When it abruptly closed in 2019, the hotel at 5500 Midland Road was branded as a Red Lion. For the majority of the property's life, it was the Holiday Inn Grand Montana and many locals have a difficult time calling the hotel by any other name.

Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
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The hotel had multiple owners/management in the last decade.

The large property made Billings news in 2015 when it was acquired by Florida-based Inner Circle Management for $7.85 million, according to a company press release. The property was re-branded as a Radisson, with promises of updates to the hotel and attached convention center. Current tax records show a number of entities on the various properties at 5500 Midland Road, including Sonifi Solutions, Inc., a South Dakota-based hospitality solutions company.

Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
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A new billboard is up near Billings.

It's been well over a year since they stuck those tiny, temporary-looking signs on the top of the hotel and until recently there has been very little activity at the property. When I spotted a billboard west of Billings for the hotel, I figured it had finally reopened. Not so much. Not yet, anyway.

Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
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The once-grand hotel remains closed at this time and appears to be falling apart.

Multiple windows on the property are broken and boarded up. A Google search for the Montana Trailhead Inn took me to a landing page for Great American Hotel Group, a New Hampshire-based hotel management company. A request for more information regarding the reopening of the hotel was not immediately answered. Phone calls to the local number ring unanswered.

Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
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There were signs of activity on the property.

Peeking in a window, I could see piles of construction material in one area of the hotel. In the main lobby, it appeared that mechanical work was in the process of renovation. Shrubbery had been recently trimmed and landscaping materials were dumped on the parking lot. Unfortunately, there were no workers or employees on-site when I dropped by to chat on a weekday afternoon.

Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
Michael Foth ~ Townsquare Media Billings
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Will the hotel be open this summer?

That's the big question. One could speculate that reopening was likely sidelined in 2020 because of COVID-19. It would be great to see this hotel return with a complete renovation. There was a time when it was one of the nicest places in Billings. Like many Montanans, I've attended countless weddings, trade shows, and other events at the former beauty. Unfortunately, the venue hasn't been much of a beauty for some time.

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Using March 2019 data from the Social Security Administration, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular names in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., according to their 2018 SSA rankings. The top five boy names and top five girl names are listed for each state, as well as the number of babies born in 2018 with that name. Historically common names like Michael only made the top five in three states, while the less common name Harper ranks in the top five for 22 states.

Curious what names are trending in your home state? Keep reading to see if your name made the top five -- or to find inspiration for naming your baby.

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