BOZEMAN  — A downtown Bozeman fire has forced a locally owned hostel to close indefinitely, leaving the small business facing significant disruption while also working to help guests who were suddenly left without a place to stay.

On Thursday afternoon, September 10, Bozeman Fire responded to a reported chimney fire at 29 E. Main Street. Firefighters found a fire involving the kitchen and roof of the building; the fire was contained, and no civilians or firefighters were injured.

For Treasure State Hostel, however, the emergency continued after the flames were extinguished.

Water used to fight the fire flooded the hostel, forcing the business to close and cancel reservations with little or no notice. The result is not only damage to a small local business, but immediate displacement for travelers who arrived in Bozeman expecting a place to stay at an extremely affordable rate. One bed in a dorm room at Treasure State Hostel is $24/night. Single private rooms start at $52/night compared to downtown Bozeman hotel current prices ranging from $455-$711 per night.

“We now have to cancel stays at the last minute, and I’m heartbroken for the people who are being displaced with almost no warning,” said hostel owner Nina Erickson. Rather than simply asking guests to fend for themselves, Erickson has committed to helping those displaced find emergency accommodations.

The hostel has established a GoFundMe campaign to provide immediate assistance to canceled guests and help the business survive while repairs and insurance claims are addressed. Guests whose stays are canceled for Friday or Saturday will receive $100 per night booked for this weekend, with $50 available for guests displaced from Sunday-night reservations.

The fundraiser's initial goal is $3,000. As of Friday morning, community members had contributed $884.

“Even if we don't reach our goals and this fundraiser doesn't cover all of our displacement fees, that's ok,” Erickson wrote. “Treasure State Hostel will cover it.”

Once immediate guest assistance is addressed, remaining funds will help the hostel cover ongoing bills while it is unable to operate and awaits the resolution of the insurance process.

A Small Business Asking Bozeman to Show Up

Treasure State Hostel is now asking the Bozeman community for help—not only through financial donations, but through sharing information about what has happened.

For an independently operated hospitality business, an unexpected closure can quickly become an existential challenge. Lost reservations, emergency expenses, damaged property, and continuing operating costs all arrive at once, while the business itself is unable to generate its normal income. 

“This community has always been more than a place where people come to stay,” Erickson said. “We want the people who come through our doors to experience Bozeman as a welcoming, connected place. Right now, we need that community in return.”

The hostel's fundraiser emphasizes that donations will first be used for immediate assistance to displaced guests. After those needs are met, remaining funds will help Treasure State Hostel remain financially afloat during the closure and recovery process.

For those unable to donate, the hostel is also asking supporters to share its story and help connect displaced travelers with local resources and accommodations - sharing this article with anyone who may be able to help with accommodations and reaching out to Nina via phone at 406.624.6244 or email to treasurestatehostel@gmail.com with I WANT TO HELP as a subject line is greatly appreciated. 

“Bozeman isn't only for the hyper-rich,” Erickson wrote. “We care about the down-to-earth guests who come here to share in our community.”

About Treasure State Hostel

Treasure State Hostel is a locally owned Bozeman lodging business providing affordable accommodations for travelers visiting the Gallatin Valley and Yellowstone region. Located in beautiful downtown Bozeman at ​27 E. Main Street Unit A. For Treasure State Hostel, this is not the first closure related to flooding from adjacent businesses. In September and October of 2025, the hostel was closed for 6 weeks, and before that, the business above flooded the hostel 5 times in 6 months.