A FEW WORDS ABOUT

THE SQUARE DANCE CENTER & CAMPGROUND

Ray and Afton Granger created the Dance Center and Campground in 1978 along the banks of Lolo Creek. They spent more than 30 years in the square and round dance activity in the Missoula area - Ray as a caller, cuer and square & round dance instructor, assisted by his wife Afton. Afton has been in the square dance apparel business for over 20 years. Together they designed and built a facility with an almost perfect arrangement for dancers.

Ray passed away on April 28, 1998 and is greatly missed by his family and square dance friends. Afton, with the help of family and friends, continues the legacy and hospitality she and Ray began, at the beautiful campground and dance facility.

The Dance Center was constructed in the spring of 1978, and first opened in June, for the whole purpose of square dancing and round dancing. It has a cushioned maple floor, air conditioning, excellent sound and room for 30 squares. Adjoining the dance floor is a tabled rest area where coffee, tea, pop and other refreshments are available during the dance breaks. A well-stocked square dance apparel shop also adjoins the dance floor.

Both non dancing and dancing guests enjoy the outdoor activities at the Campground including horseshoe pits; and an 18 hole whiffleball golf course that winds through the trees and is a challenge to even the experienced golfer, and a great deal of recreation to the novice golfer. A 1.5 mile scenic perimeter nature walkway through the trees and along Lolo Creek provides many with a part of their daily exercise. Fishing in Lolo Creek requires a State fishing license and is open to our guests.

The campground has hot showers and a dump station for our guests.

Our daily and weekly rates are:
Full hookups  $22.00/day  $132.00/week
Water/Electric$19.00/day  $114.00/week
No Hookups  $14.00/day  $ 84.00/week*
    *Tents are limited to three days maximum stay

Add $2.00 per person if more than two people in a unit.
7% MT State Accomodations Tax to be added.
Cable TV is available for $1.50 per day, includes Showtime & Sports Network.

The Dance Center and Campground are located on twenty-seven acres of pine tree-covered land along Lolo Creek at 3300 feet above sea level. The campground is about a mile upstream of the Travelers' Rest site on the Lewis and Clark Trail in western Montana near the Idaho border in the midst of the beautiful Bitterroot Mountains. A six hour drive will take you to Yellowstone National Park and a four hour drive will take you to Glacier National Park .  Federal and State public lands of all kinds are within an hour's drive of the Dance Center and Campground. Some of the rivers nearby are the Bitterroot, the Clark Fork and the Blackfoot, which all join near Missoula. These rivers and numerous smaller streams, including Lolo Creek, provide excellent trout fishing. Along with square and round dancing, area activities include boating, fishing, hiking, sightseeing,and swimming.

The city of Missoula, home of the University of Montana, is eleven miles away and provides many excellent motels, restaurants, shopping areas and theaters. There are five public golf courses located in the Missoula area. Find more camping in Montana.Learn more about Montana.

The summer program has intermediate round dancing on Monday evenings and fun level rounds on Tuesday evenings, and square dancing every evening Thursday through Sunday. Nationally-known square dance callers have been scheduled for most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Plus level square dance basics workshops are on Thursday evenings, and plus level square dancing is on Friday and Saturday evenings. Mainstream level square dancing is on Sunday evenings. Week-long sessions for mainstream and plus level square dancing, as defined by CALLERLAB, have been scheduled. Special round dance weekends have been scheduled in June and September.   2008 summer schedule
 

Potlucks and picnics are included in the fun.

    Monday night mainstream square dancing and fun level rounds with the Solo Stars.
       - solos and pairs welcome. (Barry Bartlette caller/cuer)
    Tuesday night intermediate round dance instruction & dancing with Top Hats & Tails.
      (Mary Trankel and Don Gilder teachers/cuers)
    Friday night challenging plus level square dancing & fun level rounds with Swingolas.
       (Barry Bartlette caller/cuer)
   Saturday night: see monthly schedules for special dances sponsored by
       the Solo Stars and by the Missoula Area Federation.
       Also, the Boots and Calico Club dance at the Senior Center in Hamilton, Montana.
      (Ray Dunbar and Barry Bartlette)
    Sunday night: Beginning the first Sunday in January,
       Beginning square dance lessons (5:30 pm) and Mainstream dance (7:30 pm) with Lolo Squares.
      - solos and pairs welcome. (Barry Bartlette instructor/caller)

Monthly schedules (as available) for: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.