The Base Camp Circa 1978 Deb, Lauren, Cody and Scott paddling the Flathead River Circa 1987
Scott Brown “All Geared Up” Circa 1976
THE BASE CAMP WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEY | PHOTOS BY LAUREN BROWN, THE BASE CAMP
Lauren and Cody in Hawaii
It is a beautiful thing when a locally owned and operated business can transition from one generation to the next, and that is exactly what is happening with The Base Camp, located in Helena and Billings.
Original store owners, Scott and Deb Brown, are passing the torch to their daughters, Cody and Lauren Brown, who have grown up with the business. Let’s back up with a bit of history… The first Base Camp store found its modest home on the backside of Last Chance Gulch, occupying a 2,500-square foot space on Jackson Street from 1974 to 1981. During this time, Scott and Deb welcomed daughters Lauren and Cody. In 1990 the Brown family moved to Billings and brought their love for the outdoors with them, opening the doors of The Base Camp to the Billings community. As the demand for outstanding outdoor products grew, the Helena Base Camp experienced some growing pains. In 2007, Scott made a visionary move by purchasing the old Gaslight Theater on Broadway, undertaking a remarkable remodeling effort. The result is the beautiful downtown keystone location that is widely cherished today. Lauren and Cody spent countless days in both stores playing, connecting with their family of staff, and perhaps occasionally annoying them while their parents worked tirelessly. Old Skool Teli Turns Circa 1984
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Lauren recalls, “We hold fond memories of childhood adventures in both stores, from playing beneath the stairs at the original Helena store to witnessing the Billings location transform from
