Remembering Montana Founder of the Amazing Jim’s Horn House

He loved his family. He loved his bulldogs. And did he ever love collecting antlers.

There probably aren't a lot of online searches for "world-class antler collections." But when there are, "Jim's Horn House" probably appears on the first page. And just the name of the attraction tells you a lot about his sense of humor.

Memories of Jim Phillips are resurfacing, commemorating not only his life but his antler shrine legacy. Jim’s collection gained enough recognition to entice people to travel from all over the world, making a stop at a barn in Three Forks, Montana just to see it.

Jim sounds like a salt of the earth kind of guy. While antlers were his calling card, he was a rock wall architect by trade, as well as being a devoted family man. He also was a talented columnist, thrilled kids with his pumpkin patches, and a lover of bulldogs.

His own biographical account tells the tale of a 10-year-old boy who went on a short walk from home, following a nearby creek. It was there that he came upon an old set of elk antlers, which he packed up and brought back with him. A few days later he hiked a little further and found more elk antlers.

Finding antlers became an adrenaline rush that never left him. He became a seller and a trader, but never, ever a buyer. He proudly boasts that the sale of deer and elk antler sheds over the years helped put three daughters through college.

Sadly, Jim Phillips passed away suddenly in May, 2023 at the age of 74. It is unclear if Jim's Horn House is still free and open to the public. However, you can take a virtual tour by checking out photos and stories on his personal website here.

We respectfully salute a man whose life was undeniably a horn of plenty!