food. A simple but nice place that does not sell too much “stuff”.
- A place where one can go and read the daily mail or newspaper after picking it up from the post office across the street.
Stay tuned to this site as we continue our journey or resurrecting this “Old Lady” in the little hamlet of Shell.
Visit the picture gallery on this website pictures on The Old Shell Lodge – The first picture is how the Lodge looked 2 years ago.
Read more in the article "New owner restoring historic store"
Trapper Creek Guest Ranch and Inn is a member of The Hideout Group,
3170 Rd 40.5 Shell WY 82441
Normal business hours are Thursday through Saturday from 5 PM to 9 PM.
Please call 1 307 765 9900 for reservations and eventual other days we are open.
For lodging and overnight stays, please call The Hideout at 1 307 765 2080
or e-mail info@thehideout.com
