Buses Of Yellowstone Preservation Trust

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Buses Of Yellowstone Preservation Trust

Founded in 2008, the Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit all-volunteer organization located in Red Lodge, Montana.

Donations may be made via www.boypt.org Our mission is to historically preserve in original operating condition motorized vehicles used in Yellowstone Park prior to World War II and the garage in which they reside, and to educate and share with others the importance of these vehicles and garage in the history of the park, Red Lodge and surrounding areas. Our vehicles are showcased in a historic ga

rage located in the historic commercial district of Red Lodge, Montana. The garage was built in 1936 and is home to one of the oldest if not the oldest service stations that operated continuously in Montana. The garage is open to the public late spring through early fall, for special events and by appointment. The public is free to enter the building when open and view all that is showcased therein. There is no charge for entry. Donations received from the public are a source of income for preserving the historic vehicles and garage, and for covering organizational operating expenses. Bus trips in an original 1937 Model 706 Yellowstone Park Bus on the scenic Beartooth Highway are another source of income. Bus trips are provided by reservation only for families and groups. The reservation is for the “bus” that can accommodate up to 10 passengers: not for individual seats on the bus. A second bus may be reserved for larger groups if available. The cost for each bus taken on the trip is $2,000. Trips are primarily provided during the summer season when the Beartooth Highway is open for travel. Interested individuals are encouraged to round-up 10 of their friends or family and make a reservation by calling 406-860-5910 or emailing [email protected]. If you would like to learn more about or make a donation to the Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust, visit our website at www.boypt.org. If interested in receiving periodic newsletters, please go to www.boypt.org, scroll towards the bottom of the “Home” page to the “Stay in Touch! Join Our Email List!” section, enter your email address as requested and click the “Sign Up” icon.

05/27/2026

A little out and about in Red Lodge in our 1925 Yellowstone Park Model15-45 Bus with stops at some of our favorite spots...... Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce and Carbon County Museum and Historical Society. What a great town Red Lodge is!

05/26/2026

How grateful we are to Traci Taylor at CatCountry 102.9 for publishing the following story regarding the bus trips we provide in a 1937 Yellowstone Park Model 706 Bus on the scenic Beartooth Highway.

The story is titled “This is the Ultimate Way to See the Beartooth Highway” and no doubt it surely is. Enjoy the read knowing that more information on these trips can be found on our website at www.boypt.org. And so the story goes…..

The first time I drove the Beartooth Highway, my hands were locked so tightly around the steering wheel that I’m pretty sure I left fingerprints in it forever.

The second time? Somehow even worse.

You know those stretches where the road twists around the edge of a mountain and you glance over for half a second only to realize there is a whole lot of nothing between you and the valley below? Yeah. That part. Meanwhile, my husband sat there, completely relaxed, while I gripped the wheel as if my life depended on it. Which, if you ask me, it absolutely did.

And before anyone asks, no, I was not about to let my husband drive. This girl values her life very much, thank you.

But both times I made that climb, I kept spotting gorgeous vintage buses rolling slowly along the highway. Every single time I saw one, I had the exact same thought.

Why am I not on THAT instead?

--The Beartooth Highway Is Stunning, But It Is Also Intense--

If you’ve driven the Beartooth Highway, you already know that it's breathtaking in every sense of the word.

One minute, you’re winding through the road with the smell of fresh mountain air pouring through the windows. Next, you’re climbing higher and higher into a landscape that barely feels real. Snow clings to the peaks even in summer. Tiny alpine lakes sparkle like glass. The sky somehow looks bigger up there.

And then your stomach drops because the road curves again, and suddenly you remember you're driving on the side of a mountain.

It’s beautiful. It’s unforgettable. It’s also a lot to take in when you’re focused on staying in your lane and trying not to overthink every sharp turn.

That’s exactly why those buses caught my attention.

--Yes, You Can Actually Ride One of Those Yellowstone Buses--

Turns out, those classic buses are not just for looking at. You can actually reserve one for a trip up the Beartooth Highway.

And not some modern replica either. These are restored vintage Yellowstone Park buses from the 1930s, the kind that instantly make you feel like you’ve stepped into another era.

The experience is run by the Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust, a volunteer-driven nonprofit based in Red Lodge dedicated to preserving Yellowstone transportation history and sharing it with future generations.

Their historic garage in Red Lodge is worth a visit all on its own. Inside, you’ll find beautifully preserved vehicles, old photographs, and pieces of Montana and Yellowstone history that most people never get to see anymore.

And the best part? Visiting the garage is free.

--Riding The Highway Instead of White Knuckling It Sounds Amazing--

The bus rides themselves sound incredible.

Groups can reserve an original 1936 or 1937 Yellowstone Park bus for a slow scenic trip up the Beartooth Highway. The buses climb from Red Lodge toward the summit at a relaxed pace, giving passengers time to actually absorb what’s around them instead of nervously staring at the pavement five feet ahead.

Can you even imagine?

No stressing over hairpin turns. No muttering “please stay in your lane” every thirty seconds. No death grip on the wheel.

Just sitting back while the mountains unfold around you.

Weather permitting, the canvas top gets rolled back so riders can stand up and fully take in the views. I think that might be one of the coolest ways possible to experience Montana.

You’re not rushing through the scenery. You’re inside it.

--This Feels Like One of Those Once in A Lifetime Experiences--

The more I learned about it, the more I thought about how special this would be for a milestone birthday, a graduation gift, an anniversary surprise, or even a family trip you’ll talk about for years afterward.

Let’s be real; most gifts get forgotten eventually, but riding in a vintage Yellowstone bus through the Beartooth Mountains? That becomes a story.

The buses hold up to 10 passengers, and the trip stretches roughly 35 miles to the pass's summit, climbing from around 5,500 feet to nearly 11,000 feet above sea level.

And unlike the rest of us trying not to panic through switchbacks, these buses take their time.

That slow pace might actually be the best part.

--Montana Has a Way of Giving You Moments You Never Forget--

The Beartooth Highway is a drive that I will never forget.

Even now, I can still picture the snow packed against the mountainsides, the impossibly blue sky, and those vintage buses crawling along the road while I sat there wishing I could trade places with everyone inside.

Next time? I just might.

Because as gorgeous as the Beartooth Highway is from behind the wheel, I have a feeling it’s even more magical when you finally get to stop worrying about the road and simply look around.

05/23/2026

What fun we had yesterday as we headed up the road in our original 1937 Yellowstone Park Model 706 Bus #401 and 1925 Model 15-45 Bus #321 to celebrate the opening of the Beartooth Highway. How grateful we are to the Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce for including us in this annual event!

05/22/2026

Our 1937 Model 706 Yellowstone Park Bus #401 and 1925 Model 15-45 Bus #321 cruising the streets of Red Lodge this morning. What a beautiful morning; what a beautiful sight!

05/18/2026

As we open our doors for the summer season, we take a moment to reflect on what and why we do what we do…..

Always at the forefront of what we accomplish is our careful and responsible preservation of original operating motorized vehicles used in Yellowstone Park prior to WWII and the historic AD Whitcomb Garage in which they reside. We readily recognize their importance and significance as so few of these vehicles and buildings remain. Preservation continues to be, and will always be, our steadfast mission with a focus on saving the once-was for sharing with and educating others in the years to come.

We never forget and are ever so thankful for all those who enable us to continue what we are so committed in doing. As a small nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, their support means they care and believe as we do in the preservation of these historic vehicles and garage. If so inclined to support our efforts as well, you can do so on our website www.boypt.org, via the included QR code, or by mailing a show of your support to Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust, PO Box 1522, Red Lodge, MT 59068.

To that end, we say thank you and wish you safe travels in the summer season to come with the hope you will stop by and see us at 124 N Broadway Ave in Red Lodge, Montana along the way!

05/12/2026

As the road goes, so it says “it won’t be too long now before we’ll cross paths”. True to its word, it will be so.

How excited we are as our 1937 original Yellowstone Park Model 706 Bus is raring to go…..to head up the highway with a bus full on a ride of a lifetime.

It’s a ride we provide for families and groups on the Beartooth Highway by reservation only. The reservation is for the “bus” that can accommodate up to 10 passengers; not for individual seats on the bus. If the family or group exceeds 10 passengers, a second bus can be reserved if available.

Off the bus goes at about 15-18 mph up the highway from Red Lodge at an elevation of 5,500 feet to as far as the West Summit of the Beartooth Pass at an elevation of 10,947 feet. With the canvas top rolled back, the breathtaking vistas and mountain air roll right on in and enable all riding along to view the Pass in a way rarely viewed before. It truly is a one-of-a-kind, bucket-list trip.

The cost per bus is $2,000. For more information on these bus rides, you can go to www.boypt.org. You can also make a reservation by calling 406-860-5910 or emailing [email protected].

05/05/2026

Yellow, red, green….. These were the body colors of the Model 706 Buses used in Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks; all purchased from the White Motor Company in 1936 through 1939.

White produced about 500 Model 706 Buses during that time; all designed for touring in National Parks. The buses, with their distinctive roll-back canvas convertible tops and eye-catching radiator cowling and trademark grills, were the product of industrial designer Alexis de Sakhnoffsky and the Bender Body Company.

Yellowstone purchased 98 Model 706 Buses, painting them yellow with black trim and fenders. Glacier purchased 35, painting them red with black trim. Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks via the Utah Parks Company purchased 21 and painted them dark green with silver and black trim and black fenders; the buses to be used between the three parks.

That was quite some time ago and it certainly makes one wonder how many of these historic buses are still being used for touring the parks today.

Yellowstone has eight originally purchased Model 706 Buses available for touring the park with two additional buses stored in their original condition as part of Yellowstone’s Historic Vehicle Collection. Yellowstone purchased the eight buses in 2002 from the Skagway Street Car Company in Alaska where they were being used for sightseeing tours throughout Skagway and the Alaskan wilderness. Skagway had previously purchased these buses from private collectors, tour operators and others including a Hollywood studio where one was driven in the film “Big Trouble in Little China”. In 2006 the buses were refurbished to meet modern safety and mechanical standards. Although the bus exteriors maintained much of their original appearance, the changes were many including new frames, engines, power steering, powered windows, public address systems, more comfortable seating, heaters, etc. The newly refurbished buses were returned to service in 2007 and continue to be used for touring Yellowstone to this day.

Glacier has 33 of the 35 originally purchased Model 706 Buses available for touring the park with an additional bus stored in its original condition at West Glacier. The buses are quite often referred to as the “Reds” or “Red Jammers” due to their “Cascade Mountain ash berry” red-painted bodies and the jamming of the gears by the driver when double clutching. The buses have gone through three refurbishments since 1989. Although the bus exteriors maintained much of their original appearance, the changes were many including new frames, engines (replaced previously installed bi-fuel engines), automatic transmissions, power steering, power brakes, new exhaust systems, public address systems, more comfortable seating, heaters, safety glass windows, etc. The buses continue to be used for touring Glacier to this day.

Zion and Grand Canyon do not have any originally purchased Model 706 Buses available for touring the parks. Bryce Canyon has one Model 706 Bus purchased from Yellowstone in 1996. The bus however is not used for touring but rather showcased in its original condition for special events.

It should be noted that other National Parks purchased Model 706 Buses back in the day as well. Many of these buses were sold to private collectors, tour operators and others when retired from service, with some still in use today. How fortunate we are to have three of these historic buses in our showroom in Red Lodge, Montana. They are all being preserved in original operating condition, the same as when purchased by and used in Yellowstone. A sight certainly to behold and a ride never to be forgotten.

This history sharing provided by CM Whitcomb for Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust.

04/29/2026

We’re whistling a happy tune, a happy birthday tune that is! Hard to imagine but Bus 401 is turning 89 years old today.

Looking at her, you’d say she hasn’t aged a bit since she rolled off the assembly line on April 29, 1937. She was the twelfth 1937 Model 706 Bus of the 40 built by White Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio, for Yellowstone Park that year; one of the 98 Model 706 buses added to the park’s fleet from 1936 to 1939.

She was given a number of “401” which she wore as she worked throughout the park from 1937 through 1960. A family from Bozeman, Montana purchased her in 1960 and turned her insides into somewhat of a “camper” to be used on planned trips to Alaska. In 1965 she was parked in their barn and remained there until we purchased her in 2011.

How quickly we restored her to her original operating condition, bringing her back to what she once was. She sure is a sight to behold and a joy to ride in as well. In fact, she’s used quite often to drive groups up the scenic Beartooth Highway during the weekends of the summer months when the highway is open for travel. Off she goes at about 15-18 mph up the highway from Red Lodge at an elevation of 5,500 feet to as far as the West Summit of the Beartooth Pass at an elevation of 10,947 feet. With the canvas top rolled back, the breathtaking vistas and mountain air roll right on in and enable those riding along to view the Pass in a way rarely viewed before. Of course, more information regarding these trips can be obtained on our webpage www.boypt.org.

How fortunate we are to have Bus 401 as part of our fleet of historic original operating vehicles used in Yellowstone Park prior to World War II, all showcased within a historic garage located in Red Lodge, Montana. How committed we are to their restoration and preservation so that the once was can be shared with all of you. It’s a glorious day to celebrate, especially one of our very own!

If interested in learning more about Bus 401, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXrjKEYl9i0. The video captures her story well.

This history sharing provided by CM Whitcomb for Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust.

04/25/2026

You just never know who or what you might run into. Certainly an appropriate saying for a July 1927 “run-in” that occurred in Yellowstone Park.

Seems a group of tourists in an open touring bus had just entered the park by way of the east entrance. The bus was nearing the long climb up Sylvan Pass when a large bull moose jumped out onto the road and charged the bus. The bus was traveling very slowly at the time enabling the driver to turn the bus to the side of the charging moose. All to no avail however as the moose struck the left side of the bus, denting the front door. It seems the moose, upon discovering it had charged a bus full of people rather than just one person, quickly fled from the scene. Definitely a surprise and most likely the “first” run-in for all.

This history sharing provided by CM Whitcomb for Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust.

04/17/2026

“Sagebrusher”…..an interesting word that had a very specific meaning way back when in Yellowstone Park. Apparently it was the word used for a “person who went through the park in their own or hired conveyance, camping by the way instead of patronizing the hotels”.

Sagebrushers were quite common in the park, even more so with the change from horse-drawn wagons to automobiles beginning in 1916. The earliest attempts by the park to accommodate these so-called campers were auto camps; the first being built at Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, Lake and Canyon. The camps were really quite simple in those days with only pit toilets, tap water and an open shed to shelter vehicles.

It soon became apparent that more camps with more modern amenities were needed as two-thirds of those who came to the park came prepared to camp. The park quickly devised a plan to build more such auto camps over the coming years, each equipped with modern bathhouses, toilets, washrooms, cooking spits and many other such comforts. The first two camps were opened in 1920 at Old Faithful and Canyon; Lake and Fishing Bridge followed a year later.

The early 1920’s continued to see increasing numbers of visitors to the park, with most camping in the auto camps. Sanitation issues soon became a big concern. Something more needed to be done and so it did. The auto camp at Canyon was ultimately “rebuilt” in 1923 and reopened a year later. It covered 30 acres and had flush toilets, garbage collection and disposal provisions, and sites equipped with a table and fireplace. An answer for sure as this auto camp became the model by which all other campgrounds would be built.

The auto camps served the park well. They were used by thousands upon thousands of those called sagebrushers, many who would not have been able to stay overnight in the park otherwise. Tents and vehicles made into rolling abodes were their homes as they set up their camps in the sagebrush laden terrain of the park. These tents and so-called rolling abodes were a common sight as they were the predominant method of camping through the mid 1940’s.

This history sharing provided by CM Whitcomb for Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust.

04/11/2026

1916…..a year to be remembered as that was the first year private autos were allowed in Yellowstone Park for the full season. It was also the year of the first motorized transport service into the park. Probably not surprising, but still interesting how that service came to be and how quickly it ended.

The first motorized transport service was provided by the Cody-Sylvan Pass Motor Company. It carried passengers between Cody, Wyoming, and the Lake Hotel in the park through the Sylvan Pass.

The entry of the transport service via the east entrance, versus any other park entrance, was largely due to the advertising and promotion done by the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad that year. It seems the Railroad had lines going into Wyoming from the mid-west to Cody and decided to heavily promote going that way into the park. As a result, many were expected to arrive in Cody and enter the park via the east entrance.

With a focus on accommodating the expected tourists as well as transitioning from horses to motors, several interested parties met in early 1916. After considerable discussion, the Cody-Sylvan Pass Motor Company was established. Those involved were the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad and the four Yellowstone Park transportation companies – the Yellowstone Park Transportation Company, Yellowstone-Western Stage Company, Shaw & Powell Camping Company, and Wylie Permanent Camping Company. F. J. Haynes, associated with the Yellowstone Western Stage Company and noted Yellowstone photographer, became president of the company with directors selected from each of the four park transportation companies.

To make the run between Cody and Lake, the newly established transport service purchased seven White Motor Company 10-passenger trucks with open bodies similar to those used in Glacier National Park, and five Buick 7-passenger cars. The transport vehicles were scheduled to leave the Irma Hotel in Cody at 8:30 am, lunch at Holm Lodge or Pahaska along the way, and arrive at Lake at 4 pm. The reverse trip would leave Lake at 8:30 am and arrive at Cody at 5 pm.

“On July 1, 1916”, according to the Salt Lake Telegram newspaper, “the first licensed automobile, carrying passengers and operating under a government permit, entered Yellowstone Park at the eastern boundary. This date marked the opening of the Cody-Sylvan Pass Motor Company from Cody, Wyoming, to the lake camp at the head of Yellowstone Lake, within the boundaries of the park. At the time of the inauguration of the service there was eighteen feet of snow on Sylvan Pass, and a road had to be tunneled through the huge drift to permit the passage of the machines. Those that made the trip said it was a most unusual experience and a very gratifying, if somewhat abrupt change from the extreme heat of the prairies and lowlands to the cool breezes across the snowfields of the high altitudes.”

It was a good season for the company as several thousand passengers were transported into the park. Yet it all came to an end when the Assistant Secretary of the Interior Steven Mather, a proponent of regulated monopoly, decided to completely reorganize business in Yellowstone in the fall of 1916. Besides creating the National Park Service to superintend the nation’s national parks and monuments, he ordered the consolidation of Yellowstone’s various competitive interests into larger organizations that controlled a single business. Tourist auto camps were given to the Yellowstone Park Camping Company, hotels to the Yellowstone Park Hotel Company, photography and pictorial souvenirs to Jack E. Haynes (son of F. J. Haynes), general stores to Hamilton, and transportation to the Yellowstone Park Transportation Company with specific direction to transition from horses to motors by the opening of the 1917 season.

As quickly as the Cody-Sylvan Pass Motor Company had begun, so had it ended. A single season motorized transport service, the first of its kind in Yellowstone Park. An unfortunate end but such a historic beginning as it served as a prototype for all those yet to come.

This history sharing provided by CM Whitcomb for Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust.

Address

124 N Broadway Avenue , PO Box 1522
Red Lodge, MT
59068

Telephone

+14068605910

Website

http://www.boypt.org/

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