50 years ago, a sanctuary was created along Lolo Creek for visitors to gather with friends and enjoy the area’s natural beauty.

Ray and Afton Granger raised their family just North of Missoula, Montana in the Rattlesnake Valley. Fishing, hiking and horseback riding were popular activities in the Granger household.

Ray and Afton began square dancing in the 1950’s - the heyday of the Americana tradition. Ray became a square dance caller and Afton began collecting and selling dance apparel. Dances were often hosted in the basement of their family home.

In their retirement, they purchased a 26-acre parcel of property along Lolo Creek in the shadow of the Bitterroot Mountains. Over time, they developed a 55-site campground to host visitors from around the world who came to camp, dance and enjoy the quiet surroundings. The yellow rock at the entrance was given to Ray and Afton. It is still there today as a nod to a square dance call that asks dancers to come together, embrace, and celebrate - a philosophy central to Ray and Afton.

The Square Dance Center & Campground continued its roots as a gathering place and woodland stop-over when it was transferred to Ray and Afton’s daughter and her husband. Bobbie and Barry Bartlette brought a new era of vibrancy to the business, further updating the campground and celebrating the dance traditions upon which it was founded.