Fred and Florence Symes came to the Camas Prairie in 1910 from the Seattle area. They received a 160-acre homestead and purchased more land, where they raised wheat and cattle.

In 1918, Fred was elected County Commisioner, and in 1926 he opened the Mercantile on Main Street in Hot Springs, one of the most complete general merchandise stores in this area. In 1928, they bought property with a hot spring and constructed a wooden bathhouse. He started plans to build an elaborate three phase hotel in Spanish mission-style stucco.

There are still in existence, colored concept drawings of the hotel drawn by Fred Brinkman, a Kalispell architect. The drawings included a bath, steam and massage wing, a second phase Grand Hotel with indoor courtyards and fountains, and a third phase with ballroom, kitchen, dining area and a beaurtiful landscaped gardens with fountains. The initial hotel resembeled the first phase drawings, single story, Spanish mission-style with a cafe and cabins. Everyone bathed in clawfoot bathtubs, 10 for the men's side, 7 on the women's side. There were steam baths, massage and a sun room with vita glass window. Fred Symes was proud to offer quiet, restful accommodation with no alcohol or bar in connection.

By 1939, Fred had built a second story on the hotel, extended the cardeck, added the sun room and extended the north wing to theHotel. It stands today as it was finished.

In 1946, he drilled a new well. It was 248 feet deep and hit hot artesian, geothermal water. It was said to be the best mineral water in the USA, similar to the Camas Hot Spring.

Fred sold the Hotel on March 23, 1948 to F.L. Smith. The Smiths operated the Hotel for some time, however, Fred must have repossessed the Hotel because his second wife Keva was still operating the Symes in 1995, when she sold the Hotel and retired.

The current owners are the third owners and are proud to operate and maintain one of Montana's last remaining Grand Hotels. The Symes Hotel received National Historic recognition on November 12, 1998.