George and Eli Gregson located the springs on April 11, 1869. They acquired the springs from a squatter by the name of Hulbert for $60 and took up claim on the surrounding land, a total of 320 acres. The Gregson brothers went into the dairy business. The ground they had put claim to was excellent pasture, producing about 90 tons of hay a year. In the years to come, the brothers turned their attention to the twelve pools of hot mineral water. They built a well furnished and equipped two story hotel that would house fifty of sixty guests, a plunge bath, and five large bathing rooms, and offered cures for all types of ailments such as rheumatism, bone and muscle ailments, aging and many others. Gregson Hot Springs, was located in western Montana along I-90 between Butte and Anaconda. The resort sits in a valley at the base of Pintler Wilderness area and is near the Continental Divide.
---- from the main building, they built a bar room and separate sleeping apartments. They used a covered flume to conduct the hot and cold water to the bathhouses. The cold water was taken from a pure cold water stream flowing about 700 yards (640m) south of the hotel.
The resort offered many things besides swimming and cures. It also offered fishing and hunting, freedom from noise, the heat and dust of the large cities. It was offered to any wage group, day laborers, weary business people, invalids, as well as the pleasure seekers. No pains were spared to make the stay of the sick and invalid as comfortable and beneficial, as that of the tourist, pleasant and enjoyable. Many organizations and clubs held their picnics and parties at the Springs yearly. They came by buggy, horseback, and train to enjoy the pleasures offered by the Gregson Brothers.
The Gregson Resort was leased in 1890 to Miles French. In 1892, a townsite was platted and lots for villa sites 45 by 125 feet (14 by 38 m) were laid out. The Butte Miner carried a story dealing with the dedication of the townsite held on December 9, 1893. The same paper carried the story of the new B & P Depot that had been recently built at Gregson. In 1901, the resort was sold to Con Hays and James Breen. On December 23, 1914, the dance hall and some of the adjoining buildings caught fire. The losses were estimated at $35,000. One week and one day later, the hotel plunge and other buildings caught fire and burned. The damages amounted to $75,000. Both fires were blamed on faulty wiring. At the time of the fires, Gregson was under a managementship. The owners were the Montana Hot Springs Association, with George Forsythe as president. In 1916, George Forsythe bought Gregson. From 1916 to 1926, a second and third building were rebuilt to accommodate the people of Montana once more, and tourists from surrounding states. Sometime in 1944 or 1945, Treasure State Industries took over Gregson. Finally, it was closed in 1971 because of the collapsing walls. Gregson had run for over 100 years and had given many hours of pleasure and joy. Imagine the stories that were within those walls and the hundreds of people that passed through its doors seeking many things.
In 1972, the remaining buildings were demolished to make way for the new resort costing to date 5.4 million dollars.
One interpretation was, that two men started shooting their guns in the air, very much upsetting the whole picnic. The angry crowd started to pursue them. Seeing they were outnumbered, they took off for the hills. Their fellow Serbians or Bohunks saw that the crowd had turned on them also, they instantly headed for the hills to help the two men. A ranch hand returning from a hunting trip got between the two opposing crowds and shot the two Bohunk in the thighs. The cowboy got out of the mob and headed down the valley for the ranch where he was employed. As the angry crowd pursued him, they tore out fences and had to be driven away from the ranch with guns. Later that afternoon wagons were finally brought to carry the wounded men back to the railroad station. One man died in the three and one-half hour wait for the train; the other man died the following day in the hospital.
Many stories were told at the inquest; many people were called to testify since it was impossible for the judge to determine what really happened. The cowboy was not prose-cuted. The incident was closed.
Most of the picnics held were not 'ordinary picnics'; they were considered 'real wing-dings'.