US Edition'Dark Days': Heritage Commission Looks to Rejigger Virginia City Contracts
The Montana Heritage Commission mandates a uniform 15% gross revenue lease to address prior financial losses and mismanagement, impacting seasonal businesses at historic sites.
- The Montana Heritage Commission issued new leases demanding a 15% gross sales rate from Virginia City concessionaires, with vendors told to accept or vacate within 21 days.
- After an embezzlement scandal left MHC with losses, officials sought consistent lease revenue as Mandy Rambo said the commission fell hundreds of thousands short and must close a $750,000 gap.
- The commerce department estimates the Virginia City Opera House made $126,000 in 2025, and $19,000 rent would leave $107,000 t for four months of payroll for about 15 employees.
- Virginia City vendors say the leases will force closures of historic operations, with Bill Koch saying `If they put this 15% on our business, we'll be in the negative $20,000` and MHC citing losses that hinder preservation efforts.
- Earlier this year the Montana Legislature changed law to allow longer leases, including 99-year terms, while California-based developer Auric Road withdrew its Nevada City plan and Mandy Rambo warned MHC may struggle without restored revenue.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Cash crunch triggers lease hikes in Virginia City, Reeder’s Alley
Things are escalating into a standoff at Montana’s state-owned ghost towns, where rising rents and theme park ambitions, along with a case of embezzlement, are frustrating the owners of some of the state’s top tourist attractions in neighboring Virginia and Nevada cites in southwest Montana and Reeder’s Alley in Helena. Operators of popular attractions like the Illustrious Virginia City Players, a beloved seasonal theater and vaudeville show, sa…
Heritage Commission looks to rejigger Virginia City leases
Wallace Street, Virginia City, Montana's main thoroughfare (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).An embezzlement case and legislative efforts to remove its funding have complicated the financial picture for the Montana Heritage Commission and called its viability into question, its interim director said late last week, stating they were in “dark days.” As a result, the commission is looking into lease contracts for private businesses …
ABC FOX Montana
Under financial pressure, Heritage Commission looks to rejigger Virginia City contracts
An embezzlement case and legislative efforts to remove its funding have complicated the financial picture for the Montana Heritage Commission and called its viability into question, its interim director said late last week, stating they were in “dark days.” As…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
