Why This Legal Action Matters Right Now

Under newly issued state contracts, Virginia City concessionaires are being asked to pay up to 15% of gross revenue in rent, despite operating for only 3-4 months of the year.

For context:

• Bob’s Place could face $30,000 to $40,000 in rent for a single season

• The Wells Fargo could pay upwards of $75,000

For small, seasonal businesses operating in historic buildings, these numbers are simply unsustainable.

As a result, two long-standing Virginia City business owners have taken the difficult step of filing an injunction against the State of Montana. This legal action asks the court to pause sudden contract cancellations and steep lease increases. These changes left many owners facing impossible decisions with little time to respond, including the decision to close.

The injunction is not about avoiding responsibility. It is about buying time.

Summer is approaching fast. Without intervention, Virginia City could face widespread closures before visitors ever arrive.

Legal action is costly, but it is currently the only tool available to prevent irreversible harm. Donations to Keep Virginia City Local help cover legal fees and related costs for those standing up not just for themselves, but for the entire community including business owners, employees, families, locals, and the visitors who cherish this place.

By contributing, you are helping preserve a living historic town, not a museum of empty buildings. You are helping ensure Virginia City remains open, local, and thriving.