Inventory details facilities, history and operations at Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds

The Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds at 98 W. Custer Ave., with its main entrance at Custer and Henderson, centers on a 36,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall that includes a rodeo arena and covered grandstands and serves as home to the Last Chance Stampede and Fair held annually the last week in July. Office hours are listed as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and bookings or administrative questions can be directed to arobbins@lccfairgrounds.com; the property’s mailing ZIP is 59602.

Facility specifics available to organizers list a 24,000 sq. ft. Multi-Purpose Building (120 x 200), a 5,000 sq. ft. Entry Hall, and picnic shelters of 1,488 sq. ft. (Main Picnic and Rustic) and 1,008 sq. ft. (Kiwanis Shelter). The grounds include horse stalls, camping areas and a recreational pond that visitors use for “feeding and watching the ducks and geese at the pond.” Cvent notes “Open Riding Hours are Monday Through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.” for equine use of the facility.

Operations materials emphasize that “the grounds and facilities are available for both public and private events” and list recurring programming including trade shows, concerts, dog shows and many equine events. Cvent publishes a meeting-space table and a general pricing-structure heading for rentals; it also lists a box-office time as “Monday - Friday 8:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.,” a timing that conflicts with the stated office hours and appears to be a typographical error in the listing and worth confirmation with fairgrounds staff.

The site’s history traces to the Old Montana State Fairgrounds. Helenahistory records that “The Old Montana State Fairgrounds – now the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds – has a history strongly related to major Montana themes, agriculture being primary among them,” and notes 4-H adoption of large barns west of the modern multi-purpose building with 4-H shows and judging occurring “at least by 1949 and on occasion in the 1950s.” The historical excerpt records that “Between 1932 and 1966 many of the historic fairground structures were removed” and that “A caretaker’s house and a stable were lost in a fire in the fall of 193744,” a date string that the archive presents as printed.

Site metadata lists an image file 26778h.jpg with author Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds and a Data Visitmt DateCreated timestamp of 2/21/2026 5:01:59 PM. Nearby attractions named in visitor listings include the Original Governor’s Mansion and Lewis & Clark: The Montana Experience. Local organizers and non-profit groups routinely use the fairgrounds’ multiuse buildings and outdoor spaces for year-round events as the county pushes for “constant use and the occasional major event” to stabilize the facility’s calendar and revenue.