It’s no secret that some pretty crazy things have happened here in the Treasure State … take Earthquake Lake, for example. Some bizarre parts of our past haven’t even made the history books. From cults in Montana to abductions to UFO sightings, we’re pretty sure you’ll learn something new from this list.

1. Church Universal and Triumphant making a home in Montana.
Wikipedia/Church Universal and Triumphant
While this isn't widely known, Montana actually made the national news when a group known as Church Universal and Triumphant purchased a large ranch near Gardiner in the 1980s. They named it the Royal Teton Ranch, and the leader, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, recruited more members to her group many were calling a cult. But when the Prophet's major prediction of a nuclear war failed to happen, many people left. It continues to operate out of Paradise Valley today but on a much smaller scale.
2. The Flood of 1964
Sam Beebe / Flickr
In June of 1964, Montana had one of the worst floods in its history. At one point, about one-fifth of the state was underwater, especially in the central part of the state. The flooding was so bad that it led to new laws about Montana and flood plans.

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3. The 1984 abduction of Kari Swenson.
cleverdame107 / Flickr
Kari Swenson was a well-known biathlete who earned a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. relay team. When she was 23, she took a summer job at a guest ranch in Big Sky. That July, she was abducted by Don Nichols and his son, Dan. The two men took her in hopes of making her Dan's wife. Swenson was eventually rescued and the men were arrested, but not before Don Nichols shot a would-be rescuer to death and shot Swenson in the chest. Swenson not only recovered but earned a spot on the U.S. Biathlon team again in 1986. These days, she works as a veterinarian in Bozeman.
4. The ghostly canaries at Stonehouse Restaurant in Reeder's Alley.
Reeders Alley, Helena, MT 59601, USA
Priscilla Viera Scherrer / Google
Reeder’s Alley is a nice little historic strip in Helena full of old buildings with history. Back in the early 1900s, Laura and George Duchesnay bought one of the stone buildings and filled it with canaries. The birds were delightful, but they were also useful -- during Prohibition, Laura would hang some of her canary cages outside the house to let people know that more alcohol had arrived. Here's the strange part: after Laura's death, the building was converted into a restaurant. Customers and employees sometimes swore they heard the faint sound of singing canaries.
5. The 1950 UFO sighting at the Malmstrom Air Force Base.
Jonas Bengtsson / Flickr
There were several witnesses to Montana's most notorious UFO sighting in 1950, most notably Nick Mariana, the general manager of the Great Falls Electrics minor-league baseball team. The video footage captured from the incident is believed to be among the first UFO footage ever taken. Skeptics claim it was a hoax, but no one has ever been able to prove that.

Had you heard of any of these parts of our history before? Were you familiar with any of these strange facts like the Royal Teton Ranch Cult in Montana? If you think these stories are bizarre, check out this list of Montana’s unsolved mysteries.

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What are some other unique things about Montana?

There are many unique things about Montana that set it apart from other states across the country. For example, did you know that Montana is the only state that has a triple divide? This means that water in Montana actually flows into three different oceans: Hudson Bay in the Arctic, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico in the Atlantic Ocean.

Another cool fact about Montana? At one point in Helena’s history, it had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the entire world! While you may find that hard to believe when you visit our capital city today, it really isn’t surprising when you look at the history of this great city and realize it was founded during Montana’s gold rush era.

What are some must-visit destinations in Montana?

It is impossible to narrow down the must-visit attractions in Montana. As home to some of the most popular national parks, state parks, attractions, small towns, and even restaurants, it really is challenging to determine what locations deserve to be at the top of your bucket list. However, if you have an upcoming trip, consider taking this two-day road trip that takes you to just a small handful of hidden gems around the state. You’ll stop at attractions like Grand-Kohrs Ranch, Garden of One Thousand Buddhas, and Morrell Falls.

If you only have time for a day trip, we have you covered. In fact, we created a list of 10 unique day trips in Montana that are an absolute must-do. These activities include driving down Beartooth Highway, stopping at ZooMontana, exploring the Madison Valley, and observing the grizzly bear and wolves at the Grizzy and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone.

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