Even many who don't live in Broadwater County have heard about Flynn Cabin, site of the famous "Bible Camp," which lies south of Townsend.

A frame structure of some type has been on this site since before 1890. An earlier structure burned in the 1920s and was replaced with the current log cabin.

William W. "Bill" Flynn acquired the cabin in 1947. In August of 1953, Bill with six or seven of his friends shared some steaks and refreshments. This evening meal evolved into what has come to be known as "Bible Camp."

The traditional meal is T-bone steak, fried potatoes with bacon and onions, a tossed salad, and garlic bread. Attendance has become a tradition for people from Bozeman to Helena, and has included people from all over the world, as well as many of Montana's governors since the 1970s.

The cabin sits on Forest Service property, and after Bill Flynn's death, the William W. Flynn/Flynn Ranch Scholarship Corporation was established and holds the cabin site permit.

Income from the meal funds an annual scholarship given to a graduating Broadwater High School senior.

Several years ago "Bible Camp" participants found a hand-written sign on the bridge over Dry Creek advising visitors that no more than two people at a time were allowed on the bridge.

The hat was passed around three times that evening and the wheels were set in motion for a bridge-building project that took two years to complete.

Since the bridge is on Forest Service property, not any old bridge would do. Volunteers worked with the Forest Service to come up with a design which would meet Forest Service muster.

Anaconda Foundry Fabrication Company assembled the 50-foot bridge at its Anaconda shop to make sure everything fit perfectly. It was then disassembled and shipped to Townsend.

A host of area businesses and volunteers helped with reassembling and installing the bridge on Dry Creek.

The bridge, which will be named the "Bill Flynn Memorial Bridge" is the third one known to have been placed at the site.

The community effort to build the bridge isn't the only lucky event in the cabin's history.

During the fires of 2000, flames burned almost to the edge of the cabin -- even burning the outhouse and fencing -- before passing on, leaving the cabin and picnic tables untouched.

'Bible Camp'

"Bible Camp" dates are: June 30, July 14, July 28 (Couples Night), Aug. 4, Aug. 25, and Sept. 8 (Couples Night). Call Bob Brastrup at (406) 266-3872 for more information.