Three children sitting on a bench at an amusement park, each holding an ice cream cone and smiling.

An Uptown Experience

Whatever your taste in shopping, dining, lodging, service or fun, you’ll find an extra portion here. Come help yourself!

Uptown Flavor

Uptown Lodging

Uptown Fun

Uptown Service

A black-and-white aerial map showing an urban area with streets, buildings, and labels indicating future site planning and nearby landmarks.

GNTC History:
From Abandoned and Avoided, to Vibrant and Thriving.

Once a neglected, weed-filled rail yard in downtown Helena—long avoided by locals—has been transformed into the Great Northern Town Center, a key example of modern urban revitalization.

The site was originally the Great Northern Railroad depot but fell into disuse for decades. Developer Alan Nicholson recognized its potential in the 1980s, though early purchase attempts were unsuccessful. In the 1990s, after a failed city-led acquisition, Nicholson purchased the land from Montana Rail Link and moved forward with a mixed-use, community-focused vision.

With city support for infrastructure, development began in 1998. Construction revealed remnants of the site’s past, including coal ash deposits and a buried railcar. The project emphasized walkability, diverse architecture, and a blend of residential, commercial, and cultural spaces.

Today, the Great Northern Town Center anchors a revitalized district, spurring nearby development and housing attractions like a nationally recognized handcrafted carousel, a convention center, hotel, museum, and local businesses. It stands as a lasting example of Helena’s renewal and growth.