Entry No. 50 — the Helena file — filed under: ghost-town
Comet/Rumley Mine
Established in 1883 around the lucrative Comet Mine, this site grew into a bustling silver, lead, and zinc mining town that boomed twice before permanently closing in 1941. Today, it is one of Montana's most intact ghost towns, featuring a towering, multi-story wooden flotation mill, scattered log cabins, and a lone brick chimney. The adjacent Rumley Mine adds to the historic footprint of this quiet, sagebrush-covered valley.
The story
In 1883, the Helena and Livingston Smelting and Reduction Company staked their claim in High Ore Gulch, sparking a silver, lead, and zinc rush that birthed the town of Comet. High Ore Creek split the site cleanly down the middle: heavy industrial workings on one side, and living quarters for up to 300 miners on the other. Comet boomed twice over the decades, dried up, revived, and then went dark for good in 1941.
What remains today isn't a museum; it's a slow-motion industrial collapse. A towering, multi-story wooden flotation mill sags against the hillside like a derelict timber vessel, flanked by a solitary red brick chimney that somehow outlasted the surrounding roofs. Weathered log cabins sink into the sagebrush along the creek bed, while the Rumley Mine shaft sits roughly 4,000 feet southeast, marking the outer boundary of the silver vein.
Unlike preserved state parks with velvet ropes and interpretive panels, Comet survived simply because it was left alone. It sits quietly rotting at its own pace on working ranch land, forgotten by modern thoroughfares.
What it's like
You’ll pull off the gravel track of High Ore Road into a silent, sun-baked valley. The skeletal wooden mill dominates the hillside, looking imposing but visibly fragile. Keep your distance: the ruins rest on private grazing land, and every underground shaft and rotting roof beam is a lethal hazard. Stick to public road alignments with a good camera lens—you get the full eerie impact of the skeleton mill without trespassing or stepping into a hidden drop-off.
The move: Take a scenic drive along High Ore Road to explore the valley, taking photos of the impressive wooden mill and weathered cabins from a safe distance while enjoying the quiet mountain scenery.
📍 Before you go The surrounding ghost town is located on private grazing land where respectful visitors are permitted, but the mine shafts, mill structures, and underground workings are highly unstable and strictly off-limits for entry.
- 📍 Comet/Rumley Mine
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Comet/Rumley Mine, Montana 59632, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Alta Mine — Continue your drive through 19th-century mining ruins less than six miles away at the historic Alta Mine area near Corbin and Wickes.
- Boulder Hot Springs Inn & Spa — Wash off the gulch gravel eight miles south with a plunge into hot mineral springs inside a 1910 Mission-style hotel.
- Elkhorn State Park (Elkhorn Ghost Town) — Head ten miles east to compare Comet's industrial timber ruins with the preserved wooden assembly halls of Elkhorn.
Good to know
Can I go inside the flotation mill or cabins?
No. The underground workings, shafts, and wooden mill structures are severely decayed and strictly off-limits. View and photograph everything from a safe distance.
Where is the mine located?
It sits in High Ore Gulch along High Ore Road, located in the mountains between Helena and Boulder, Montana.
Is Comet open to the public?
The town sits on private grazing land. Respectful roadside viewers are tolerated, provided you stay out of structures and do not disturb livestock.
What is the connection between Comet and Rumley Mine?
The Rumley shaft lies about 4,000 feet southeast of the main Comet shaft, operating along the same rich ore corridor in High Ore Gulch.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · historynet.com · southwestmt.com · westernmininghistory.com · Facebook
last checked: 2026-07-20