The Bobcat Nation

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:I love Billings. As far as I'm concerned there is no better place. However, here's my list....

1. No Division I college. I wish MSU-Billings had football but I'd rather have them at D-I for basketball. If they had football, the D-I wish would never happen.

2. They need to utilize the river more with more/better parks.

3. Same thing as #2, only with the Rims.

4. The bottleneck that is the Heights. It's only getting worse with all the new subdivions planned.

I guess that's about it. After living in Helena, Missoula, and Carson City, NV, I LOVE living in Billings.

grizband wrote: Cat, I grew up in Billings, but have basically lived in Missoula for the past 7 years. However, my situation may change and require me to move back to Billings. Please compare your experiences in these two cities, and what to expect in Billings now - I imagine it has somewhat changed.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

grizband wrote: Cat, I grew up in Billings, but have basically lived in Missoula for the past 7 years. However, my situation may change and require me to move back to Billings. Please compare your experiences in these two cities, and what to expect in Billings now - I imagine it has somewhat changed.

I lived in Billings for 12 years before moving to those places in 1997. I recently moved back almost 2 years ago. Billings has changed a ton since then. The differences between Billings and Missoula that I saw.....Missoula is a little snobier with horrible traffic. There are 30,000 less people than Billings yet the traffic is worse due to the poor city planning or unexpected growth. While both are growing, Billings seems to handle it much better and has much more room.

Downtown Billings used to suck and dry up after 5:00pm unless you count the hookers. The hookers a gone along with some unsightly buildings. Many of the buildings have either been torn down or re-modeled. Montana avenue used to be a place you avoided when the sun went down. Now people are having their wedding receptions down there. Lots of new bars and places to eat. It still has a ways to go, but it's way better than it was just 10 years ago.

The city grew quite a bit in the 90's but the last 8 years have surpassed that. With all the new plans on the horizon, the amazing growth in this city will continue. Every part of Billings growing from Lockwood, the Heights, and of course the west end.

I hope that answers your question. I've had people tell me I should work for the Chamber of Commerce.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

grizband wrote: Cat, I grew up in Billings, but have basically lived in Missoula for the past 7 years. However, my situation may change and require me to move back to Billings. Please compare your experiences in these two cities, and what to expect in Billings now - I imagine it has somewhat changed.

I lived in Billings for 12 years before moving to those places in 1997. I recently moved back almost 2 years ago. Billings has changed a ton since then. The differences between Billings and Missoula that I saw.....Missoula is a little snobier with horrible traffic. There are 30,000 less people than Billings yet the traffic is worse due to the poor city planning or unexpected growth. While both are growing, Billings seems to handle it much better and has much more room.

Downtown Billings used to suck and dry up after 5:00pm unless you count the hookers. The hookers a gone along with some unsightly buildings. Many of the buildings have either been torn down or re-modeled. Montana avenue used to be a place you avoided when the sun went down. Now people are having their wedding receptions down there. Lots of new bars and places to eat. It still has a ways to go, but it's way better than it was just 10 years ago.

The city grew quite a bit in the 90's but the last 8 years have surpassed that. With all the new plans on the horizon, the amazing growth in this city will continue. Every part of Billings growing from Lockwood, the Heights, and of course the west end.

I hope that answers your question. I've had people tell me I should work for the Chamber of Commerce.

Bay Area Cat wrote:This is right from the "it's so much easier to think of things like this when it's not in the heat of the moment" file, but you guys should have just driven straight to the police station and parked out front!

Old Skool Cat wrote:

Bay Area Cat wrote:This is right from the "it's so much easier to think of things like this when it's not in the heat of the moment" file, but you guys should have just driven straight to the police station and parked out front!

Very true, but like you said, we panicked! Stupid high school kids. Besides, this is a much better story to tell!

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:I love Billings. As far as I'm concerned there is no better place. However, here's my list....

1. No Division I college. I wish MSU-Billings had football but I'd rather have them at D-I for basketball. If they had football, the D-I wish would never happen. Agreed

2. They need to utilize the river more with more/better parks. Absolutely. Also, I can see why people think we're the armpit of MT. Driving thru on the freeway is UGLY.

3. Same thing as #2, only with the Rims. Uh-huh.

4. The bottleneck that is the Heights. It's only getting worse with all the new subdivions planned. Pussy, it's only a mile. Not like SFO, right BAC? (I lived in Daly City)

Billings_Griz wrote:...Pussy, it's only a mile. Yeah, but sometimes that mile takes 30 minutes, like when it snows.

Our "Pro" baseball team is usually pretty competative. Plus, a shiny brand new stadium. And what about the Outlaws?


And last, but not least, CTOWM is in town and I know, some day, he'll finally buy me a beer. Ditto!

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Pussy, it's only a mile. Yeah, but sometimes that mile takes 30 minutes, like when it snows.

Billings_Griz wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Pussy, it's only a mile. Yeah, but sometimes that mile takes 30 minutes, like when it snows.

You go thru Huntley?

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

Billings_Griz wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Pussy, it's only a mile. Yeah, but sometimes that mile takes 30 minutes, like when it snows.

You go thru Huntley?

No, I stop by your place of business and stick bananas in your tailpipe.

Bay Area Cat wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

Billings_Griz wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Pussy, it's only a mile. Yeah, but sometimes that mile takes 30 minutes, like when it snows.

You go thru Huntley?

No, I stop by your place of business and stick bananas in your tailpipe.

Come on, people. This is a family website. No need for those kinds of euphemisms.

catamaran wrote:The Fifty things I like about Billings.......






the fifty miles before and after it

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

Billings_Griz wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Pussy, it's only a mile. Yeah, but sometimes that mile takes 30 minutes, like when it snows.

You go thru Huntley?

No, I stop by your place of business and stick bananas in your tailpipe.

catamaran wrote:The Fifty things I like about Billings.......
















the fifty miles before and after it