High Winds Knock Down Inspirational Cross in Bigfork, Montana

High Winds Knock Down Inspirational Cross in Bigfork, Montana

Credit Aaron Flint

*Update on Bigfork cross added 12/18/25

The cross near Bigfork is an inspirational landmark smack dab in the middle of God's country in the Flathead Valley of Montana. The high winds still whipping through the valley knocked down the cross Wednesday.

High winds are wreaking havoc across Montana and down into the Bitterroot Valley (check out the trees falling video further below)

KJJR radio in Kalispell shared the below post by "The Bigfork Cross" on Facebook.

It is with very heavy hearts we confirm the reports that our beloved cross has come down. However, what matters most is that my uncle who built the cross and lives in a cabin near it was unharmed. The Bigfork Cross has withstood many storms for more than 52 years and my uncle always said it was God’s cross, not his…God could have held it up,

but He allowed it to fall today 💔

 

Wind took the cross down, but the people of Bigfork will raise it back up. That was the first thing that came to mind for me when I saw the post by KJJR.
Update: The folks behind the Bigfork Cross Facebook page are now saying that they will not be mounting an effort to put up another cross. I wonder if the people of Bigfork will try raise another one in a similar location?
Here's what was shared on Facebook:
By the way, the photo above was taken on September 10th. We were driving to Helena for the 9/11 ceremony in the capitol the next day as we were listening to the tragic news over the radio on KJJR that Charlie Kirk had been assassinated.
High winds have been wreaking havoc across the valley Wednesday, uprooting trees, a semi turned over on Hwy 93 just north of Somers, and more.
Here's the video shared by Flathead 411:
The Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula is also getting hammered. Check out this video shared by KPAX-TV:

 

 

The Photos from the Legendary Larry Mayer, Decades with the Billings Gazette

Larry Mayer has been a photographer for The Billings Gazette for more than 40 years and has captured some incredible photos over the years. He also broke the China Spy Balloon story. He shares some of his favorite photos with us.

Gallery Credit: Photos by Larry Mayer, Billings Gazette (used w/ permission). Compiled by Aaron Flint, Montana Talks

Filed Under: weather, western Montana, Kalispell Montana, bigfork montana, Kalispell Montana, Newsletter, social post